Three of our Reach Core Artists were recently interviewed by Rocky Mountain PBS to highlight their artistic careers and achievements.
The first interview featured Matt Maes, autism advocate and small business owner. The second featured biology student and our youngest Reach Core Artist, Kesiena Sebeni.
This week, we’re excited to highlight one of our longest-attending Reach Core Artists: Cristal Darlina!
Image courtesy of RMPBS
Her artist name, Cristal Darlina, is in honor of her late mother Ruby, who had originally wanted to name her daughter Crystal to complement her own name. Cristal chose the Spanish spelling, a nod to her family's heritage.
Her love for painting was born from observing her father growing up, a muralist who focused on themes of social justice. She and her father went on to collaborate on multiple projects, including a well-known mural that had a home in Denver International Airport for years, titled “Children of the World Dream of Peace.”
“[I use] art to give voice to different types of struggles and injustices, and also to give hope.”
Throughout her life, Cristal faced interpersonal hardships and struggled with housing security. She found her way to RedLine’s Reach Program, where she was able to find healing through art.
Over the past decade, she’s become an integral part of RedLine’s arts community, serving as a welcoming and inspiring resource for participants old and new.
Now she enjoys life as a full-time artist, mother, and mentor who works to uplift other domestic violence survivors.
“What draws me to Reach is not the space. It’s other my fellow artists that that are there...It’s just great to be a part of a community as we all grow together, doing art and welcoming other people to the community as well.”
Read the full RMPBS interview (and watch a short video) featuring Cristal Darlina below!
'Art is a chance at redemption:' Local artist shares how art got her through her darkest chapters >
Meet Reach Core Artist Kesiena Sebeni
When our youngest Reach Core Artist Sebeni’s not at the Community Studio at RedLine, she’s hard at work earning her degree in biology.
Her art is rich with bright colors, which she says is inspired by the vibrant clothing found in her mother’s Indian culture and her father’s Nigerian culture.
In her recent interview with RMPBS, Kesiena notes that that RedLine’s Reach Program has allowed her to advance her arts career and find a supportive community.
