Interview by AFA Intern Mackenzie Timbrell in Spring of 2024
Q: Who are you?
Lina: My name is Lina Montoya. I went to school for graphic design, and I was a professional graphic designer before I decided to focus my career on art. I paint murals, I create art installations, and I paint with different communities.
Q: How did you first get involved in the arts?
Lina: I was a little kid who was always painting. I had the chance and the opportunity to take art classes as little as five or six years old. So I always had the opportunity to explore myself in a creative way, which I believe made a difference in where my career is now. I worked primarily in commercial graphic design at the beginning of my career, but then I sort of had this moment where I realized that visual arts and the ability to create art are things I was passionate about.
Q: What is your educational background?
Lina: I went to school in Columbia, and I grew up in Medellín. I went to school for graphic design in Columbia as well. I worked primarily with advertising agencies and brands. In addition to that, I did freelance work creating websites, logos, etc. Photography was my main medium at the time, but I slowly transitioned to using my graphic design skills to create murals.
Q: How do the children you work with inspire you to continue being a teaching artist?
Lina: It is very special to feel like a superhero in a school for a moment. You are bringing art materials and a different kind of teaching lesson to the students, so that is always exciting for them. When you go to the classrooms and you see that they don’t have many art skills, it really makes it feel like you are making a difference by bringing this new skill to students. Even if specific students aren’t really into art, it is more about exploring their creativity and having a space for them to express themselves.
Q: What is one of the main takeaways you hope the students gain from your classes?
Lina: One of the things I tell my students is to make their passion their work. If you have the ability to make your passion into your career, then you have certainly won in that aspect of life because it is such a beautiful thing. When you find your passion, you also find your mission in life.
Q: What are some of the projects you have been working on with students so far?
Lina: I was working with another teaching artist last fall, and we were primarily working with paper and collage. We were working at first with only our hands and then transitioned to scissors. Eventually, we were working on composition and more complex works. At my current residency, I decided to go back to the basics of art to make sure that the kids had a good foundational understanding of how to use certain mediums. If the students already know how to use them, then it is a great chance for them to practice their skills. I want them to feel close to art.
Q: Do you have any favorite in-classroom moments working with students?
Lina: When the students feel that they are doing a good job, that gives me as a teacher and the class momentum to be excited about what we are doing. I always try to encourage them and appreciate their art. It is always wonderful to hear that they have a new sketch or technique that they can show you that they worked on outside of class.
Q: What does art mean to you?
Lina: In my life and in my personal story, art can transform. Art is a catalyst in a community and in life. Art is truly magical in different ways. For example, if someone sees a mural for the first time and their face changes or when a student finally figures out a new art technique you can see how happy it makes them. It is a completely transformative practice. It is also about making a positive impact on everyone.
