We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Oliva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Putting yourself out there – opening yourself up to critique – feels scary for everyone at first, but it’s an important muscle to flex. If your artwork or activism is for a cause worth fighting for, you may decide the outcome outweighs the risk. Of course, I recognize I’m coming from a place of privilege and what’s risky for others may not be risky for me. This is an area where opportunities to use my privilege for societal change appear. I recommend exercising risk as much as you feel you can at the time. After all, we wouldn’t have so many innovations, works of art and societal progress if those before us had not taken risks! With that said, I need to follow my own advice and use this opportunity to say that Breonna Taylor’s murderers need to be brought to justice. The immigrant concentration camps in the U.S. are a crime against humanity and must be shut down. We need to enact the Green New Deal and declare a nationwide climate emergency ASAP if we want a future on this planet. Also dear readers, please be a Biden voter in November. While he’s not as progressive as we may need in my opinion, pushing a centrist is easier than fighting a fascist! (I heard that quote on Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Fridays) If we don’t elect Biden, the risks needed to save our democracy will be unimaginable. Lastly, I’d like to riskily and shamelessly promote my virtual art instruction services. Due to COVID-19, I lost several regular teaching gigs, but I took a risk and transitioned to teaching on Zoom. I offer private lessons and workshops for kids, teens and adults. Please reach out – I’d love to connect with you!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
With a background in marketing and creative direction, I approach my art like I might approach an advertising campaign. There’s usually an important issue that inspires it and I try to take the audience into account. My main goal is to cultivate empathy for all of Earth’s inhabitants. I often use words combined with bold, graphic imagery. I also back up my work with grassroots activism by making efforts towards changing policy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When friends visit Miami, I like to take them to the Everglades. Not only is it an amazing experience walking by alligators, it’s important to see one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. Charly’s Vegan Tacos, KC Healthy Cooking and Naomi’s Garden are some of my favorite places to eat. Luna Star Cafe is a must for drinks and live music!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Mike has been supportive of me, my art and my activism all along the way.

Website: melanieoliva.com
Instagram: @melanieolivaartist
Facebook: facebook.com/melanieolivaartist
Other: melanieoliva.com/art-instruction

Image Credits
Maria Font, Scott Dickerson

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