Meet Mazaland
Maza Guzman
Where are you from and does that affect your work?
I moved to LA from Chicago in 2018. I think Midwesterners are generally better people than other Americans because we understand the importance of good neighbors; they can help you shovel out your car from the snow, they can lend you an egg when you don't want to leave the house in negative degree weather, etc. So I like to think that my brand embodies that sort of dependable, kind energy.
Who/what are your biggest artistic influences?
Star Trek. The Matrix. Lord of the Rings. The Labyrinth with David Bowie. My parents were into sci-fi and fantasy, so I've always been attracted to space and magical lands. I believe we have to imagine a better world for ourselves before we can build a better world for ourselves, so my artistic practices are generally offshoots of my imaginings of a better world. In my version of a better world, art makes you laugh or cry with joy.
We love that. How do you define success as an artist?
If I'm happy with what I make--if it brings me pleasure or pain or whatever I'm going for--and if someone tells me they've connected with it in any sort of way, I'm successful. Art is like our social connective tissue.
Does your art help you in other areas of your life?
Yes. Ever since I was a small child, art has been the way that I learn about myself. Mostly, I learn what it is that I'm feeling. Once I identify what I'm feeling, I can identify what I need, and once I identify what you need, I can heal myself. Art heals me, and it has the power to heal others. Art is medicine.
It can be so powerful. How have you developed your skill at your craft?
When I was a kid, I loved sculpting with baking clay, beading jewelry, weaving friendship bracelets... the list goes on and on. Eventually, once you've picked up a handful of crafting skills, you realize that you can get good at anything with enough practice. Now, when a new medium strikes me as interesting or curious, I tend to take a stab at it. Needle felting has been my most recent stab (no pun intended).
What is the hardest part of your creation process?
Believing that no one will connect with it. I'm getting better at recognizing that limiting belief, but it still plagues me sometimes.
How has your style changed over time?
I'm a recovering perfectionist. Also, I'm usually broke. These two conditions make it difficult to feel at liberty to experiment, but experimentation is essential for an artist, and so I think over time, my work has become better and better because I'm less afraid of messing up or wasting supplies.
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
Meeting other artists. There are so many magical humans on Earth, and yet we blind ourselves because we're afraid. Artists don't have the luxury of staying afraid; we have to confront our inner selves on a daily basis. Meeting brave, creative people is such a fantastic reward for being an artist.
Well said. What’s your favorite item that you’ve created, and why?
I think the first thing I needle-felted was a one-inch replica of my step-dog's head, which I then "mounted" on a felted "mounting board." He's a rat terrier mutt with protruding eyeballs, so I used glass seed beads for his eyes. I was shocked at how well I captured his likeness. His name is Mr. Wiggles, but we call him Wigs. "Wigs' Head Mounted" is one of my favorite pieces to date. I have a greeting card now that features it.
So cute! What do you love most about Pasadena?
The beauty of the mountains! And the fact that Einstein moved here after the war.
Anything special you’d like to share?
I'm a climate activist who’s about to launch an effort to save the world. It's called the Green New Now, and I'm giving away stickers to promote it. Come grab yours!
Catch Mazaland at Jackalope Pasadena on April 29th & 30th.
Instagram: @undercovergrom