"You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have." -- Maya Angelou. Laria’s abstract creative process has empowered and is therapeutically helping to cope with her long-term pain syndrome. As a creative artist, she kept her passion for art alive by choosing a new medium and continue her purposeful journey. Laria has created “Despite the Pain”, a five-year moving camera series, which focuses on transformation beyond suffering. Since then she has focused primarily on collaging on her iPhone to create breathtaking collages and to connect with the world through her art.

How has creative work empowered you?L: I lost my career as a dancer and so creating art has given me purpose and direction again. At first, I created self-portraits, just to depict the pain that is invisible to everyone else. After a few years, I started creating abstract work that helps me connect dots that I could not connect in my own life.
After a decade of experimenting with this, I submitted my work to ArtLifting, who only represent disabled artists. I was fortunate to be chosen and now through them, my art sells quite regularly.
This support has motivated me to keep creating new pieces, to set artistic goals and to pay for experimental treatments.

What is your most memorable project and why?L: I recently did a series inspired by Integral philosopher, Ken Wilber. There are six pieces and the first three are titled “Aperspectival Madness” and the second set is called “Integral Mapping.”
This project meant a lot to me because I took an idea, researched it and conceptualized the expression of this idea and then implemented it. Normally, my work is more intuitive and so this was an artistic stepping stone for me.

Can you tell us more about your “Despite the Pain” series?L: This series took me five years but when I started I did not know it would be a long series. With every year I kept working on another layer that fit into the greater puzzle of meaning. It started after living in India in isolation for many years with long periods of hospitalization. I could no longer do normal photography after this.
When I emerged from a dark cave due to pain, everything I saw was sparkling with color, light and beauty. I wanted to capture the transcendent emotions I was feeling from seeing our every day world with new eyes. I started moving my camera to capture earth swabs and was captivated by the results. Every time I left my house I would move with my camera and over time developed techniques in camera and in post-processing.
The series mirrors my own illness journey, the journey of the Monarch butterfly as well as the evolution of the universe. Each of the sections capture a part of this journey such as: New Papillon (new butterfly), Migration (travel), Union (love) etc..
The entire series attempts to portray transcendence beyond suffering. The intensity of the journey is in direct relationship to the fruits of creation. Portraying the swaths of our beautiful earth in abstract form can connect us to the mystical, which in turn can help us perceive that which is beyond suffering and the body’s pain.

How do you face obstacles in life? What keeps you moving forward?L: Some days I find it extremely difficult to keep going but human willpower is a force of nature and the stream of life tends to carry one forward hour by hour. With every day that I survive, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
The tools I use are simple. I meditate, this is a life raft. I also have amazing support in my boyfriend and in my family Art has been a therapeutic outlet and also learning about spirituality, mysticism and philosophy helps me get that -thirty thousand foot view - perspective is everything.

Who is your inspiration?L: Currently, I am inspired by LA artist, Mark Bradford and his paper layering technique and hope it will inspire me to push through the pain and leave the digital arena and experiment with non-digital painting projects.
I am always inspired by philosopher, Ken Wilber, for his genius and his own battle with a neurological disease. Frida Kahlo for her consistent production of work, despite the pain. Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Chagall and Mark Rothko for creating transformative work despite living through deeply troubling times both externally and internally.

What are your other hobbies?L: One hobby I have grown to love is watching nature documentaries, which get more incredible with every year that goes by. I also try to do advocacy work on social platforms to help others just beginning their journey with disabling pain. I also enjoy spending my free time learning about art and going to exhibits.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?L: I love Prague abroad and New Orleans at home. In Prague there is beauty everywhere with a flare of Kafkaesque eccentricity. In New Orleans, I love the jazz and Afro-American cultural history.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?L: If I was a parent, the first thing I would teach my child is meditation. It’s not just a tool for relaxation, it teaches us who we truly are and this is essential when dealing with physical or mental limitations. Tapping into this takes practice but the gifts are infinitely rewarding.
Once a child learns this they carry their own retreat center with them everywhere they go. They can better withstand the pressures of life and the suffering that goes along with having a disability.
Also, giving them a safe space for creativity so they can express their emotions about being disabled, is very important.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in exploring their creativity?L: To get started, I highly recommend using the mobile phone as a tool for creativity. The application I live on is called, Enlight, by Photofox which is perfect for collaging photos.
When I go outside, I take images of textures like paint peeling off a building wall and whatever else I find interesting like colors, lines and nature. Once I have a little library of photos, I use bits and pieces of these photos and combine them with blending modes, which allows you to use transparency so they dissolve into one another.
You are basically painting but with tid-bits of photos. You can easily create something new very quickly and it’s very satisfying.

Any special message for our community?L: Being disabled stops us in our tracks and slows the pace of life. This “stopping” can be a blessing if utilized inwardly as a motivation to access our vast consciousness and discover its many facets. That is, art and spirituality help in finding transcendence beyond suffering.
They both provide a portal that goes beyond the body and can provide direct access to greater Being, that is untouched by physical suffering. This has the potential of giving the disabled meaning and purpose.