Maria Camia
Year: Senior
Major: Sculpture and Extended Media
When did you start drawing/sculpting/painting/creating and what sparked your interest in art?
It’s been said that when I was little, at 13 months old, I drew my first picture – it looked like a smiley face. But I’ve always been doing art, I used to watch “Poppy’s Land,” my cousin influenced me with anime. In kindergarten when they would ask what we wanted to be – I wanted to be an artist. I went to ODC, a program focusing on art alongside regular school. Then I went to an academy for art in high school. Specifically choosing sculpture – it’s not really choosing anything, but I can do all kinds of art with sculpture. I chose it because it was broad, with sculpture you can do anything.
What made you choose VCU?
It’s in Virginia, it is the number one public art school…it’s like, why not? It would be silly to not pick VCU.
Who are your influences and role models, favorite artists?
Dr. Seuss, Elizabeth King, Leslie Rogers, Saya Woolfalk, Nick Cave, Yaya Coulibaly, a puppet artist in West Mali who is keeping up the tradition of puppets in Africa, Tom Orseler, Thu Tran, and Jack Smith. Jim Henson’s life and how he started making influences my work – the way they all can make an alternate universe, bring people into their world, make the imaginary world real for other people, bringing that world to fruition…
As an artist, what have been the highlights of your career so far?
The people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made – I’ve met a lot of amazing people, getting involved in organizations or being in a show and environment of interacting with others…but not just interacting but attending events for reasons other than just hanging out, like bonding over same interests, meeting people and them wanting to do something close to you, benefiting each other, helping others, and pushing to full potential. Whenever I meet someone new I enjoy asking what they want to do in life.
Do you have any favorite pieces?
“An End to the Masses: A Revolution to the End of Dumb” – a video I made.
Also, some friends and I were in charge of the culture night show of Filipino Americans Coming Together. We wrote the whole thing, organized the schedule, and directed. It’s fun to be with a lot of people and working towards greater good.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What is your dream job?
To be making my work and having people aiding me for it to come into fruition. Everything that they’ve been doing helps in creating my own environment like costuming, acting, dance, and music – on stage or in video.
Do you have any other talents or hobbies we should know about?
I’m in a band called “wolf // goat” and I play viola for the band. During the semester we would play almost every weekend but now it’s calmed down. I started at the beginning of the school year while they were working on their CD and I recorded with them. Any extra thing I do I just put in my art like playing piano, playing viola, reading about Mayan cosmology or Japanese puppetry or performance, and West African puppetry and festival.
What is something people should know about you as an artist?
I care about the human race and human advancement, comparing us to the very beginning of life and where we are now and how far have we grown since the beginning of time – is it significant, and if not, what can we do to better ourselves to a greater good?
My art is very absurd or off or strange, but beyond aesthetic there is a greater means, there is a greater topic being discussed. The way I make myself has a defined aesthetic but it’s not just that, it’s more than that, comes with a motive, a premise beyond experience.
A word of advice:
I always think that the people who have their life together and know what they’re doing, compared to people who are unsure about what they’re doing, look at the people who don’t know what they’re doing and wonder what they’re doing. People don’t get the opportunity to realize their true potential. It’s important for everyone to know that they’re better than who they think they are. We’re all here to help each other, there’s no need to put anyone down – help everyone live to their full potential. You can do great things if you just believe in it. You are special and you have all the potential to be everything you want to be. Go beyond insecurity, getaway from fear, and stop being comfortable. Life is very comfortable, we are so dependent, but it’s very important to be who you want to be.