Empowering Latina artist Mia Hernandez

An excerpt from Mia's artist statement: I am a Brooklyn born Latina of Puerto Rican descent. A painter and mixed media artist and blessed with the best of both worlds. With culture and family values being first and foremost I learned the discipline and appreciation of life. It was with my family that I first learned to appreciate the importance of an artistic community. Being surrounded by so many creative people provided me with a nurturing artistic environment that encouraged me to explore and learn without boundaries. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY taught me the value of diversity but my Mom taught me how to fight the battles of life and survive the wars...The themes and concerns of the urban Latino population have been a primary inspiration to me and are reflected in many of my sketches and paintings. Art for me is a spiritual practice. I never go into it with an agenda. I play my music and every experience is a new journey. I sometimes find that there are messages coming through my paintings. I am not the creator of the artwork the artwork creates itself, I am merely the instrument, the sharper I am that day the more vibrant the painting and message becomes. If I had to sum up my inspirations into one word it would be “Life”. The driving force behind my work is very personal. It is an influence of family, culture and a deep sense of spirituality. I believe that if you do not try you will never know and the only risk you miss is the one you don’t take. PRSUN Radio will talk to Mia about her art, her family and her upcoming art projects including two photo exhibits for Women's History Month.