Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Lauren Silvera is an artist, activist, and modern-day Wonder Woman who is innately driven to create positive change.  There is not a single community, institution, conference or entity that Lauren has been a part of that does not enjoy a lasting mark of her presence.  Currently in university in Singapore for animation, Lauren is on the charge for spreading the word about the pressing global challenge of plastic pollution through art, and empowering others to become involved through their individual talents and passions.

Lauren, where are you from, where are you now, and how did you start as an artist?

I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but the reason I got here (the LASALLE College of the Arts) is because of my art. Painting and sculpting: that is me.  That’s what made me, and it sculpted my own life story when I was in high school.  I had a whole experience figuring out who I was and I always found ways to paint and put mud together.  It took me a while to mold a career out of a passion, and it has continued to mold over time. In high school, I went to Saint Andrews High School for Girls in Kingston and was the head of the Art Club.  Mid-way, I figured out that art is what I love to do, and it is what I want to do.  Now, I’m figuring out what I want to do with it and how I can use my passion as the cornerstone of my life.

How did you put on an entire art exhibition in high school?

At Saint Andrews, I thought, ‘How can I leave this institution without carving my name into it?’  With over 100 members, the Art Club was a great platform to coordinate my own exhibition, which I called ART EXHI.  The first one was in April 2015 and was a huge success.  We were able to raise about $10,000 US and donated it to the welfare program at school.  Really, art was a way I could help girls to express their own problems, express themselves when maybe words can’t describe.  Because of the success of the 2015 ART EXHI, I was contacted by Marley Coffee asking if I could represent them as an artist and activist to go to a youth summit on plastic pollution in the Bahamas.  

Tell us more about the youth summit on plastic pollution in the Bahamas...

When I got there, I realized I had been living under a rock.  Jamaica is so behind, and this experience completely changed my mind.  It was the first time I was really exposed to plastic pollution as an issue.  I knew about it but always put it at the back of my mind.  When I got to the summit, it felt like a wave hit me.  I hadn’t wanted to do another art exhibition because it involved so much time and I had exams and other responsibilities, but I thought, “This is your responsibility.” I couldn’t walk away from that opportunity empty handed and not use and spread the information that had been given to me.  I’m good at getting people together through art, and creating change through art, so the spark for the next exhibit ignited.

That’s where you first connected with Recover, right?

Yes! I literally saw this guy with a plastic bottle- it was Bill.  I walked over and he told me all about the shirts Recover makes.  I thought, ‘This is amazing. This is another level of art that I want to get to one day.’  He gave me shirts, I gave him coffee, and I decided to do an exhibition focused on plastic pollution to raise awareness because Jamaica is really struggling.  Bill and I stayed in touch and Recover provided drawstring bags for the project.

So, you actually put on two art exhibits in high school.  Wow.  When was the plastic pollution art exhibition?

We had the exhibition the following year in April 2016.  I needed to really think about what to do and how to convey the message.  I love the idea and seeing when people make sculptures out of plastic bottles, but I had to be realistic about how reused plastic can be sellable, exactly how Recover does- creating something that is quality enough to be marketable and saleable, and also impacts change.  Recover and plastic geared me in the direction of creating something new.  I started a drive at school to collect bag juice bags.  They sell like crazy in all the schools creating a ton of garbage- it’s just awful.  I don’t know how many I collected... tons and tons.  I realized I can use this material to apply to canvas and cure it; plastic lasts for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years and won’t break down, which rather than being an enormous issue as trash, is the perfect material for the longevity of an art piece.  I had months and months of cleaning juice gunk with my hands.  It was so much work and gross, but in the end it was amazing.  The Minister of Education was able to attend, and it was incredible with art hanging in all the halls.  All the pieces sold, raising almost $5000 US.  This exhibition wasn’t even about the money, it was mostly about the message, but all the money was donated to the same welfare program at school to help girls at school with financial problems.  The message from my first exhibition was Use your talent to do something, don’t just leave your talent dangling behind you.  For this exhibit, it was Do something.  My Mother works at one of the most biggest supermarkets in Jamaica, and she has been trying to spread education on plastic bags.  The supermarkets in Jamaica put up a lot of the art pieces; the art pieces are still flourishing, being used, and helping to spread the message.  

What are you doing now?

I wanted to not just focus on fine art- to explore different art forms and mediums and different ways to express myself using modern technology.  I always wanted to see things move. When I would create a sculpture, I could make it walk and sing in my mind and I want other people to be able to see that.  That brought me to animation, wanting to paint and sculpt and then make it alive.  I’m not going to stop doing the exhibitions.  I’m in Jakarta, Indonesia now for school, and when I first got here I used art to introduce myself to a community and culture that I didn’t know, I wanted to get to know them so I did an exhibit.  Fifty people came including the consulate and I’m still trying to spread the word as much as I can.  It raised $700 and it was the first time I used the funds to contribute towards my own education, which felt good to have art be part of making it work financially to pursue my dreams of the opportunity of this very intense animation program as well.

What’s next for Wonder Woman Lauren?

I have another plan.

Typical.

I want to have an exhibition for my final year in college to raise awareness on plastic pollution here, to encourage people to use their talents in ways that can benefit the environment.  We can only do what we can, but it will do something.  It’s exhausting how much plastic is produced every day, every year.  I’m surprised we’re not swimming in it right now, but in a lot of ways, we are.

Any more details on the plastic pollution exhibit overseas?

I won’t allow myself to leave this institution without doing this.  It will be a LOT of work but it’s going to work out!  Even if for some reason when the time comes, I don’t have a space, I will literally hold up my paintings myself and walk around the streets and talk about the issue of plastic pollution.  Even if I get to tell one person, it will be worth it.

What’s your favorite piece of Recover Gear?

I love the card with information.  Lots of people don’t know about this issue, and the tees and bags and hats can open people’s eyes.  I am working to do with my art what Recover has done and is doing with its apparel, which is truly amazing.  

Little does Lauren known that we already look to her and her art for inspiration on what is truly amazing… and a reminder that we all have a talent and passion to put towards tackling those big, global challenges one little bit at a time.  No matter how large or small a contribution, it all counts.