Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantelle Rodriguez
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 moved to Austin Texas at the age of 10 years old in 1996, prior to that I was attending a fine arts magnet program for elementary students in Corpus Christi. I ended up spending roughly 20 years living in Austin and San Marcos area as I attended Texas State University, graduating with a BFA in Printmaking in 2009. In college I was an intern for Art Palace, now in Houston. A few months before graduating I was hired at the Mexic-Arte Museum as a teaching artist. During this time, I taught students printmaking, clay and other cultural based lessons including work for their Dia de los Muertos events creating large paper mâché skulls with students. In 2010 I started volunteering for the formerly known Arthouse Jones Center and Women & their Work. I remained an active volunteer for Women & their Work for 7 years helping with events, installations, shooting photography and video as well as participating in their yearly Red Dot fundraising event. I started working for Creative Action in 2013 and was with them until December of 2015. In 2014 I was granted a fellowship as a teaching artist through the city of Austin and Mindpop! along with a stipend and two mentorships. This fellowship along with many hours of teacher training at Creative Action provided me with the skills needed to become extremely adept at teaching art to hundreds, if not thousands of students in Austin. I’ve been a teaching artist for fifteen years now in addition to consistent art exhibitions including a Solo-exhibition at Co-Lab in 2010, Big Medium in 2012 and countless live solo performances as a musician. I am currently attending Graduate school at the Maryland Institute College of Art, studying the Business of Art and Design.
Alright, 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?
Leaving my hometown of 20 years, Austin Texas was and still is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss my old friends and old way of life in Texas. I’ve been in California for a little over four years now. I left Austin after a major break-up and the death of a close friend. My friend David Mcknight died suddenly in the San Marcos river at age 30. His death was a wakeup call that time was passing and there were still so many dreams I had left unfulfilled. David was an inspiration; he toured the world as a successful saxophone player and an original member of Black Joe Lewis. I’d known him since high school, fifteen years at that point and watched him grow. I also got to see the impact he made on our community through that loss. It wasn’t until after his death that I got serious about music and wanting to perform live, record, produce and tour… eventually.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multi-media artist and musician. When people ask what I do as an artist I say I teach because that to me has been the most difficult art form. Teaching is a performance you do to inspire others to create or journey along with you. When it comes to my favorite mediums, I enjoy installation art, collage, photography and painting the most. However, my installation work is where it all comes together for me. I like to create sound collage with my music using layers of field recordings, synthesizers and loops for vocals or beats. My first solo art exhibition at Co-Lab projects in 2010 included a wall mural, a photo album with found vintage polaroids I’d collaged on top of from the 60’s & 70’s, a short video with poetry/collage, essential oils and a tape of my original sound collage looping in the background. I like creating an all-encompassing environment and experiences for the viewer or listener. Inviting people to step into my world. I’m most proud of my work as a teacher, performer and a musician. I released two short albums over the summer that took me an entire lifetime to produce. It was a lot to overcome my insecurities as a female solo musician but I was able to produce my album “contemplations in solitude” entirely on my own. I released another album called Hells Bell’s with the help of a friend that is a bit more polished than my previous releases. I’ve performed live in Los Angeles, San Diego and Austin on a regular basis over the past four years. What set’s me apart is that I really do live by my name, Modesty. I do what I do for my own sanity and a small few. That very small fan base is enough for me. I don’t do anything by the book and no two performances are ever the same, it’s really about the energy in the room when I step on stage. The show is directly influenced by the atmosphere and mood of the audience. It’s more like jazz than anything. There’s a set of rules and guides only I know and the audience is along for the ride. Being on stage is actually a humbling experience for me as you’re inviting people in to see your flaws sometimes in the moment. It’s not about perfection for me, as Nina Simone said it’s about “reflecting the times”.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as a nexus between loving yourself and loving your community. I don’t think you can have one without the other. To me success isn’t fame or power, a degree, a job or a fancy car. It’s about inner peace. It’s about finding that natural balance between people, plants and animals. Supporting all those that come along the path and lifting them up with you as you rise. True success is loving the life you’ve been given and sharing that love with others.
Contact Info:
- Email: harmonymoonpi@gmail.com
- Website: www.harmonymoonart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonymoonart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/harmonymoonpi
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/modesty
- Other: https://modestymusic.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Alex Kacha
