Hi. I’m Elizabeth Gallardo and this is my blog.
I grew up in Los Angeles and moved back 3 1/2 years ago after living in a number of very different places (Oberlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Brooklyn). Initially, I went to school for art, then cinema studies, and then worked various jobs in graphic design, fashion, and the art world. When I moved back to LA I worked for a while on a community redevelopment project in Watts, until I realized I should really go back to school to do that right. After spending a year pursuing my interest in Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona, I switched into Urban Planning. I am almost done with my masters in Urban Planning and will be writing my thesis on the York Bl. revitalization currently taking place in Northeast Los Angeles.
A main aspect of my creative practice is space. I have been sewing and designing fabric space since my dad bought me a sewing machine for my 16th birthday. International artisan traditions of adornment have been a great influence on my work, as has the philosophy of the collective production of art work and craft for use in everyday life.
Quality of life is at the center of my belief system, and much of my work is focused around this- whether it is preserving natural space, creating poetic interventions in the environment, making streets safe and enjoyable to walk around, or just making high quality objects, I believe that everything should be geared toward enriching quality of life.
The other major aspect of my creative practice is a political philosophy and that relationship and inter-development to natural systems. I am very interested in post-soviet life/the capitalist/socialist conundrum, and the natural history of the world (life, plants, the universe). I don’t like money or capitalism and think the current systems are destroying both the natural environment of our planet and our human culture. Changing this system is very important to me and I consider experimenting with different models of livelihood a significant part of my life work. A favorite Roman Proverb– Money is like sea water: the more you drink, the thirstier you become. Another favorite quote about money: “Thinking you can be a rich person and not act like a rich person is like thinking that you can drink all day without getting drunk.”
Other things about me…. I was raised by musicians and I love music. I will occasionally post about music in my blog.
Email me at elizabethannegallardo@gmail.com
environmental dictator!!!!