Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city's creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year's Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 68. Liliana Gomez.
Liliana Gomez has gone solo.
The contemporary modern dancer worked as Dulce Dance Company's associate director for six years, but decided to break out on her own.
For the past year and a half, Gomez has presented her own original pieces, in addition to teaching at Fifth Row Dance Studio at Phoenix Center for the Arts. But she hasn't ruled out working with a group of dancers again. "I am working on creating a company," Gomez says. "But first doing work on my own and making a name for myself -- or at least trying."
See also: Scottsdale Photographer Bucky Miller: 100 Creatives
On Saturday, June 21, at Phoenix Center for the Arts beta dance festival Gomez will debut a new piece, titled A point in time, that she choreographed with Joseph Mack Hall. And she intends to produce another collaboration this fall with artists, musicians, and designers that transforms a non-traditional space into a vibrant performance space in downtown Phoenix. "This will be a full length show of my own work," she says.
I came to Phoenix at 4 years old, I was raised here, I'm a Phoenician. My mission here is to impact my community through my passion of dance, art, and fashion.
I make art because I have to. It is what I think about all day everyday.
I'm most productive when I have a project I'm excited about, I'll spend hours obsessing over it, what to add or change, the build up to a show excites me while also breaks me... It gets me ready for more.
My inspiration wall is full of art, lots of it, it inspires me and keeps me calm. One of my walls is full of pieces that I have collected and or been gifted. It includes work by Monica Robles, Ashley Macias, Isaac Fortoul, Mickey Jackson, Edward Castaneda, Lalo Cota, Hector Primero, Enrique Garcia, Joseph Sentrock Perez and many more. On my left are pictures of my grandparents, family portrait photo, a dream-catcher, Frida Kahlo photo, ticket stub of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker's solo show (the best show Ive ever been to) a José Limón postcard, a Polaroid of me and my dance partner in crime Joseph Hall and fliers for upcoming shows.
I've learned most from my parents. From the first day they stepped foot onto U.S. soil they hit the ground running, working on fields, working more than just one nine-to-five, taking their seven children on countless adventures, and giving us a childhood to remember. They, my parents, taught me how to hustle, and by hustle I mean how to earn respect by teaching me to be honest, humble, question everything and to always move ahead of the crowd... Quietly.
They taught me that anything regardless of what was in front of me, everything and anything was possible. For that, i dedicated everything I do to them, for the risk they took, and the risk they took on me.
Good work should always leave you feeling inspired, leaving the viewer moved and wanting more. It's a representation of you and your work should speak volumes regardless on what stage its on or not on.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more courage. The courage to ask for more, expect more, give more and to ask for it your way.
After you read this go introduce yourself to another Artist that is not in your field, get involved in something you normally wouldn't do and get yourself in awkward situations. Have courage to ask and question everything. Courage to step out of bounds within your own court...
Phoenix is thriving and full of so much talent, its accessible and available to so many creative ideas and solutions, it just takes us as Phoenicians to highlight one another and the work we are producing.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova 99. Niki Blaker 98. Jeff Slim 97. Beth May 96. Doug Bell 95. Daniel Langhans 94. Nanibaa Beck 93. Nicole Royse 92. Ib Andersen 91. Casandra Hernandez 90. Chris Reed 89. Shelby Maticic 88. Olivia Timmons 87. Courtney Price 86. Travis Mills 85. Catrina Kahler 84. Angel Castro 83. Cole Reed 82. Lisa Albinger 81. Larry Madrigal 80. Julieta Felix 79. Lauren Strohacker 78. Levi Christiansen 77. Thomas Porter 76. Carrie Leigh Hobson 75. Cody Carpenter 74. Jon Jenkins 73. Aurelie Flores 72. Michelle Ponce 71. Devin Fleenor 70. Noelle Martinez 69. Bucky Miller
