Meet Vianney Casas | Writer and jewelry designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vianney Casas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vianney, how do you think about risk?
For me as a person and an artist, risks exist inside my head. I am highly self critical and imposter syndrome haunts me daily therefore everything I have done as a career has been a risk for me and taken so much from me to pursue.

Unfortunately in my culture, art isn’t given the respect and credit it deserves. Most people see creating art as a “hobby” and there is also the “starving artist” narrative that doesn’t make it any easier.

Deciding to pursue a career in art (writing poetry and designing jewelry) meant sitting with myself, becoming my biggest supporter and create despite what people around me may think/say. Whoever is meant to receive my work will gravitate towards it. There is always someone out there who needs to see/hear what you have to create!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been writing since I was 10 years old. Since I have always had a hard time articulating and verbalizing my emotions, I have always kept diaries and journals. Winning a writing contest in sixth grade was what helped me discover my purpose as a writer and since then I haven’t stopped. 17 years later I write not just for me but for anyone out there who needs a safe space and the solace I have needed in my most difficult and lonely moments.

I am proud that despite the voices inside my head that constantly bring me down and judge me I continue to write my truth and share it with the world.

As a child I never cried. I didn’t want to add stress or suffering to my family so all of those bottled emotions exist within my work.

I also design and create jewelry because I refuse to box myself into just expressing myself through only writing. I always look for new mediums and creating wearable art in the form of jewelry has been a healthy escape for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly I am pretty new to San Diego. I am from Tijuana, where I lived for 18 years before moving to San Francisco to pursue my writing college career. My plan was to stay in San Francisco but, unfortunately, the pandemic happened and I had to move back home to Tijuana.

I went through some trauma and abuse and because of it my mental health was deteriorating to the point being in the city scared me so I had to move to San Diego (also to pursue my jewelry business and be able to ship).

I have been in San Diego for about 8 months now and it has been the best decision I have made. One of my favorite areas in the city is Balboa Park. My writing is very inspired by visual art so I am a big museum person. My dream and goal is to be able to visit every art museum in the city.

I also love coffee so one goal of mine, wherever I go, is to find the best iced coffee or latte. My favorite places to explore for this are Barrio Logan, North/South park, Imperial Beach or Hillcrest.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Every single teacher that has believed in myself as an artist and human deserves recognition. Coming from a broken family, I don’t have much guidance or positive mentorship/support so I always gravitate towards teachers and have been fortunate to cross paths with amazing mentors that pushed me to amazing opportunities & influenced me despite my insecurities.

I want to shout out my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Rosillo, for encouraging me to join my first writing contest in sixth grade even though I was scared for not knowing English (I won the contest and realized writing was my purpose). My high school mentors, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Flores, for seeing what I couldn’t in my writing and being like my second parents. My creative reading professor Juliana Delgado for telling me to stay in my major when I wanted to leave out of frustration and sending me a list of bilingual authors to see we also deserve to exist in literature spaces and years later inviting me to participate in Lucha Libro, a contest I won and got me my first book publication. My Bilingual Creative Writing professor Alejandro Murguía for inviting me to AlleyCat Bookstore Voz sin tinta to read my poems as a scared college freshman and introducing me to the art community of La Misión. And last but not least, a big shout out from my heart to Ana Luengo for being an inspiration as a Spanish professor but now as a friend and colleague.

No matter where I go in life I will never forget my roots and the mentors that made them stronger.

Website: https://Msha.ke/vhcwriting/

Instagram: @vianneyharelly

Other: Jewelry business: @7eterne7 on instagram Website: 7e7.bigcartel.com