Venezuela eartquake note.
Hi, if you’re new here, my name is Isbelis. I’m a Venezuelan maker in the UK, and I opened this website as a creative outlet to bring joy to myself and others. I often refer to myself as whimsical despite the horrors, but sadly, as I write this today, I’m struggling to live up to that.
On 24 June, two powerful earthquakes struck the north-central coast, the strongest in over a century. Hundreds of lives have already been lost, many people are still trapped, and this comes on top of a humanitarian crisis that was already stretching families to breaking point.
I can’t find it in me to create right now, or to enjoy the things that usually bring me joy, and that’s okay. After a day of seeing the aftermath, my mind is heavy with the weight of images I wish I could unsee.
So I made a collage of all the beautiful things I want to picture when I think of my country. A beautiful place I’m not sure I’ll ever call home again. These things will be my inspiration in the creations to come.
And while I take a break, I hope I’ll see you here when I bring them to life, following the process along with me. Making something Venezuelan and beautiful, in a world where Venezuela so often seems linked with pain.
If you’re able to give, here are organisations responding to the earthquake relief. Every bit counts:
- We Love Foundation
- Caritas Venezuela (local, long-recognised NGO)
- UNICEF
- Venezuelan Red Cross (search “Venezuelan Red Cross”)
- The House Project (founded by Venezuelan singer Ricardo Montaner)
If you donate, please give through official websites only. Sadly, scams tend to follow disasters, so a moment of checking matters.
Thank you for reading this, and for holding Venezuela in your thoughts today. 🤍
