Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Valadez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I believe that my trauma and this certain point in my healing journey, have led to my creations. I am a mental health advocate and have a couple of other art themes that I am passionate about, but my Houston creations are my favorite!
I discovered Resin and liked the idea of using it to create dimension and 3D pieces, on canvas. I also work with clay and really enjoy sculpting, and the clay also gives me the dimensional aesthetic that I love.
The cups are actual Styrofoam cups, that are a cultural staple in Houston! Today you can find me at All Access Art Markets, and I’ve done some other fun events like DJ Screw’s birthday last year, and Turkey Leg Hut Festival! It’s all about celebrating the Houston culture, the 90s, and a time in my life that I loved! I’m enjoying meeting and sharing my creations with other Houstonians that love our city as much as I do!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I got started about a year before Covid and felt ready to put it out there more right when the lockdowns started. Most of the Art Markets were getting canceled and while I had to wait a bit longer, they all slowly came back and people were ready to get out and socialize!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart from others is that while I can create coasters and ashtrays, I wanted to use Resin in a different way. I feel that I connect with kids and the younger generation as the type of Art is newer, while the theme connects with the older crowd, us in our 40s, and kind of brings us all together.
I also love to include pieces and ideas from my culture as a way to bring us together! Also in our cultures, Mental Health is not taken seriously, so my hope is to bring more awareness to that.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most is that the people that are dealing with trauma, don’t feel so alone going through it all, because I felt that way. We all go through tough times, and I hope to share my story someday to help inspire others to keep going. If people feel more comfortable talking about it all, I think that will help us all!
I feel like there is a major disconnect between us these days, and it’s important that we communicate and process our thoughts and feelings. I had to learn the hard way that ignoring it, pretending it didn’t happen, and believing that time will heal it all only hurt me more.
Contact Info:
- Website: projectswithptsd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thats_so_htown/ , https://www.instagram.com/chron_ica/ , https://www.instagram.com/mmm_ushrooms/
