Colton fabric artist draws her inspiration from clan
Amber Calderilla grew up surrounded by creativity. The women of her family were all fiber and textile artisans while the men were all woodworkers.
“Family friends were artists and musicians,” said the Colton resident. “Creativity was always there.”
When the young Calderilla told her parents she wanted to get involved in the arts, as well, they were very supportive.
“We went to local arts festivals where I could see different types of art,” she said. “We went to local performances of music and dance when we could. I started drawing. I took dance and music lessons. I wrote my thoughts and ideas out. Most importantly I did these things with the support and encouragement from my family.”
Calderilla said she found theater to be her greatest influence.
“The costumes, the direction, the choreography, the set design,” she said. “Most of what I create now is because of my theater background. That and the early influences of the women in my family.”
Watching these women as they made blankets, as well as both functional and decorative pieces played a big role in Calderilla becoming a fiber and textile artist today. However, theater would go on to play a direct role in her career, as well.
“My theater background has allowed me the opportunity to perform a comedy show for international audiences as a headliner act on cruise ships,” she said. “I wrote the act, created a character, built the prop costume and rehearsed it with my partner. It’s all very nerve-wracking, but when you get that pay off of a standing ovation and cry-laughter, it’s worth it.”
Calderilla, who goes by the artistic name Crafty Mantis, considers her current artistic style to be an evolution of the traditional work the women in my family made.
“I take the foundations that they began and take them in a new direction of functional art,” she said.
She believes that art can be a lifeline for people.
“I’ve seen art give people a sense of purpose when they have felt loss,” she said. “I’ve seen art as a community builder, giving people a place to gather and share their creativity. In my travels throughout the United States and the world, I’ve seen art as a cultural identity. Art is so much more than what you put on a wall. It is a story told in physical form.”
Calderilla said that her hope is not only to continue creating, but to inspire others.
“I hope that people recognize that art is everywhere around them and, more importantly, in them,” she said. “I hope that people continue to see the value creativity has to the well-being of the self and to the community.”
Information: @crafty_ mantis on Instagram.