Stop & Talk

Singer 0:00
Stop talk to me.

Crystal Page 0:11
Hi grant.

Grant Oliphant 0:11
Hi Crystal,

Crystal Page 0:12
how's your day going?

Grant Oliphant 0:13
It is great. It's particularly great because I just got to speak to one of our grantees, Claudia Rodriguez Biezunski, who is textile artist and really an amazing individual.

Crystal Page 0:30
Yes, I have been to a Sew Loka workshop, and I was so nervous, but she made it fun and warm. So I'm excited for this interview today,

Grant Oliphant 0:39
and we have, we should point out that we have a visual component to this interview, which I hope folks will check out on the website, because we show some of Claudia's artwork, and it really is exceptional, and I've had the opportunity since this interview to talk to other folks in the community about her work. She is a real San Diego artist.

Crystal Page 1:05
Oh yeah, and the culture is rich and vibrant. So I think maybe on this one as well, we should just jump in. Let's enjoy it.

Grant Oliphant 1:16
Claudia, thank you so much for being here. Thank you. This is your energy is infectious. I are but I have to confess, I feel like the least qualified person ever to do this interview, because, because what you do is so cool

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 1:30
thank you,

Grant Oliphant 1:30
and in a world that I just don't dwell in. So actually, let's start by looking at a little bit at your artwork and your medium. You are a textile artist, yes, and you well, so why don't you just share with us what that looks like?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 1:50
Yes, should we bring out some pieces?

Grant Oliphant 1:54
If you would. You've got some pieces here and do this is a chance. Those of you who know what this is can view it as Claudia educating me, but I think, I just think this is fun to look at.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 2:05
Yes, so this is a jacket that was commissioned by the Wave, which is the women's soccer team here in San Diego. And it's made out of three jerseys and two jerseys and three sweaters, and it's all patchwork. And then we layered it with all kinds of different patches. And so we wanted to integrate, like Latino fabrics, like the Otomi patches. And I love just adding a lot of different types of elements. And so we did all the patches, and then the back of it is

Grant Oliphant 2:36
extraordinary, by the way,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 2:37
thank you. The back is we did the crest and it is leather, and then we use tee shirts and sweaters. And we really wanted to celebrate that Latino influence by adding vamos wave, which is like, basically cheering on the team. And it was a lot of fun. And, you know, I feel like I really, get really deep into it and have a lot of fun with it, and cut it and sew it and and so this is a start to finish creation. And so what that means is that I cut everything up and then sew it together, and then build the whole entire jacket from start to finish. So

Grant Oliphant 3:13
it's not like you're putting patches on an existing jacket. You're actually rebuilding the

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 3:17
building the whole thing. Yeah, yeah, which is a lot of fun. And so this is our wave jacket. And then this guy right here, he's part of a collection. It's called Mi Sueno loco loca, which is basically dreams and ambitions. And so this was my dad's dream. He was a denim distributor. And so my my dad was, yeah, he's still alive, but he's not doing denim anymore, and that's where I got, like, all my skills. And, you know, I feel like worth ethic, and felt like he kind of read me to be an entrepreneur. So this has a lot of storytelling that is my dad's dream, and he was a denim distributor, and denim is one of the most toxic pollutants, and so I feel like I'm having to clean up my dad's mess with denim. So this is another one.And then this,

Grant Oliphant 4:13
so is this reclaimed denim

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 4:15
Yes so this, this piece right here. It's made out of there's about three pairs of jeans, and so we just added every element. And so I really like adding what I call the fingerprint of denim, which you see, like the discoloration, then, like the hemming and all that kind of stuff, just to give it like a little bit more detail and more dimension to the piece.

Grant Oliphant 4:39
And when you say it's the most one of the most toxic of fabrics. Yes, say more about that. I didn't know that it

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 4:46
So takes 1800 gallons of water to produce one pair of pants. And so that is a lot of water. And considering that in California, we do have a lot of droughts, it's good to understand what are the products that we're buying and and what are the impacts on our climate change? And denim is one of those really harsh pollutants. And so for me, understanding why denim was created, which was for the working class, and the way that the weave was made was meant to hide those stains for people that were working and all that. And so for me, understand that it was like such a strong textile, I really want to utilize it to create more cool things once its life ends.

Grant Oliphant 5:27
So part of your art is not only reinventing these existing jackets or what have you, but there's a narrative behind the material.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 5:40
Yeah, all right, yes. With everything, there's storytelling involved with all of them. I really like storytelling through it and explaining, like, why we use specific textiles. Sometimes it's for purposes of, like, giving you, like, warmth and comfort and all that kind of stuff, which I guess really we jump into this, this one. And so this is a piece, beautiful. Thank you. It is what I call a leather mosaic. And so it's basically layered pieces of leather. They're tiny pieces that are cut out. And then we do a layering effect, and then we sew it all together. And so this was at the Menge at their niche outside display, and it was a lot of fun. And I really feel like the Virgen de Guadalupe holds a lot of like, feminist energy, and she really reminds me a lot about my grandma. And so an image like this is very like, there's a lot of cultural representation, but also a lot of like, elements of like my grandma and that warmth and that faith and, you know, just like a really, you know, good feeling and, and I just love a lot of colors. So when you do come and visit the studio, you'll see, like, an explosion of color everywhere. So this was definitely something where I'm like, just keep adding all the colors into it. So this

Grant Oliphant 7:04
This is beautiful. Start off as existing fabrics at all?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 7:10
Yes, so we had the pink fabric. We had a lot of it. And so we really felt that that color, pink was really going to be like an eye catching pink. And so we built the whole entire jacket. We had a lot of these ribbons and really fun, like tassel, kind of French here. And so we're like, let's just keep adding some stuff, and you know, we'll see what happens. And so this one is also part of Mi Sueno loca, and it's basically i i did this self portrait, and that's actually me when I was, like, 16, and it was, like, one of the hardest years of my life. I feel I was an at risk youth. And so this year, I had gotten kicked out of high school, and I was having a really difficult time trying to cope with, like, I guess, like my family falling apart. And so when I look back at this picture, like there's a little bit of sadness in my eyes, because, you know, you're just kind of like a lost teen. And I think as like a teen, sometimes you feel like you have it all worked out, and that or not, and that your parents don't understand you, right? And so I basically used a lot of recycled pieces for, like the face, and kind of did a free motion to sketch out, like the the detailings of like the eyes and the face. And I had liberty spikes back then, which was a lot of fun. But like I said, I love denim, and so this is all black denim, and I really wanted to add all those like punk elements of me when I was like a, like a teen, and just really wanted to go overboard. It

Grant Oliphant 8:46
depends. And yeah, sewing is not dead, Yes. Were you making a statement there?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 8:50
Yes, and sewing is not dead, and I feel like it's very much alive. We're wearing it every single day with our clothes, with upholstery in the room with upholstery in our cars, with our shoes, like it's all over, all around us, all around us. And I feel like a lot of the times, we just don't really like appreciate those kind of things. And so it's really good to to create that T shirt that says sewing is not dead.

Grant Oliphant 9:19
I like this. No snitches. Just stitches

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 9:21
yeah, just yeah, just only stitches.

Grant Oliphant 9:25
Thank you so much for for sharing all of that with us that that felt like my you know, morning news segment, I it's it was fun to get to see the work you do, and I think it will help everybody understand a little bit more of what you and soloka are about. Yeah, let's start by talking you began to address this. I mean, you're in sharing with us about your father and his work in the denim industry, and you in your fascination with sewing. But how did you. Your family shape the path that you took in terms of being an artist and entrepreneur and infashion,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 10:07
I feel like my dad now, looking back, I felt like he really did breed me to be an entrepreneur. When I was like 12, he closed down the factory and he moved everything into the garage, and I was just watching him in there all the time. And, you know, he was making, you know, fleece jackets and selling them at the swap meet. And my dad was always that kind of person that he wanted to give people a deal. So it was like, two jackets for 30 bucks or one for 20, you know. And so he was all about the deals. And I remember, you know, on Fridays was our production day, so the whole family would go in there, we would make the stuff, and then on Saturday and Sunday, he would drop me off and my siblings to sell the clothes. And I just remember,

Grant Oliphant 10:47
so, you were part of this enterprise

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 10:49
I was part of the, yeah, I was one of the sales executives. And so it was, you know, I feel like at the time it was, it was a little embarrassing, you know, no one wants to be a 12 year old selling at the swap meet when it wasn't the cool thing to do. And I do feel like my dad really wanted to set me up to be self sufficient, to not have to depend on having to have like any kind of like Job, or to be able to move around freely, and to be to have, like a skill. And I feel like my dad was a very hard working man that really wanted to to give us those resources for us, not to have to depend on anyone. And I feel like you really did a really good job doing that.

Grant Oliphant 11:34
So when you, when you started thinking about what you are in terms of the career you were going entrepreneur was obviously part of it. But, you know, I'm curious how you came to the the self identity around textile artist, because you could have said, fashion designer. You You could have said, you know, I'm a I'm a clothes maker. How did you arrive at shaping yourself that way.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 12:01
It was really difficult, to be honest, because I felt like it was really difficult for me to just claim myself to be an artist. I've always been, like, a creative and all my teachers ever since I was like, in first grade, would always like, you know, tell my mom, oh my gosh, she's so creative. She's so like, you know. And my mom would be like, okay, you know, she didn't, she didn't value creativity as like a life skill or any of that kind of stuff.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 12:25
And so for me, especially, being like a brown woman and brown business owner, I felt like, when people see a sewing machine, they usually just feel like we're there to service someone and that we're there to fix clothes and do all that kind of stuff. And so I was getting a lot of those kind of, you know, people that were like, tailor my clothes and do all that kind of stuff. And I really wanted to elevate myself, to push myself out of those limits and to create pieces that we're going to be able to tell stories and would change the narrative of how we're viewing clothes. And so for me, I really wanted to step out of that, that feeling of my parents sewing to survive. And I wanted to step into that space as I want to take sewing as a way of expression and storytelling and changing like these things that we see clothes as, just like, you know, throw away. And so I really wanted to change that narrative through it. So becoming a textile artist, I felt like that was really going to help, kind of like, change what people could view me as and how I was going to create, like, these really cool pieces.

Grant Oliphant 13:34
There's so many different questions I want to ask you based off of that. And I love the love the fact that you you view yourself, or viewed yourself as maybe helping people to reinvent how they view an entire category of things that we take for granted in everyday life, which is clothing. So you truly are an artist that because only artists think that way, but, but I'm I'm I'm curious, do you ever encounter, um, sort of pushback from more traditional artists, or people who look at the more traditional arts and say, What you're doing isn't art? Yes, and how do you what's your rejoinder?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 14:15
I feel like I like I said, I've always been creative, and my realm of expression has always been like creating clothes, and especially creating pieces that, like the ones that I just showed you. And for me, like I never was, like, invited to be part of, like, any kind of, like art show or things like that. And so, you know, it hurt my ego a little bit. So I was like, Well, you know what they say, if you're not invited to the table, you should build your own table. So I started wanting to host my own art shows and really bringing in friends that maybe they weren't, I guess, viewed as, as you know, they were newer artists, that maybe they were they weren't being invited as well. And so creating like a table for. All of us to be able to sit down and showcase our work. And for me, I have always felt like, if there isn't an opportunity out there, for you, you make your own opportunity.

Grant Oliphant 15:09
I admire that so much. So is that where the idea for Sew Loka came from? Tell us a little bit about about, about this dream,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 15:21
The crazy journey,

Grant Oliphant 15:23
and I mean, what it is, yeah, and how it came about.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 15:27
So I, um, I feel like it really started my last job, I was a receptionist for a physical therapy place out in LA. I'm originally from LA, and I remember I was sitting with like a girlfriend, and she was celebrating 10 years of being at this place, and I just kind of remember thinking like, I don't think it could be here for 10 years, which it was the best job that I ever had, and they accommodated every creative thing I wanted to do. And, you know, which was great, but I just couldn't see myself being there or growing in a career there, or any of that kind of stuff. And so I started to think, you know, how can I be successful in life if I didn't go to college? And so I didn't go to college, it was just a very intimidating process for me. Both of my parents don't speak English, and so I didn't understand how to get to that point of everything that was the college experience, and so I didn't end up going to college. I actually went to a trade school. And I just remember thinking, like, if I wanted to be successful, I should start my own business. And I laugh about it, because it, you know, my dad made it look so easy. He just made the stuff. He went and sold it, and it was like money in his pocket every single day, and he supported the family with it. And so I just kind of felt like it was going to be that easy, that I was just going to open up a business, and then everyone was going to just go there. And it wasn't that, it was actually

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 16:54
it's been a really long road, and it's been a very interesting road, and it's been a lot of learning experiences, and I feel like part of that experience was really like getting to know me as like myself. But also, how do we create something where it's not just solely based on our business? How do we create like a model where we could have people come in here and also understand like the impacts of like clothing and like, how much clothes we have in like, why textile waste is number two pollutant. And so really giving like a space to inspire people to look at clothes as like something more than just throw away and like something other than just like, it's, it's the season right now for this. And so really wanting to, you know, create these workshops that really teach people how to be more sustainable within their own clothes, but also just inspiring them to also take that leap of faith of becoming a textile artist, and what would that look like? And so the journey has been a lot of fun. We've met a lot of really cool people. We've done a lot of really cool things, and just grateful that, like, people have understood the journey. And, you know,

Grant Oliphant 18:05
do you describe Sew Loca as is it a? Is it a shop? Is it a collective? Is it an approach?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 18:11
So I feel like it's a, I feel like it is like a, like a shop, where it's very like community driven, you know? We want people to come in, and we want you to like walk all the way to the back, even check out our bathroom. There'sart in there too, you know. And so we want for you to feel like this is like a safe space for everyone to come and create. And the feeling that that people like have when they create or when they fix something is so contagious, and they become so proud of themselves. And it's proven that, like, when you add a little bit of like customization to one of your items, or you fix it, that you're more like you're more likely to keep it for longer. And we want that. We want for people to keep their clothes for longer.

Grant Oliphant 18:58
So one of the things I've learned in the I know just enough to be dangerous on this so you correct me, please. But you know, through the whole current tariff debate, I learned a lot about fast fashion and the fact that we are living in this world now where, based on the frequency of views on Instagram, factories in China will churn out a whole new line of clothing that will be in stores in the US or available online, I guess, yes, almost overnight, and the clothes are obsolete within a season, but they're so cheap that they are throwaway items Anyway, yes, well, You just shared with us is kind of the antithesis of that. Yes. I mean, I know you have an Instagram following, so I may overlap in that respect, but it's, you know, it's slower, it's, yeah, it's artistic, it's, it involves the remaking of things and reuse of things. So you're sort of defying Time and tide in history in terms of doing that.

Grant Oliphant 20:04
Why did you choose to lean into that? Why do you think it's important? What are you hoping to convey to people

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 20:10
I got into, I guess, what you would say, like the sustainable route. And I didn't even know it was a sustainable route, because I was like a teenager, but I got into it at a necessity. And so I'm one of six kids, and so we didn't go back to school shopping. I think the most we did is, like, we got new shoes for the school year. And so I always really wanted to have cool punk rock clothes, but my parents weren't gonna, like, you know, buy me the cool

Grant Oliphant 20:34
they weren't going to take you that was,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 20:37
like, too crazy of a store for them. And so I did have the proper tools to cut things up and to sew them together. So DIY punk is like a huge scene, and I loved it. And so I was in my room, and my first sewing machine was an industrial sewing machine that my dad gave me, and I was just in there sewing up stuff and cutting it and making cool outfits for the next day at school. And I felt like, you know, it was mainly out of necessity, that's how I grew but I love where this change is coming, like the slow fashion is really making, like, a move into how we're viewing clothes, right? And France, just recently, they started banning influencers from sharing content that supports fast fashion, which is really awesome. And I think that that's like a great step, and in basically cutting down all that mass production of goods that are just going to end up in a landfill, and I feel like, for me, being able to sit there and like, work on a piece for hours and hours is so meditative for me. And I feel like I've been in this space where someone wore something similar to what I was wearing, and I just kind of felt like they're comparing us, and they're saying, like, Who wore it better? Who Who looks better in that and I feel like with the pieces that I make, I really try to make sure that it's uniquely for one person, and so everything's one of one. And I feel like that it that does create, like, a sense of, like, being proud of what you're wearing, as opposed to something where you're like, this is just gonna last me, like, one day. And the frequency in like, these fabrics that are being created because they're all plastic, and so they're not good for you, and so for me, like, I really like using natural fabrics. Or the things that we do source that are, you know, are given to us where they want something created from it, we do want to make sure that that we're using fabrics that are going to last a really long time, as opposed to it just being like something throw away.

Grant Oliphant 22:45
So if somebody walks in with some fabrics that they want to redo, and you look at them and say, those are not good for you, you will tell them,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 22:53
I do, yeah, I'm really honest about that kind of stuff.

Grant Oliphant 22:56
I'm curious how you describe your style.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 23:00
I'm very much inspired by, like, DIY punk fashion. And so, like I showed you that jacket I had liberty spikes when I was, like, 16, and, you know, just experimented with a lot of, you know, hair dye and just like all the fun, you know, punk shows and all that kind of stuff. So that is, like, a big influence into the clothes that I make you see a lot of patch working, but I also feel like there's a lot of, like, bold colors, and I feel like culture plays like a huge part in, you know, design. And I feel like color is whenever I look at a lot of colors, it just makes me feel really happy. Like there's like, this feeling in my heart where I'm like, wow, that makes me feel so happy. And so I do like playing with patterns that maybe shouldn't go together, and I like forcing them to go together. So I like playing with a lot of different patterns and shapes and, you know, all that kind of stuff. And I like mix matching things. And I'm very playful when it comes to like design. And I feel like I kind of design with like a like, a youthful heart, and I just really enjoy it. And I enjoy just putting things together and hoping for the best.

Grant Oliphant 24:16
Well, I mean, your joy around the work comes across the your storefront is in Barrio Logan, yes. And I'm curious, is there a typical customer who walks through your door?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 24:28
You know what? We have such a wide range of customers. We have people that have PhDs. We have teenagers that come in. We have grandmothers, we have moms, we have-

Grant Oliphant 24:43
So it doesn't kill your vibe when a grandmother or grandfather starts wearing your

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 24:47
no we love it, and I feel like we definitely want to make everyone feel like they it's for them, because every piece is uniquely made, like one of one. So we. Really want for people to feel like they're getting like, almost like a wearable art piece. Yeah,

Grant Oliphant 25:06
yeah. Well, that's, I mean, looking at those, that's how each of them comes across.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 25:10
Thank you.

Grant Oliphant 25:10
You know you showed us one that was from the the San Diego wave Football Club, and more recently, I understand you've begun working as well with San Diego FC, the men's club. How does that happen? I mean, how does, how does somebody who's sort of taking this artistic reuse approach suddenly become, this may be a strong term, but the darling of the soccer scene in San Diego?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 25:39
Well, it was really interesting, because when I got approached, I was like, Oh, cool. They want to commission me for like, a couple of pieces. So I did, originally, I did six pieces for them that were auctioned off. And I was just kind of like, sure, you know, whatever you need. I'm very, like, easy going. Love challenges in my work. I love creating things that like I've never done. So I did two soccer balls for them, two duffel bags and two jackets. And one of the most beautiful things that had happened in that conversation is that they understood the the way that I work, in the sense of they understood that I was a textile artist that mainly worked with recycled, repurposed and reclaimed fabrics. And they did not want to change that. They were all about that. And for me, like, I was like, wow. Usually when you work with big corporations, they're like, mass production. We want this. And you know, these, you know, we want new and, you know. And so for me, they were like, No, we love what you're doing with this. Like, we really want you to lean in on that. And I was like, whoa. And so I've just had, like, such a fun experience working with them. We actually created 200 pieces for them for their merch of the match, and they all completely sold out before, I guess, like, the game even started, which was really, really cool. And so I'm just so grateful that that they saw the potential in working with the local artists that is going to take, maybe their damaged goods and recreate it into something more unique and like more of a collector's item, especially in like a, like a sports realm, I feel like those are huge pieces.

Grant Oliphant 27:25
Yeah, that's amazing, that it sold out even before. That's That's fantastic. Let's talk for a moment about the practice of the art. Because I'm, I'm curious about that too. You describe it. You actually use this language a moment ago, but you talk about doing this work in a way that calms your mind and it feels very meditative. Tell us about that what it's like to be an artist in this space, you know, because I would again, think of fashion as high pressure, and you know, you've you've got to meet your deadline. Yes. So why is this meditative and calming?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 28:03
Sewing is very repetitive. It like, the act of sewing, like, when you're sitting there and you're when you're sewing the construction and all that kind of stuff, it takes a little bit more brain power. But when you're sitting there, the way the machine kind of like hums and that kind of like, you know, sound. It just makes, like, this really nice meditative sound. Becomes your zone. It becomes a zone, and you just kind of get lost in like that, that like feeling. And it's really I had to get, like, a huge clock that tells you what time it is, because I was just losing time there, and I would look up at the clock, and it was like, two hours later and and you're just lost in like this, you know, this playground of like fabric. And especially when you're seeing your vision come to life, and you're like, it becomes like, very like, like, you're like, oh my god, it's coming to life. I can't stop now, you know. So it is proven that when you sew, your heart rate actually goes down a little bit. Is that right? Which is really cool. And so I feel like sewing is in the moment therapy. It allows for you to slow down. You have to be ready for for you to get into your own head, because it is so meditative that whatever thoughts are happening in your head, you're just going to keep thinking about them and thinking about thim and thinking about thim. So if you don't want to self reflect, it's probably not the hobby, but it is very it's very meditative. And if you are working on a project that's not too overwhelming for you, it will give you that effect. If you're working on a project that's way too overwhelming for you, it will feel like there's a deadline, there's this, there's that, there's that, but enjoying every part of the process, from the ironing to the cutting to the mistakes as part of the process, really allows for you to enjoy it, as opposed to like having to rush through it.

Grant Oliphant 29:54
So what? What have you? Because you you teach this as well, right? And you help others. Sort of learn the craft. What transformations have you seen come over people as they've as they've started trying to tap into that?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 30:09
Well, I teach at Arts a reason to survive in National City, and I love that program because I would have loved it when I was, like a teen, and we have, like, a sewing like, I guess, a workshop that runs for about 10 to 12 weeks. And these past two classes that we had, we've just seen a lot of teens that what they're doing is that they're upcycling and recycling clothes that they find at thrift stores, and now creating their own like shops based around those kind of things. And so giving them these skills to be able to repair clothes that they find at thrift stores, or, you know, upcycling, upcycling them into something like cooler, like a skirt, or things like that, it really allows for them to get into becoming, like young entrepreneurs. And so we're seeing a lot of that. We're seeing a lot of parents that they're seeing their kids that are so interested in sewing that they're now buying their kids sewing machines, which is, like, a really interesting place to be, because you're like exactly. You're like, what year is this? So it's, it's, it's been such an amazing experience just seeing people get really inspired, and wanting to see that validation from themselves, as opposed to other people having to validate how good they're doing, is such a powerful step. And you know, you're just saying a lot of people make really cool stuff, or just being self sufficient in repairing their own clothes.

Grant Oliphant 31:42
Do you see a shift actually beginning to happen?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 31:44
I do

Grant Oliphant 31:46
so say more about that.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 31:47
I feel like more people are wanting to do what they're considered grandma crafts, so like crocheting, knitting, sewing, gardening, things like that. And we're seeing a lot more of those kind of things, because they're more calming. Like sewing is, I feel like all these like skills, right? They're all skills. I mean, there was Home Ec, you know? I think I was like, one of the last grades in my school that was still offering Home Ec, so I took sewing in high school. But we're, we don't have that anymore, and so it's really important for us to be able to fix our own things right. Like, let's say that you have a button that falls off your shirt, you should be able to fix those things, and you shouldn't know how to do it. So like that, if you don't want to do it, you're going to appreciate the person that can do it for you, and that you're going to not feel like, wow, that's so expensive because you can't do it, you know? And so we're seeing a lot of that huge shift in in things that that were considered like things that your grandma would have taught you. And so we're seeing that come back now with the younger generation.

Grant Oliphant 32:57
I had, I had not heard that phrase before, Grandma craft, yes, but I, I totally would, would understand it. Yeah.

Grant Oliphant 33:05
Sew Loka, maybe connected to that has evolved into kind of a community hub in Barrio Logan, yes. Was that part of the vision originally, or was that just sort of an accidental byproduct of being there and being you and having this idea that you wanted to share with others.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 33:26
Yeah, I think it was, like, mainly accidental, but also at the same time, I feel like, as a brown woman, we're always kind of like, like, taught to be of service, and how can I help you? And you know, I've always loved people, and I enjoy people, and I love welcoming them into my space. And for me, like, you know, when people come in, I'm like, oh my god, we got new friends. And so I get really excited about that. And so I started noticing a lot of people were, like, yearning for for connection in the way where maybe it was like, as adults, like difficult to make friends. And so we started doing workshops, and we just, you know, open up the studio, and people come in and they meet other people that are into similar things. And so, you know, creating like, that kind of connection with each other is really important. I feel like communities should be, like, self sustainable and and should rely on like their neighbors, things like that, because that's how I grew up. I grew up, you know, relying on neighbors. And, you know, I still believe in it takes a village to raise like children, to own a business, to just live, you know. And so I feel like it was definitely an accidental thing. But I love it. I love, you know, hosting people in the studio. And just, you know, people will come in and they're like, Do you have a needle I could buy off of you? And I'm like, No, you could have it. What color thread, you know? And so I love because we do get a lot of, like, fabric donations. And, you know, supplies of, like, sewing supplies. Yeah, then for me, I'm like, who needs what, and how do I take care of you, you know? And so creating like, more accessibility and like for people wanting to get into that realm of of of art,

Grant Oliphant 35:12
when you think about what you just described and the role of art in building community, what do you think is the role of art. And you know, we're living in this time where we've got all this polarization and disconnection and epidemic of loneliness, and what is the role of art in undoing that?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 35:31
I feel like art is definitely that feeling of giving yourself self worth, like we were all meant to create. We were all meant for that. And so when you do create, there's like, a little thing that, like, happens in your heart, that you're like, I did that, and you're so proud of it, and like, you want to share it, and you want to, you know, show people like, look, I did this, and it was, like, my first time, or maybe it wasn't. And it's just like that really, like, powerful, like, feeling for me, like I feel that, like, lately I've just kind of felt very like, I guess, overwhelmed and, you know, unmotivated with, like, obviously, like, the climate of everything that's like happening, and, you know, being a daughter of immigrants and, you know, just kind of feeling like, really uninspired. But I also feel that art is resilience. And for me, like, you know, I had to slap myself out of it, you know, where I was, like, No, you can't go into that dark path.

Grant Oliphant 36:27
Completely understandable, though, but yes, I'm glad you did. I'm glad you had that moment.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 36:32
I feel like I was having that kind of, like, going down that, that path, because, you know, it did feel like overwhelming and, like, unmotivated and all that. And then I was like, wait, I put so much cultural references into like my work, and how can I be like, a great representation of like, who we are as like people? And that's where I was like, I have to be like, the resilience and keep going, you know. And I do feel that art is that it is a form of connecting with people, but it's also a form of resilience.

Grant Oliphant 37:08
I actually wanted to ask you about that anyway, so let's, let's just touch on that, yeah, moment, you know, you, you do include, and you, you showed it to us, references to Chicano and Mexican culture, and that narrative or storytelling is important as part of your work. Yes, aside from the fact that it's the culture you come from, why is it important?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 37:31
I feel like for a really long time, I've been on that path of trying to figure out where I come from. I know my both my parents are from Guadalajara and Mexico, but before them, you know. And so who are the people before them? Who are my ancestors? And so I've been on this path of trying to figure that out, right? And like understanding that, like my my grandmother was, you know, indigenous to, like Mexico and all those kind of things. And so really trying to find out who I was. And I went down this rabbit hole of like, who am I? If I know who I am, I could figure out where I need to go. And there was, it was so difficult to find documents, you know, dating back to, like, my ancestors. And so for me, I was like, wow, there's like, like, it was almost like we were erased, like we didn't exist, you know. And so for me, I want to create works of art that, like, tell the stories of, like someone that was here, that, you know, really documented the process of, like, who I am, as, like a Mexican American Chicana in like, the states. And like, really wanting to tell that story, because some of us don't have the privilege of actually, like, looking back at, like, where our ancestors came from, and, you know, we have been erased. And so being able to have that and to tell the stories, and to to be inspired, because I know my husband, he has his stories that he could look back, and he has his great grandmother's diary. And I was having a conversation with him, and I told him, You come from such a beautiful lineage. You could see it, like, if you could just tap, he's Puerto Rican, and polish, okay, yeah. And so I was telling him, I'm like, Oh my God, if you could just tap into that, it's such a you know, if you knew, like, you know that, like, just take that, and then, you know, just take that power. And just, you know, you know where you come from. And so for me, like, I want, for years and years and years, like later on, for it to feel like someone down the line, for them to be like my great grandmother was, and then they would take that and then they would convert it into something beautiful, you know, but I do want to, I think those stories are important to tell.

Grant Oliphant 39:49
Thank you for that, because I think it does. I would just simply like to affirm that your art is the response to the feeling of being attacked and feeling dispirited and disempowered, because you're telling the other narrative through everything you're doing in your art. Is it? Is it hard? I'm curious, because you are both an artist and you're an entrepreneur, which means you're an artist, and as your dad apparently taught you, you're also a businesswoman, yes, so, and I'm sure you're approached on both levels, and people want to learn from you because you're an artist, and others want to learn from you because you're a businesswoman. Yes. How do you manage those two sides of your brain?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 40:34
I feel like there was, like, a point in my life where I was, like, just thinking about it as like, a business owner, right? Where I was like, Well, I'm a business owner, so I have to make money and take care of the bills and do all that kind of stuff and have, like, a successful business. But then a part of me was like, Well, I want to play and I want to create and I want to do all this stuff, and the business stuff isn't that fun, you know, but also understanding, as a business owner. And as a creative I love creating things that I love that I would wear. And so creating like this more of a niche where people are drawn to it because it's so different. And so I felt like that was one of those things where I just kind of like leaned into that. I was like, You know what I'm going to show going to show up like this, you know, and we'll see what happens, you know. And so it has been a little, you know, I feel like a lot of people are kind of like, Isn't that like a contradictory of like, as an artist, you just want to create, and you do, but you also have to be able to self promote, and we want to be able to support the artists that are in our communities when they're living and we don't want to have starving artists or struggling.

Grant Oliphant 41:50
Is it hard in San Diego today as an artist?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 41:55
I do believe it is hard,

Grant Oliphant 41:55
harder than say, LA or or

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 41:56
I do I feel like, I feel like it is difficult for the purpose of of, there's a lot of opportunities that maybe are being gatekeeped. And so when you do have, like, a strong foundation of people that are willing to share their resources, and for people to, you know, obviously, like, say, hey, there's something like this happening down there, you should go and kind of check it out. Like, when people are doing that and when they are, you know, creating opportunities for themselves. I do believe that it gives you hope to be an artist in San Diego,

Grant Oliphant 42:30
it does that's, yeah, well, you know, I know that's one of the things we always think about here, that we want this to be a great community for artists. Yes, that's part of what makes for a great community. Yes. Tell us a little bit about the the our sacred planet,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 42:51
yeah, project. Oh, my God, that was so much fun. I so we've had that, that vision for a really long time. We've been wanting to do that project for a really long time. And obviously, as a small business, we were kind of in the space of like, if we did do this, how could we do it? Like we don't have the funds to be able to buy all the sewing machines or any of that kind of stuff.

Grant Oliphant 43:11
Can you describe what it is exactly?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 43:13
So our sacred planet was basically a project. It was a grant that we received from the science fleet center in Balboa Park, and it was actually funded by the Prebys Foundation, which was awesome. And so we were we created a video, and we were explaining it was art for planetary health. And so we really wanted to talk about, basically textile waste and how that impacts our sacred planet, and so we wanted to host 12 free workshops where we taught people how to be sustainable within their own clothes. So we had a tie dye party, we had a mend and repair we had a how to hem your own pants. We had all kinds of really fun workshops. And we basically were we bought 10 sewing machines, and so we had all these fun workshops, and people loved it. Every workshop was completely booked, and we had such a good time that people are asking about it now, and they're like, are you going to have free workshops this year? And we're like, we're going to make it happen. I don't know how we're going to make it happen, but we're going to make it happen. So we're really excited about that, because it has allowed for us to be able to give those resources out. And it's really important to especially having a physical location to hear what what your surrounding members of the community want, you know and what they need. And so I'm always really, like, curious, like, why do you want to learn how to sew? And then they tell me, and I'm like, Okay, I'm hearing that a lot, we should create something based around those kind of things, and it's important to to give the community what it needs. Because I felt like, that's really like, helped us, you know, fill those voids and help the communities that we're servicing

Grant Oliphant 44:59
there is this generosity about you that I that comes across as you're talking and you, you host a podcast, yes, called skills, pay bills, yeah. And on that, you, you profile other local creators and makers, and I, well, first of all, how do you find the time? But how do you, how do you think about that as part of your mission as an artist and as an entrepreneur,

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 45:26
like I said, you know, sometimes because I'm in that interesting realm of, like, being a textile artist, and people are like, you just so you're not an artist, you know? And so I'm like, I am an artist.

Grant Oliphant 45:38
You are definitely. You are 100% an artist.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 45:42
And so I, I know so many people that you know, just by talking to them, they have this great story of how they are paying one bill with like their skill. It doesn't have to mean that they're paying all their bills, but they're paying one bill and they're, you know, entering, like the their entrepreneurship journey. And I want to hear about it. I'm curious. I want to know how we could elevate them, and how their their journey could maybe inspire someone else where they're not their their journey isn't so linear. And so I feel like sometimes we kind of we get so hard on ourselves over like my journey has to look like this, or else I'm not successful. And it's really empowering to hear everyone's journey and how they did it, and in they share, you know, tips and tricks of like things that maybe didn't work for them, things that do work for them. And so I do think that it's important to get to meet local entrepreneurs, local artists, local just makers that are wanting to share their story. And I love sharing people's stories. I love hearing stories. I love, you know, using my platform to to share what they have going on, and it's just a lot of fun. And I love chit chatting with people. Yeah, it's a lot of fun.

Grant Oliphant 46:58
I so appreciate it, because, as you know, being a podcast host that makes this easier. Yeah, well, so two quick questions before, because, unfortunately, the time has flown by and we've run out of time. But for people who are interested in sewing, yes, or maybe, if that's they've got a different medium, interested in making art, they're just afraid of making the commitment or trying. Yeah. What's your advice?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 47:28
I always say, whenever you're trying something new, you have to give yourself grace. It's never going to be perfect. We're not striving for perfection. We're striving for movement. We want to just move and create and then perfection will come in time. But we can't strive for those things. We we have to strive to want to get better, and want to, you know, develop the skills. But I always say, just start. Don't overthink it. Just play. And I feel like, as adults, we don't have that anymore. We don't we don't have that time where we're like, I'm just going to doodle, and then everyone's like, whatwas that?

Grant Oliphant 48:04
No, it feels like the stakes are always all or nothing. You must be perfect and Right, exactly. So for you, yeah, for Sew Loka and for what, what project or dream has you really excited now?

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 48:19
I am really excited I'm going to be turning 40 next week. Never mind. So I'm excited about that. I'm actually like, I'm really excited about that. I love, you know, my birthday, and I feel like it's a lot of fun, because I'm grateful that I get to be older, yeah. And I feel like sometimes we take that for granted. We do so, you know. And I'm definitely getting my hot packs ready and my ice packs for, you know, my knees and shoulders and all that stuff. But I'm prepping, but I am really excited for, you know, the summer. I love the summer. I love hosting workshops in the summer. And like I said, we're really excited. We have this really fun project that we're working with. We have, I have another designer friend, his name's Chris Carson, and we're going to be working on a slow fashion festival. We were very inspired by France, and they just did a slow fashion fashion show as their Fashion Week, and we were so inspired by that, and so we want to create a festival, which is a slow fashion festival, yeah, that we're gonna basically have all kinds of, like, different booths where maybe you got, like a tote bag that you want to rebrand, and maybe you don't want to have that logo on there anymore, and you want to Cover it up, or you want to, you know, put some fun design on it. So we'll have different little, you know, workshop areas where you could sew and where you could upcycle some things, and where you could meet other creatives that are doing similar things in that kind of realm. And so I'm really excited about. That we'll have, like, a fashion show, and it's a beautiful space. We just toured it today, and so we're excited about that, and I'm just excited about what the future looks like. And, you know, I'm very motivated and excited, and I'm like, I guess I should start taking vitamins now, and, you know, but I'm grateful. I'm grateful every day that I get to do this for work.

Grant Oliphant 50:26
this has been such an uplifting conversation. And I yeah, I mean, I think, I think you have, you have a whole lot of future, God willing, and a very exciting one. And I hope you'll keep in touch with us about the slow fashion festival. That's that's an exciting vision. Yeah, for San Diego too, I think so. This has been a delight. Thank you with you, and I really appreciate what you're doing.

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski 50:52
Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Grant Oliphant 50:58
Crystal, what did you think

Crystal Page 50:59
that was a thrilling interview. Can I just start with saying I am so appreciative of you being open and honest about where you were with crafts and things like that. I think you being curious modeled what what we all should be doing when we listen to others. Yeah,

Grant Oliphant 51:17
I figured there was no other way to be. I wasn't going to try and come off as an expert and and I really was curious, and actually having her samples here, examples of her work that she was sharing, and then hearing the stories behind those. It just the interview took care of itself from that point. You know, she she just is so alive with ideas and joy in the work she's doing, and it comes across and, yeah, well, thank you for thank you for that, but I think it was the natural way to approach that interview

Crystal Page 51:56
and the joy in her work that you just mentioned. I know right now, you know, she's working with the football club, the wave, with youth. You can walk in when she has her workshops. So she's also everywhere right now. And I think it's just a matter of time till she's in Paris and New York and all the things, you know

Grant Oliphant 52:14
It's entirely possible. I, you know, I was, I was really struck by the fact that she does encounter people who don't think that what she does is art. And yet, to me, it was just so obvious this person is an artist to her core, the way she reinvents things and and the way in which they catch fire in people's imaginations. I actually had the opportunity after the interview to talk to a representative from San Diego FC about her work, and they couldn't say enough about how quickly it moved and the impact that it had for for their clientele. So that was pretty special.

Crystal Page 53:02
Yeah, well, and to your point earlier, whether it's the jacket or how she's rebuilding things, there is a joy and a vibrancy there that just, I think we all want to be involved and connected to. The one time I went and met her, I fan girled, so that's why I was sad that I was out sick the day she was here in studio. But what I love is you two talked about her being a storyteller and to rebuild from, you know, reclaim denim and other things. She's really focused on that story, not just the imagery of it, but, you know, what is the story behind it? What is the story here? And so would you just, what did you take away from her storytelling?

Grant Oliphant 53:39
I took so much, but, you know, she talked about her her dad and his work as a denim salesman, denim merchant, and how that sort of, you know, that opened the door to her, to textiles and to entrepreneurism, and it also became part of the the medium for her art and and so that was fascinating. The way she told us the story of what it's like to be her in this moment. You know, we talked a little bit about the broken state of our culture and our culture wars and and the the way she feels as a Chicana and a Latina who is encountering negative stereotypes and negative forces. And I actually really loved when she said, But I realized that, you know, she said she actually just confessed at one point that she was tempted to give up, and then she said, But I realized that I am honoring my heritage through my art, so why would I stop? And I think that was just such a beautiful statement of defiance and hope at the same. I found that really powerful. And again, another part of the way she tells stories

Crystal Page 55:07
agreed, and that practice of hope, I think, also comes in the form of her identifying the big challenge that is denim and the amount of water that's required, which I found shocking water, right? And so I also appreciate, not only is she telling a story about, you know, culture and family, but also about our environment, the use of things, how we toss them out. And so, yes, would you say more about what you took away

Grant Oliphant 55:33
Well, I, you know, I, I, I that, that it also was very powerful for me, you know, the idea of slow fashion. I think I've I've read about before, and it has some appeal, because it's an antidote to the over speedy culture and the and the and the waste oriented culture that dominates fashion today. Throwaway basically. But her notion of taking the time to reinvent things, to to learn a craft around them, to find the value of a piece of clothing, and then to find the art hidden inside of it. All of that was, was was really powerful. I also, I have to say, I love the idea of granny crafts. You know, the the idea idea of a new generation discovering things that our parents or grandparents saw as normal because they were part of life, when we actually recycled things and reuse things and kept them, you know, I when, when we're at sometimes it's so easy to become negative about, how are we ever going to solve our our sustainability challenges? How are we ever going to solve the problems we have? And then you meet somebody like Claudia who, well, she's, she's embodying a way of beginning to change that narrative.

Crystal Page 57:00
Yeah, and I love that she called back to the days when people did get to take home ec classes. In fact, she got to be in them. So, you know all these celebration of past practices that are actually very soothing, like the fact that she set a sewing machine and sewing that act slows down your heart rate, even just listening to her talk about it, I was like, I feel calm now, right? But the other thing that really stood out in her love of what she does was also, I felt that there was appreciation for working people. When she talked about the history of denim and hiding the stains and all these things. And I think sometimes in culture, we've treated the working class or people who work as you know, it's a shame, if only we could get out of these things. And so I just felt like all around it was a validation of of our life as humans who work and contribute. You know,

Grant Oliphant 57:50
there really was, and I, and I particularly love that you tied that to the the reality that doing this work slows people's heart rates and produces calm in the face of anxiety. You know, we talk a lot here about healing through the arts, or healing through nature, and maybe just having a more integrated view of the things we do and how we relate to each other does that for us too. So very powerful. I just lots, lots to celebrate in that interview. So

Crystal Page 58:29
I enjoyed it. Thanks so much.

Grant Oliphant 58:31
Yeah, thank you.

Grant Oliphant 58:39
This is a production of the Prebys Foundation,

Crystal Page 58:42
hosted by Grant Oliphant

Grant Oliphant 58:44
co hosted by Crystal page

Crystal Page 58:47
CO produced by Crystal page and Adam Greenfield,

Grant Oliphant 58:51
engineered by Adam Greenfield,

Crystal Page 58:54
production coordination by Tess Karesky,

Grant Oliphant 58:58
video production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina

Crystal Page 59:01
Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation team.

Grant Oliphant 59:04
The stop and talk theme song was created by San Diego's own Mr. Lyrical groove.

Crystal Page 59:10
Download episodes at your favorite pod catcher, or visit us at prebysfdn.org you