Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Talle.
Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love of art, music, and all things creative have always been my heart’s calling…but began to blossom for me when I was a student abroad in Florence, Italy.
I was in total awe of the art…in the churches and in the museums and even in the train stations and bars. For some reason, the mosaics inspired me more than anything and I began making them as soon as I got home….and after a few crude attempts, I got my first big break –the opportunity to create a large-scale mosaic mural in a coffee house. I loved it…but had little knowledge of how to execute it correctly–I needed a teacher –which brought me to the mosaic master Isaiah Zagar in Philadelphia, PA.
Isaiah is a legendary folk artist who has covered hundreds of buildings in South Philadelphia… after seeing his work in books, I picked up and moved there…and thankfully, he took me on as his apprentice. My time with Isaiah and his family proved to be one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. I learned a lot about mosaics …and even more about how I wanted to live my life — the Zagars became a model for me on how to create an art-filled and adventurous life!!
I have created many large and small mosaics in my community that have sparkled up alleyways and buildings. I also love to follow my heart on community projects….my latest one was in the creation of mosaic altars to honor the lives of the victims of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. I drove them to Uvalde on the year anniversary of the massacre and left them for the families there.
I am also a musician, singer, and songwriter. I sang for years for my church band, the House of Mercy Band, and later formed my group Ang and the Ranch Hands. I am working on another album right now — which I am very excited about!
Last year, I also started a podcast called Dwelling in Magic in which I chat with artists from every discipline– visual artists, musicians, writers, actors, directors and comedians about their life and work. I am constantly creating — whether it takes the shape of writing and decorating letters and cards, singing, tiling, podcasting, or in my job as a mom of two-grade school boys.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say most of the challenges I have faced have been in the monetizing of my creative pursuits.
It doesn’t stop me from creating pieces…but it is an issue that I’d love to overcome! I’d love to be a badass artist who gets paid a lot for the gifts I bring and share—as it would allow me to create SO MUCH MORE!!!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from others is my heart and my ability to follow through with ideas. We each have our unique stamp to imprint the world with….and my greatest strength is listening to what my heart calls me to do and reaching out and adding beauty to the world in this way.
If someone is hurting, sick, sad, or lost someone they love, I often make them a drawing or altar ….and that is something I am proud of….my ability to empathize and connect through my artwork.
What makes you happy?
I am happiest when I am playing, singing, and making things for others–and collaborating with other artists and kindred spirits. I am happy when I get to share my gifts with others and add a bit of sparkle to someone’s life.
I am happy when I get to connect with artists through my podcast and share their stories… I get to shine a light on their magic! I am happy anytime I am with my kids…who are the funniest fellas I know. Their light brightens my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angietalle.com
- Instagram: @angietalle.art
- Facebook: angelacarlsontalle
- Youtube: @angiejoytalle
Image Credits
amyandersonphotography.com
