By Clara Galvano Rivera
cgr.writepro@gmail.com
Our Artist of the Month is requete– talented Olga Ayala, known for her Hecho a Mano artisanal creations that promote Puerto Rican culture and identity.
Born and raised in El Barrio, Ayala vividly remembers the day her interest in drawing took flight. Her mother was making a grocery list and started to doodle on it. To her daughter it looked like a perfect Disney Mickey Mouse. Interested, she asked how she had learned to do draw like that and would she teach her. It turns out her Mom had wanted to be an artist, but once married with children, her priorities had changed, and had put her artistic ambitions aside.
Olga Ayala at Comité Noviembre’s National Puerto Rican Artisan Fair and Book Expo on November 17, 2018. Olga also volunteers as a member of the committee that organizes this event.
Ayala remembers she was always drawing in school and not paying attention to the class. She attended Commander John J. Shea Memorial School on 111th Street – and in an effort to harness her energy, the Sisters of Mercy tried put her in charge of the seasonal decorations. She loved it. When it came time to choose a high school, one Sister, spoke to Ayala’s mother about placing her in either another catholic or a vocational high school. Ayala: “I was so done!! I didn’t want to wear any more uniforms, or take any more tests! I wanted to go somewhere “special”, to a school that would foster my interests. I applied to three of the schools the Sister recommended and I chose The High School of Art & Design. It turned out to be the best fit for me.”
A funny anecdote: “When my maternal grandfather, Gregorio Marzan asked me what I wanted to be, I told him I wanted to be an artist. He laughed in my face and told me not to pursue art because I would be broke, hungry and would never be successful. I was so insulted! Obviously, I didn’t pay any attention to him, but would you believe, when he retired, he became an artist! And his works can be found in El Museo del Barrio’s permanent collection–he became the Puerto Rican Grandpa Moses! “
Her mother invited Ayala to a ceramics group she had joined and it’s there that she became interested in 3rd dimensional work. Not being too keen on working with natural clay, she yearned to find that illusive “something” that she could really get excited about. Magic was about to happen. In 1997, Ayala discovered polymer clay.
Working at Barnes & Noble’s corporate office had a serious perk — when samples of the books they would offer came in, the staff could take whatever interested them. By this time, Ayala, had noticed polymer colored clay in the craft store but didn’t know how to use it. One day she came across a book showing polymer clay jewelry. She took it home to study it and the rest is history. Soon after she purchased some color polymer clay. Ayala, remembers, “I was hooked. I loved the fact that it was air dry clay and didn’t need firing in a kiln like regular clay. Also, this clay did not shrink in the oven and the bake time was short. And, you could apply it in different ways. It’s artistic, and had practical capabilities. There were so many ways and techniques it could be used. I was super happy working with it. There was satisfaction at the end of the day knowing I had created something I was proud of.”
Her vending stories are a hoot, but vending is important to her because she has an opportunity to share the culture of the Puerto Rican people. “When a non-Latino asks me about a vejigante mask, I can explain what it means and why I make them. I wanted to be authentic. I found I could educate people on our culture, and that made me feel really good.” When Ayala began vending 20% of her work was based on the Puerto Rican culture; now it’s 80%. The tables have changed.
Olga’s creations at the Junta Hispana event on July 29, 2018 at Flushing meadows Park, Queens , N.Y.
One day, Luis Cordero Santoni approached her about the fact that El Museo del Barrio was no longer serving the Puerto Rican community that founded it. Puerto Rican art was invisible! In their gift shop “Latin Artists” meant work from Mexico, Central and South America, none of it was from Puerto Rican artists. There was a void that needed filling and the idea for PRIDA was born. The organization actually grew out of the needs of artists participating in Comite Noviembre’s Puerto Rican Artisan Fair that takes place every November. Many of the artists would ask them what the next event would be where they could show their art, but they couldn’t help them. Now, PRIDA sends out bulletins with information on events they can participate in. Ayala is PRIDA’s Vice President. “We need to promote the culture. We have to let others know we are still here.” When people see Ayala’s eye-catching artisan wares, they definitely feel the vibrance of our culture with which each art work is infused.
Contact Olga:
by email at: olgaamano2@aol.com
Visit her website: wwws.olgaayala.com
Instagram: olgaamano
Twitter: @olgaamano
Photos: ©Comité Noviembre/Ana Alicea