Meet Marcela Slade of Downtown Carrboro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcela Slade.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was born Marcela de San Félix Slade in Redlands, California in 1976. My father, a Mexican-American, died of a heart attack when I was 2 years old. My Colombian mother was left a widow with me and my three siblings, ages 4, 10, and 12. My mother moved us back and forth to Bogota, Colombia (1980–1982 / 1987–1991) until she finally settled in Chapel Hill, NC. I went to school at the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, Georgia (BFA in Graphic Design / MFA in Illustration (1994–2000) and lived 8 years in Barcelona, Spain (2000–2008) and another 8 in Quito, Ecuador (2008–2016) until I moved back to North Carolina.

My mother had heard Chapel Hill was an education hub, and coincidently, my paternal grandparents had lived in Chapel Hill in the 1920s). As a child, I was considered the family’s artist. My mother studied art; her knowledge and books influenced me the most. Goya, Picasso, Dali, DeCirico, Duchamp, Kahlo, Rivera, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, the Dada movements, De Stijl, Bauhaus, and Renaissance all intrigued me deeply. She took my brother and me backpacking through Europe when I was 11 years old, and we visited the Louvre, Prado, cathedrals and churches, and any exhibit available to us. Later, after my undergraduate I visited again and then while living in Europe.

In Barcelona, I co-founded the lifestyle collective xerrajeros. Our motto is to love what you do to live. I have designed, owned, and operated three gallery-studio shops with my husband/partner Christian Molina. Two in Barcelona: la cuchara art i disseny and sladesign and the third in Cumbaya, Ecuador: xerrajeros galeria studio shop. We created these spaces to house our studios and promote culture through architecture, art & design. I became curator, event designer, coordinator, and producer through these spaces. I am a multi-discipline artist/designer/curator/teacher. I started teaching art & design in Ecuador at Universidad Catolica el Ecuador / Facultad de Arte y Diseño (PUCE / FADA). Eventually I taught closer to home at the Universidad San Fransisco de Quito (USFQ). I currently teach at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) as an Adjunct Professor and, when needed, teach a Fashion Illustration class at North Carolina State (NCSU) in their Spring semester. I also offer private lessons at my studio in downtown Carrboro, NC.

As curator I continue my work with the Town of Carrboro; Carrboro Town Hall and Century spaces and sometimes in the hallway space of the studio or whenever space is offered or I think of a show. My artistic practice is multi-media; I draw, paint, design, and have a line of clothing known as sladesign. I have had exhibits locally and internationally, as well as Fashion/Art Shows. sladesign clothing and accessories are made of unique upcycled materials, including dead stock and new silks, cotton, wool, and leather. I received a grant for partial funding for my 15th sladesign Fashion Show, which will take place on the street, specifically Weaver Street. It will take place April 12 from 6-8 pm. Parking will be available at the municipal lots and The ArtsCenter’s LOWER LOT. My paintings have been categorized as expressionistic with an instrumentalist twist. I have a piece at FRANK Gallery, a quasi-permanent collection at Yonder Bar in Hillsborough, and this coming week will be a part of the Faculty Show at the NCCU Museum of Art. I live in Carrboro, NC, with my two beautiful, brilliant boys and husband.

Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
It has been a smooth road because I have had my husband’s support, both emotionally and financially, but we have had financial struggles in the past. We are in a good place right now, yet we’d like to buy a house, and there needs to be affordable housing here in the Triangle!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with what you do?
Success is not about selling; it’s about producing.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am a risk taker. I live in the moment. I want to go where I want to go regardless of whether I have a place to live or how I will support myself financially. Things eventually work out. My 8th grade teacher, Sra. Largacha told me I can achieve anything I put my mind to, and that’s been the train of thought. If you don’t take risks, you don’t live.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.xerrajeros.com
• Instagram: @sladesign, @marcelaslade @xerrajeros
• Facebook: @marcela.slade, @marcelaslade.artist, @sladesign.net, @xerrajeros
• Twitter: @marcela_slade
• Youtube: @sladesign

Image Credits
1. © Marcela Slade 2015 ART SHOW Marcela Slade El Pobre Diablo, Quito, Ecuador 2. © Marcela Slade 2016 Duquesa Turquesa Acrylic on canvas 16×22 inches 3. © Marcela Slade 2013 Princess / sladesign and illustrations by ME xerrajeros inauguration exhibition Cumbaya, Ecuador 4. © Christian Molina 2018 Smelt Art Gallery / Mike Benson show curated by me. Mike and I. 5. sladesign Fashion Show 2021 poster designed by me. 6. House Studio 2018 WIP, Doctor Love.