004: Miriam Quitaro Quinata
Miriam Quitaro Quinata, also known as Mirinata.art, is a local Guamanian artist who makes handmade gifts, such as leis and wreaths, and adds to them a pop of island flavor.
Mirinata.art
She started her career in such a unique field because she always wanted gifts that reflected the Chamorro culture, the same way various other cultures have come out. She starts with a vague idea of her design — drawing inspiration from nature, music, her family, and her culture. Next is her most difficult step, the translation of her abstract idea into a coherent product. Finally, she critiques and changes her art until she feels satisfied. She tries to add as much aqua to her pieces as she can as a personal preference. She also enjoys adding the strelitzias, better known as bird of paradise flowers. When Ms. Quinata is unmotivated, she takes a break until she feels ready to start again since she “can't force myself to be motivated to create.”
Mirinata.art
She realized the impact of being Chamorro and a Pacific Islander on her artwork just last year since those aspects were central to her identity and “sh[o]ne and shap[ed her] art.” Miriam Quitaro Quinata is a strong believer in “Representation Matters”, something only truly felt and understood by those with a lack thereof. She says this feeling fuels the “blazing desire to showcase My Best, in hopes that someday it will be included as Our Best.” She really focuses on this aspect in her Guam wreaths, hoping to “create something that would go straight to the heart of our community.” In fact, Miriam states that she “hop[es] to reach young, female Pacific Islanders, especially ones living stateside” and eventually, “the Deaf Pacific Islander community” though her artwork is for everyone. Another aspect of her artwork, this one from her college years, is the incorporation of language and sign language into her works, something best understood by watching her reels “on Instagram @mirinata.art.” Miriam admires musicians, “specifically, Pacific Islander island-reggae artists,” because they manage to bring her “Home with their Art,” they “help me feel any way I need to allow myself to feel at any given moment.”
Miriam believes that “art is a creator's expression leaving an impression on someone else's heart”, and thus that artists, those with “the strongest desire to express,” are meant to “carry and preserve culture and/or disperse powerful messages.”
To read the full interview, continue reading below. Check out Miriam’s Instagram as well.
Mirinata.art
Describe what you do.
I create handmade gifts; wreaths, lei, wall decor -- anything that strikes me -- with island flavor.
How would you define art?
Art is a creator's expression leaving an impression on someone else's heart. (That, to me, is the Art of art)
Why did you choose your art form?
I felt the desire to make things we can't really find; gifts that reflect us. We walk out of our houses in the States, walk into stores, and Euro-American culture has always been there, Black culture is there now, wonderfully, Pride culture is there -- cultural identifiers are everywhere now... in an incredible way that didn't exist when I was growing up. I didn't plan to step out as a cultural promoter. It's just what has been unleashed because I decided, I'm standing up and stepping up to the table.
How has your ethnicity/race affected the type of art you make?
I never realized how much my being Chamorro and a Pacific Islander affected what I create, honestly, until I started in 2022; if your culture plays a major role in your identity, that's definitely going to shine through and shape your art. I also believe so strongly that Representation Matters. If you have always felt represented, those two words mean nothing. We are such a small and rare community, especially on the East Coast, that I feel this blazing desire to showcase My Best, in hopes that someday it will be included as Our Best. I know now that not everything is content. But my best -- my best is absolutely content.
Specifically, with creating Guam wreaths, I wanted to, in my way, create something that would go straight to the heart of our community.
How did your high school/college years affect the work you make today?
In college I studied court reporting which is translating language; years later I would return to college and study American Sign Language - English Interpretation -- again, translating language. I think the best way to answer this question would be to tell you to watch my reels on Instagram @mirinata.art to see how I incorporate language and visuals with my work.
Who do you idolize?
I deeply, deeply admire music artists -- specifically, Pacific Islander island-reggae artists because they're the ones that can bring me Home with their Art. And by that, I don't mean making me feel like I'm on an island -- They're the ones that help me feel any way I need to allow myself to feel at any given moment. It's the greatest comfort that any stranger has brought me in life.
Where do you get your inspiration?
From my Family and Home Culture which is Chamorro-American -- and also from nature and music.
What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?
I stop. I have to walk away from it. I can't force myself to be motivated to create. I wait for my hands to get warm again.
What do you like incorporating most into your art?
Bird of paradise flowers and the color aqua.
What is something that you add to your art as like your signature?
I will try to add the color aqua wherever I can (chuckle).
Take us through your process for making art.
Just picture clutter, chaos, countless drafts, both positive and negative self-talk, and you're pretty close to understanding my creative process.
What do you struggle with the most when making art?
The engineering -- how do I translate what is inside of my brain into something material - how do I achieve the effect I want without it looking sloppy. This to me has taken the most time and energy, figuring out the How.
What role do artists have in society?
They carry and preserve culture and/or disperse powerful messages.
What characteristics do you think all artists share?
Those of us who step out as artists, I feel, have probably the strongest desire to express -- to label the shared characteristics ends there for me because we're all too unique.
What’s your favorite place in Guam?
My Grandma's house in Talofofo when she was alive - she had the most beautiful tropical garden... Also any scenic place in the South. The South is beyond breathtaking to me.
How has your artwork evolved over time?
I would say it's much "cleaner" than ever because when you do something over and over, it starts to be second nature, then you're able to start focusing your energy on the tiniest details of whatever you're crafting.
Why did you choose to become an artist?
First, I think we're all artists, everyone has a skill, a craft. My path unfolded the way it has because I'm currently a stay-at-home mom who needed to do something for herself.
Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?
Do Not be Afraid. And I want to laugh and cry when I say that. If what you want is to share your passion with the world, don't be afraid to let people see you -- I've made so many missteps, as an artist, as a person.. as a beginning cultural contributor ... and I learn from all of them. We are each a collection of our successes AND our failures, and this is what will set your art apart from anyone else's. The ones who are going to criticize are on their own agenda with their criticism, not yours. So also be careful of what you claim inside yourself, and do not own other people's negativity. All those meant to receive your message, will - regardless of popular/public opinion... We are all shooting stars with such a brief moment to leave a possible impact; if this is your aim, Do not miss your moment... Do not be afraid.
Is your art geared towards a specific audience?
Anyone who wants to listen to my messages is welcome -- but I am hoping to reach young, female Pacific Islanders, especially ones living stateside. Eventually, I'm hoping to be able to reach the d/Deaf Pacific Islander community.
