PROFILE

Devina Colon is an artist from Stockton California born on Christmas Day in 1997. Starting as a quiet and shy student in grade school, she focused academically and would even stay up all night just to finish assignments while in the International Baccalaureate Program. This is where art became a source of stress relief and she found her voice toward her junior year of high school. She’s studying Art Therapy at Seton Hill University and will graduate in the fall of 2019. She stayed very active with student activities and became the vice president of SITA, and Assistant Art editor for Eye Contact.

Devina credits her mother as being one of the most influential people to her because of her community involvement and support of her artistic capabilities. Since a child, she’s been a daydreamer. In kindergarten, when the teacher asked Devina’s mother to enforce “better behavior”, she asked the school to transfer Devina to a different teacher. One who would appreciate and foster the imagination of her daughter. Her mother also exposed her to many forms of art at a young age and her father’s love of music ties into the art she makes today. During high school, Devina took a strong prideful interest in her family’s heritage and traditions such as ballet folklorico, Mexican folk dancing. Both the music and dance acted as a source of inspiration for her, which she utilizes in her expression and use of bold, vibrant colors in her work. 

She enjoys giving back to her community, such as being involved in events like feeding the homeless. She took part in the reopening of a library in a lower class neighborhood by participating in the trial hearing for it. Devina felt this was important to be a part of because educators and people who live there want to leave due to the stigma and stereotype of violence. She also believed in the importance of education and having access to educational programs, which the library would be able to provide. The combination of her art interests and acts of giving naturally made Art Therapy her ideal career path. Devina admires Frida Kahlo not only for her art but for her vulnerability of putting herself into her work, which she relates to the art therapy career field. As a life lesson Devina would say to live in the now; the longer you hesitate the less likely you will achieve your goals. Always be proud of your roots and lineage.