Tania Lara-Carlstrom

This summer I received 1st place in 2-D for my artwork. I received a beautiful blue ribbon and $100. I was overcome with emotion and I was ecstatic. In all honesty, it was my very first award ever. I called my husband and mom right away. It was great!

Just a few days ago on June 24th, I received a Merit Award for my artwork/booth/accomplishments. Again, it was a great feeling to receive this award, and I felt tremendously honored that the judge picked me. Again, as I did the previous year, I called my husband and mom right away. It was exciting. I received a red ribbon and $50.

Published: March 24, 2007

Local News: Rockford
La Voz Latina youth arts festival happens today

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR


ROCKFORD — La Voz Latina will host the Youth Street Arts Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at 412 Market St.

The festival will exhibit artwork created by La Voz Latina youth and an auction featuring art by local artists.

Entertainment will be provided by DJ Toni and local B-boy and B-girl break dancers. There will be kids games; a plate of traditional Latin food can be purchased for $4. Proceeds will benefit the Ambos After School Program of La Voz Latina.

Funded in part by the Rockford Area Arts Council, Youth Street is a La Voz Latina arts education and career-building program for Latino youths ages 14 to 17 enrolled in La Voz Latina’s Ambos After School Program.

Youth Street was designed by the La Voz Latina youth along with Liza Grisales-Buell, project director, and Tania Lara-Carlstrom, a professional artist.

For the past three months, the youths explored art history and were taught different mediums of art. The youths were involved in all aspects of producing the festival, including creating the art, mounting the exhibition, contacting entertainers and designing the flyers.

For more information, contact Liza Grisales-Buell, 815-965-5784.

First show at a Gay bar in Rockford, IL. The painting of the cowboy was sold immediately as well as Picasso. The next show will be this fall at this location.

This was a group exhibition that was done in the fall of 2004.

Tania S. Lara-Carlstrom

Statement:
I like to challenge myself in my artwork. I like to see what I can come up with in my "own little world". I hope that there are people out in the world who can appreciate my style of artwork. Please enjoy!!

Background:
I started to draw when I was a little girl in grade school in Belvidere, IL, and haven't stopped since. I have a magnificent supportive husband, Juan, and I have two wonderful boys, Saul Gabriel and Dominic Michelangelo.

I have attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL and Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL. Until recently in the past several years, I have started showing my work in the Rockford and Belvidere. I have a collector in Sweden, and recently I have received permission from professional photographer and author of "Naked Happy Girls", Andrew Einhorn, to use his photos as my models for my artwork. He has his own reality television show "Naked Happy Girls" on the Playboy channel, and hopefully my work will be on the show as well.

My inspiration is Picasso, Frida, Heironymous Bosch, Diego Rivera, and last but not least, Michelangelo. I love their different types of views and abilities. Especially, because they were not afraid to show what people really looked like, the artists' visions, and nudity. One should learn to accept nudity again in ART as we have in past ART MOVEMENTS. It is natural beauty.

Quote:
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up" - Pablo Picasso