noé olivas interviews Silvia
noé olivas Interviews Silvia for the Candlewood Arts Festival 2022
Tweed, nylon thread, gesso, plywood, spray glue, audio recording
Interview Transcript
noé olivas: What is your name?
Silvia Arambula: My name is Silvia Arambula.
no: What do you like to be called? Do you have a specific nickname?
SA: Silvia. Well actually, my friends have a nickname for me, they’re the only ones who call me like that. They call me Shilis, I don’t know why.
no: What’s the meaning behind Shilis?
SA: I don’t know why they call me that. One of my friends called me that at work, and then everyone started calling me that.
no: Does your name Silvia have a meaning?
SA: Forest…or woods I think is the meaning of that.
no: Is it a passed down name?
SA: No, I don’t know why they named me Silvia. I think my grandma loved Silvia, that’s why I got my name.
no: What do you dedicate yourself to?
SA: Helping. Helping everybody, helping others and trying to do…in any work I have, doing my best. If I could help, I would help anyone. I don’t want nothing in return. It comes from my heart.
I work six days a week, one day off, and I’m just at home or doing stuff at home, going out of town, right now, this recent thing that happened with my dad and so I go see my dad. Nothing different. Same thing everyday.
no: Your family sounds important to you. That’s something you dedicate yourself to?
SA: Yeah, to my family.
no: How would you like to be remembered?
SA: Me…maybe just…as the person I am trying to help everybody. Maybe they can say “Oh you know Silvia did this, Silvia did that for the community. Maybe that way, how I am. I’m really cool. I know it’s weird to say, but I’m really cool. I like to help the community and one thing is if I’m busy and someone needs help, I stop what I’m doing. I never say no, that’s my big problem. I never say no. When Martha asked me to work here, I said no first. I said “No, Martha.”, cause I know I was busy at my other job, I have another job. I said “No, Martha.” and she said “Well we have somebody and if it doesn’t work out we’ll come to you.” and I said “Okay, do that.” and in my mind I said “Oh, maybe it’s gonna work out, they don’t need me.” and then she said, “Silvia, we need you. Can you come and help us?” and I was like “I guess…” but I knew if I went into this I’d have to help everybody and I love doing this. I love this job. I think if I had a lot of money, I’d help everyone. But I will help, do what I can.
Spanish Translation
no: ¿Cómo te llamas?
SA: Me llamo Silvia [Arambala]
no: ¿Cómo te gustaría que te llame?
SA: Silvia. Pues, mis amigos tienen un apodo para mí, solo ellos me llaman así. Me llaman Shilis, no sé por qué.
no: ¿Que significa Shilis?
SA: No se porque me dicen así. Una de mis amigas empezó diciéndome Shillis en el trabajo y después todas mis compañeras empezaron a llamarme así.
no: ¿Qué significado tiene tu nombre, “Silvia”?
SA: Bosque, llano, o algo así. Creo que eso es lo que significa..
no: ¿Es un nombre de familia?
SA: No, no se porque me nombraron Silvia. Creo que “Silvia” le gustó a mi abuela y por eso me pusieron ese nombre.
no: ¿A qué te dedicas?
SA: Ayudando. Ayudando a todo el mundo, ayudando a otras personas y tratando de ayudar a todo el mundo. Sí puedo ayudar, ayudo. No pido nada. Sale de mi corazón. Trabajo seis días a la semana, y descanso un día. En mi dia libre me quedo en casa haciendo quehaceres o salgo de vacaciones, ahora algo pasó con mi papá y entonces lo fui a visitar. Nada diferente, siempre hago lo mismo.
no: Tu familia parece importante para ti. ¿Te dedicas a ellos?
SA: Si, a mi familia.
no: ¿Cómo te gustaría ser recordada?
SA: Yo…quizás…como soy…como una persona que quiere ayudar a todos. Quizás dirán “Silvia hacía eso.” o “Silvia hacía eso por la comunidad.” Como soy. Soy bien chida, yo sé que suena chistoso decirlo, pero soy chida. Me gusta ayudar a la comunidad, si estoy ocupada y alguien necesita ayuda, dejo lo que estoy haciendo y voy a ayudarlos. Nunca digo “no”, es mi problema. Nunca digo “no”. Cuando Martha me pidió trabajar aquí, primero dije “No Marta”, estaba ocupada en mi otro trabajo, tengo otro trabajo. Dije “No, Martha” y ella dijo, “Pues, tenemos alguna persona, si no funciona, le llamaremos.” Yo dije “Okay, hágalo.” En mi mente dije “Si va a funcionar, no me necesitan.” y después me llamó y me dijo “Silvia, te necesitamos. ¿Nos puede ayudar?” y yo le contesté: “Supongo…” pero sabía que al tener este trabajo, podría ayudar a todos. Me encanta este trabajo. Pienso que si tuviera mucho dinero, yo podría ayudar a todos. Pero hago lo que puedo.
Worker Patch Series
In the Worker Patch Series, noé olivas celebrates the fullness of the lives of three women whose labor sustains the community of Borrego Springs: Penny, Rafaela, and Silvia. This series takes the physical form of monumental versions of workers’ name badges, carefully hand-made, larger-than-life tributes to their personal stories.
Each piece is completed with an essential audio component, a recording of a conversation between the artist and each of the three women. They discuss their names and what they mean to them, their hopes, their challenges and joys, and how they wish to be remembered.
Installed in the Community Room and lobby of the Borrego Springs Public Library, an important gathering place for the town, Penny, Rafaela, and Silvia honor the complexity of their stories and elevates their visibility in the community.