Today we’d like to introduce you to Gaib Ramirez.
Gaib, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It originated from an idea I had while living in Murrieta, CA. I wanted to develop a safe space for all of my artist friends to be able to display their work without the anxieties of seeking out a venue and/or contacting people they were unfamiliar with. Once I moved back to San Diego, I began planning to make this idea into reality. I decided to turn my home into an art gallery while my grandmother was out of town in the middle of April. It began with only twelve displaying artists and four performing artists. My second show was hosted in early June and the numbers began to grow, this time with 19 artists (one of which had reached out to me all the way from Australia) and six performing artists. I hosted my final art show of this year on the 14th of September and the numbers continued to grow with around 23 artists, six performing artists, and one vendor.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The toughest thing I have come across in this journey is the fact that I put together these events all by myself. They take months to plan and are both emotionally and physically exhausting. Another thing that can sometimes get in the way is finances. I am a college student as well as working part-time, so with all of the expenses in regards to food, drink, decorations, etc. the price does add up quite a bit. However, the outcome is always worth the struggle. If I were to give any advice to anyone starting their journey, it would be to take that idea they’ve been sitting on, and just run with it. You will never know until you try.
Please tell us about letssinkthesky.
I started doing art as a kid and used it heavily as an outlet during my teen years. I was lucky enough to have such artistic friends during my high school life to share this passion with. It was all of my friends that built me up and never let me give up on the things I was passionate about in regards to art. We would hang out all the time and have “art days” where we sat around and painted with one another. Watching their styles grow and develop inspired me a lot and drove me to want to be able to give them the opportunity to share their gifts with the world. As far as my art goes, people probably know me best for my faces that I draw onto shirts. The faces began as a simple outline with not much detail at all (Fran and I actually have matching tattoos of the original face that began this whole journey). With time, and as I started to grow, my faces became more complex. They are a mirror image of who I am and what I feel. Every time someone sees my face and asks me “So… who is this?” I can’t help but smile when I tell them that it’s me. It’s a different experience when people recognize that your art can be something more than just a cool thing on a shirt. As a brand, I’d say I’m most proud of the space I have created in my home. My grandma has been my #1 supporter in all of this and has been generous enough to allow me to continue to use her house as a venue and a sanctuary for young artists. I think the thing that sets me apart is the hospitality I’ve seen at my shows. I always see the same faces every time I host a show, as well as plenty of new ones and it just feels like one big family.
Who have you been inspired by?
My grandma and my mom have both inspired me to be the most authentic person I can be. My grandma nursed my love for art ever since I was a little kid. Being an artist herself, I always was amazed by the things she would paint and draw. Both her and my mom are the strongest women I know in my family. My mom is a single mother of two and works very hard to make sure my brother and I are comfortable, safe, secure, and happy. She taught me to always get up whenever life got me down because there is always work to do. My grandma taught me that, as a lesbian, I had a completely different perspective on the world and that I could use that in my art to help other queer youth that struggles in similar situations that I experienced when I was coming out. Regarding my sexuality, my mom taught me to never be afraid and to never hide my lesbianism for anyone, and to never apologize for being myself. They both have contributed a great deal to my success as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Email: letssinkthesky@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letssinkthesky/
Image Credit:
Gaib Ramirez
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