Cassia Maia's silk painting journey I grew up in the highlands of Brazil, in the state of MINAS GERAISMinas Gerais. There are a lot of mountains, farms and mineral mines. That's, which is why it is called ''General Mines.”''. My mother was a teacher and a very talented seamstress in a small town called Itabira (Iita=stone, bira=shiny). The ''shiny stone'' because refers to the city’s abundance of the iron ore. I learned at a very early age all kinds of craftsAt a very young age I learned a variety of crafts, and my mom used to say ''keep your art in everyone's heart.”''. I did notn't know the meaning of this, but now I always remember that it especially when I am doing my paintings. I understand now what my mom wanted to tell me. Mom She is 82 today and is still participating and sewing a few garments for me for my fFashion sShows; . Sshe is an amazing womaen! My father was a ''scrivener'' at the police department of in this small town. He died at age 43 when I was only 14 years old. My mom had to raise 4 kids on her own, and I can remember that, mom she always worked two or more jobs. The sewing business gave her an opportunity to raise us all, and to never let us go without anything essential. We had a simple life, but theire was always food on the table. We did not have expensive toys and I never learned how to ride a bike because it was only for ''rich'' kids;. W we couldn't never afford to have one. Consequently, my brothers and I learned how to make our own toys out of fruits, vegetables and mud; and that was the most fun childhood that a kid could ever have. Life was so good. Living in the highland mountains I always wanted to see what was behind the mountains, and my curiosity led me later on toto later become fluent in two languages (French and English), in addition to my native Portuguese.
Later we moved to the capital of the state , - Belo Horizonte (“beautiful horizon”t). My mom wanted to give us the best college education, and she worked even harder to help us attain that. In college I chose to study tourism, and I also went to art school, and then I. I also attended Alliance Francaise;, and I received scholarships in at all of those schools. At age 21 I had finished my education, and I was ready for more adventures, and in 1986, just one year after graduation, I applied for Club Med in Brazil. They hired me right away because of the Ffrench language, and the art skills and amy Bbachelor of Ttourism degree. Nothing could be better than that, and it was the opportunity for which that I was waiting for. I like to travel, I like the Ffrench language, and I like paintingto paint, so ''boom','- I thought of Club Med. I finally could finally see what was behind the mountains, and traveled further than I ever thought I would. Through my eyes my mom could travel tootoo and every place I went she was always there in my mind, and was of course blessing my path. What a wonderful life!!! Club Med sent me to France (Pompadour) to learn how to paint on silk, and to teach this art as a
relaxing activity for guests. I again had the opportunity to perfect this painting technique in countries where I had lived: Brazil, France, Tunisia, Spain, Morroco, Turkey and The United States. I think my work has been influenced from all those the places that I have lived. After seven years traveling and changing of villages, I had seen so many places, so many cultures, but I was also missing Brazil and my mom. In 1993 I went back to Brazil and opened my own silk painting studio. With a very skilled seamstress (my mother), I unveiled my boutique with many creative garments and accessories that were painted on silk. Our creativity was blooming incredibly, and I was doing all kinds of things with my silk. I became not just a fashion designer of silk painting, but also an artist with a wide range of creative manifestations in that medium. I was also popular among a wide audience with my unusual, original and artistic ideas. I traveled all over Brazil (north to south) with my art, toat various Fashion Shows, so that I could and selling my uniquely painted outfits. Silk painting became a true passion for me and I developed many techiniques to archieve my desired results. In 1998, five years after I returned to Brazil, the economy was disastrous, and the invasion of Chinese products killed all the artists’ sales. ...Eeverything was so cheap and... I couldn't compete with my unique garments with the inexpensive clothing from China. My brother Luiz died that year at age 37 and I was devastated; andI needed to move on. I needed fresh air and to see the world again. .. I left once more, my mom and my country. I had another brother that was living in United StatesS. ( Hyannis, MA) and that heopportunity ( another one opportunity in my life) brought me to Cape Cod in May 1998. I took thea long road to learn a third language - English. I did home study at first and I even took night courses at Harvard in Cambridge, to start me offbegin with. I fell in love with the USAU.S. and became a citizen. I also became a US citizen, and I have since utilized this land of opportunity, and believe me I didn't have not wasted anything. At first I had a job in a hotel as a housekeeper. Then I worked at a nursing home, and I was also a housecleaner on for private homes. This work seemed like a good way to practice the English language. I still have the private cleaning business today, where with all my clients who are the first ones that to buy my art. and Tthey also follow me wherever I go with my shows; . I am so blessed to have them. I think USA America is the best country in the world, because if you work hard enough you can make a great living. You can also buy many bikes if you want to. After 5 years in U.S., I bought my first condo in Hyannis and 1 1/2 years not long after that I moved into my house in Osterville, MA where I live until today. That was just the start beginning, and things got evencontinued to get even better. Eventually a friend introduced me to a most beautiful Cape Codder, a carpenter guy and we got married in 2006. I became Cassia Maia-Eldridge, but I still use Cassia Maia in my art work. The good thingOne of the perks ofto being married to a carpenter is that he can build anything, you want like my lovely studio in my basement where I have a lotmany windows, and my wood stretching frames for my silk in all sizes... I love this guy....What a wonderful life!!!
Comment [A1]: Interesting, but it doesn’t seem to have relevance?
Comment [A2]: What?
My mom, ''my best friend,'' becaome an American citizen as well, and today she has her own room in our Osterville house when she visits. She helped me and my siblings get through the premature death of my father and she is still there for me whenever I need her now. Today, I work from my studio at home creating fine art paintings, scarves, wraps, room dividers, silk cards, IPpad covers on raw silk, silk bags, silk jewelry and feminine garments. I recentely introduced my ''silk kinetic art'' in my shows. They areIt is a three-dimensional sculptures and figures, such as mobiles that moves naturally, generally powered by wind. They are all hand painted on silk. I have been through many creative phases with this sensuous and formidable art: art shows, street fairs, festivals, fashion shows, and teaching;... it seems like I have done it all. I also became a Silk Painters InternationalPIN member in 2013 and I went to the silk Ffestival in Santa Fe last year. I met so many silk artists that shared their impressions of the silk world, their techiniques, and moreetc. It was wonderfull to see meet othermore silk artists like memyself. I love theat organization and I will be there for every festival that they will promote. It also help to advertise and to promote this incredible art. I am still doing shows every year here on at Cape Cod, New York and other places locations where I am invited to show my silk art. 2015 This year has started with a few shows and presentations. The big one is a ''SILK ART FASHION SHOW'' oin July 11th at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, where I am have been a member since 2005. At that placeThe center has given they gave me so many opportunities. They have oppened the door for me so widlely during those years and nowthat is time for me to pay back them backis beautiful organization. This show will be a fundraising exhibition of 40 silk fashions, designed, dyed and hand painted by me. It will take a lot of hard work to accomplish this task, but my passion and joy will make it a fun adventure. It's a lot of work and a lot of pleasure. In closing, I simply want to express my gratitude, for some specials artists that have changed my life and have been an inspiration in my art, and I shouldn't forget to list a few of my favorites: MAIA DOS SANTOS (BRAZIL) - Talented seamstress, skilled tapestry woven maker, crochet specialist and embroidery decorator...she's my mother. CANDIDO PORTINARI(BRAZIL), EMILIANO DI CAVALCANTI(BRAZIL), PABLO PICASSO(SPAIN),SALVADOR DALI(SPAIN), JOAN MIRO(SPAIN), CLAUDE MONET(FRANCE), AUGUSTE RENOIR(FRANCE), VINCENT VAN GOGH(HOLLAND), NORMAN ROCKWELL(USA), LEONARDO DA VINCI(ITALY), MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI(ITALY). ''She maketh herself coverings and tapestry, her clothing is silk and purple'' - Proverbs 31:22
Comment [A3]: Change from all caps, to lowercase to fit the formatting.