Today we’d like to introduce you to Opalina Salas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Opalina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been performing poetry since the ’90s. I lived out of town briefly for a short while and when I returned, I began to go to local open mics in the area. There, I met many of the poets that I began to work with regularly through The Dallas Slam team. This was roughly around the time period of 1994/1995. I was honored to work with Jason Carney who became one of the first Def Poetry Slam artists, as well as GNO White, a local poet luminary/personality. I met my husband at an open mic in Ft Worth. He was performing on stage the first time I saw him and the rest is history, I guess. In 2009, we opened a bookstore in Oak Cliff with the money a dear friend and poet, Dick Sevrens left us when he passed on. Cliff Notes was a tiny local bookstore that specialized in local lit, poetry and subversive literature. Our first location was located in the Tyler/Davis X+ Arts district and there we began Poets on X+ with Steve Cruz of Mighty Fine Arts. We also were a partner in the early days of The Kessler Theater and sold venue tickets on their behalf. The proudest moment was when little Cliff Notes became a sponsor of the Texas Poetry Shoot out in 2010 and hosted groups of poets from all around the country that came to compete.
The bookstore as a welcome spot for traveling poets, readings, book signings and kids storytimes. We had great kids reading series that brought local neighborhood leaders to the store to read and teach the kids about the neighborhood. I was proud of the pride in reading and community we nurtured there. Unfortunately, we were ahead of the game and a few years later we closed outdoors. I like to think we were the very first sparks of literary Oak Cliff. I couldn’t imagine places like Wild Detectives or Lucky Dog Books settling in our hood years later, and for that I am thankful. It just isn’t home without books.
Nowadays, I spend my time between Poets on X+ our monthly feature and reading that is sponsored by WordSpace Dallas and Mighty Fine Arts and the many local readings that take place weekly in the DFW area. I have been a member of the Mad Swirl collective for many years and have just begun in a spoken word and experimental music band, Your Loving Son with my husband, Carlos. My main goal still remains to be an open forum for anyone and everyone to feel safe to say and perform what they want. Our events are fun and safe, warm and inviting and I am proud of the features and first-timers that have blessed our reading.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road I have chosen as a creative has not been easy. I have always had to have a day job to pay the bills so I could do what I wanted on in my free time. It is only recently that I have been able to make a little if any money with my events or printed work. There have been times that I have looked around and felt like the only woman, or at least one of the few in my arena. There is hope however with a new crop of collectives and performance spaces that are specifically for female voices. A year ago, I became a part of the Tejana Cosmica collective with 3 other talented women and have felt the satisfaction of working with a group of strong women, My advice to any woman who wants to go for her creative dreams is to do it full force and not compare themselves to any other voice they hear. Chances are the majority of those voices won’t be female and there is no comparison! Be you, apologetically. Surround yourself with other artists that support and encourage you, Also, meet all types of artists that maybe are doing a different medium than yourself because the inspiration will inspire you in ways you never could have imagined! Collaborate and learn to work with all types of artists. It will serve you well and you will learn so much.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from others?
I’m very proud to be introduced to people I meet as a poet. It thrills me as I see that there are people that honor and respect the art of poetry and the impact it has on society. I am proud that I have been asked to mentor, teach and host an open forum in my community consistently for the past 20 plus years. Recently my body of work has been published through Mad Swirl press and I am very proud of the work that went to it. The collection celebrates the many phases of womanhood, community and reveals past tragedies and the growth that occurs from those experiences. I am always surprised by the response from younger readers, those in their 20s and 30s that are able to glean some insight from my past experiences. The book is named Black Sparrow Dress and it is my proudest moment of achievement thus far. I hope it will inspire women to tell their truth and to be unafraid.
Another point of pride is my film work with local filmmaker, Richard Bailey. I was an actress in his feature Telefoto, which was a haunted story about gentrification and supernatural forces. I had a great time being involved with many other artists from the community including my husband and my daughter who had a lead role in the story.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My mother was an avid reader. The local library was always a place I was free to explore and enjoy at my own speed. She taught me how to use it for all my resources and for entertainment. As a child, I wanted to write a book my mother would read. Alas, she passed long before I was ready to create it. She was and will always be my hero. She was an active member of her community and a champion of all things lit! I miss her every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: Vogueandverbose.blogspot.com
Image Credit:
David Worthington, Dan Rodriguez, Rachel Weathers, TEXBWA DESIGNS
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