Today we’d like to introduce you to Camila Pernisco.
Hi Camila, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised east of Los Angeles by my mom, a teacher, and my dad, a painter. Growing up, I would always visit the public library and various art galleries. I was instantly enamored by visual art paired with text in beautifully designed books.
After graduating from the L.A. County High School for the Arts in 2021, I began studying Literary and Visual Studies at The New School in New York City. I really started to center my creative work around the formation of a personal, academic, and artistic archive. To me, that transpired through writing and utilizing the book form as a physical medium.
My art is very partial to my upbringing in Los Angeles. As a writer and artist, I dedicate my visual and textual work to my Californian & Latino heritage, my familial relationships, and my womanhood. My materials consist of my journal pages, family photos, and found objects. My own archive is always in its construction.
Recently, to expand my artistic work, I started Go West Press, a small publishing entity dedicated to the curation of visually-driven zines and chapbooks. We utilize materials like photographs, handwritten text, found object scans, and lyrical writing. I have become rather passionate about the complementary design of textual content alongside visual content in the last year. I have assisted in the publication process of book works by pois é press and in the development process of a photography-oriented poetry book, “Memory Thread”, by A. Campa. I also had the wonderful opportunity of releasing my own book, “Ruminations”, this past fall.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most L.A. streets, my road has had some potholes along the way. My work is very much a part of my personal life so taking the deep dive into my memory, and specifically my intimate relationships has been a challenge. I think it has required the acceptance of vulnerability as well as open-mindedness, and that’s not always easy to come by at a young age.
I’m also bicoastal as I split my time between New York City and Los Angeles, and that has been a challenge in itself. It’s really difficult to feel grounded but I also feel like the opportunity to live such an exploratory lifestyle at a young age is completely fantastic.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For my writing practice, I work specifically in nonfiction. My writing tends to be quite lyrical but I’m too stubborn to admit that I’m a poet. I often think the phrase is too romanticized for my liking.
I often integrate my writing into a visual form. In that, I use collage within my book projects. Collage gives me an opportunity to present my written work alongside its supplementary materials like archival photos and objects.
I have a background in experimental video from the L.A. County High School for the Arts and I would like to utilize that skill set once again. I am hoping to embark on directing and writing some video poetry in the near future.
Right now, I am doing a lot of freelance work assisting in the design and creative concept development process of other writers’ and artists’ books. I absolutely love it.
In short, my work really stands to be intimate, meditative, and observational.
What were you like growing up?
I love this question. I often tell people that I feel like as I’ve gotten older I’ve reverted back to my four-year-old self: wearing cowgirl boots, nose stuck in a book, and scribbling in my notebook 24/7.
I was a pretty quiet and sensitive kid. As an only child, I spent a lot of time with my parents. Because my dad is an artist, I was always working on some sort of creative project, a juice box in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. Honestly, not much has changed.
Pricing:
- “Ruminations” Book: $10
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @camila.pernisco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camila-pernisco1303/
Image Credits
Anthony Valentino, Camila Pernisco, Kiva Nolan
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