Meet G. Bosch | Artist | Educator

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

Hi G., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Having my own business has been something I’ve been thinking about ever since I was very young. In elementary school I would make jewelry and sell it to my friends, family and even my parents friends, ha! Looking back now, that was very sweet of them. But all throughout my life, that was a constant theme or something in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to 2018 in Miami, I discovered Precious Plastics, an organization focused on reducing waste by working with recycled plastic while also making all of the knowledge accessible to the community. Since processing plastic at that capacity was out of my reach at the moment, I started working with recycled paper clay. I fell in love with the process and the possibilities of the material. My entrepreneurial instincts kicked in again and I started to look for more information on, what are the steps to make this a reality?

At this point in my life, being a Puertorrican woman in the diaspora, I become even more aware of just how important it is to me that community is at the center of what I do. And then 2020 hits. We know how that went… When the pandemic hit, I used the time to reflect on my long-term goals. During this time I stumbled upon Sara Weinreb, a coach for entrepreneurs that are looking to break away from the purely capitalist mindset toward a more community-centered approach. That really drew me in and she was offering free registration to the BIPOC community. She was so insightful, the community she cultivated was beautiful as well and it truly inspired me. With her guidance, I clarified my guiding principles -art, education, community- and big-picture goals.

In October 2020, I moved to Denver and began my career as an educator, which puts everything else on hold. After 3 ½ years of working in education and childcare, and let’s be real, struggling to live paycheck to paycheck in a career that, yes I loved but wasn’t my long term goal, I realized that my most valuable currency is my time. Money comes and goes, time doesn’t. With that realization I decided that it’s time to bet on myself, I quit my job, and started working on my own business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art has always been a constant love in my life, or more accurately, creating has been an innate need. This passion led me to pursue a BFA in Photography. However, during my first class, I quickly realized that digital work wasn’t for me—I love creating with my hands. While debating whether to switch majors, I stumbled into the fibers building and immediately felt at home. My first class there was like magic. I fell in love with the processes, the endless possibilities, and the way my professors encouraged us to explore and play. It felt like a beautiful creative playground, and I was completely hooked.

High school nurtured my love for art and my awareness of our planet. But after graduating from university, I became more conscious of how wasteful the art world could be—how some of the materials we use contribute to the climate crisis. It weighed on me, and the guilt led me to stop creating for a few years. However, the words of one of my professors kept ringing in my ears: “When an artist stops creating, they experience an emotional death.” As dramatic as it sounds, I began to feel it. That’s when I knew I had to find another way to fulfill my need to create—something that aligned with my values. And then I discovered paper clay, and my journey of experimenting with waste as materials began.

Learning to work with paper and paper clay has been incredibly fun. It’s strong, versatile, and beautiful, and it continues to amaze me with its potential. One of my favorite pieces is a coffee table -in the process of being photographed- made entirely of 43 lbs of paper pulp diverted from the landfill. I’m proud of how I’ve stayed true to my commitment to sustainability even if my practice isn’t perfect. The majority of my materials are trash, second-hand, or rescued, with very few items bought new. I love letting the materials shine, showcasing how the waste from our capitalist, consumerist society can be given new life and value while challenging our perceptions of what these materials actually are. In most of my work, the material itself is a form of rebellion, subtly confronting us with the consequences of our consumer habits. I primarily work with paper, plastic, and textile waste. One project I’m especially excited about is my community material sample library. I rescue as much as I can from interior design showrooms and set it outside my studio for people to take. I’ve probably saved over 100 pounds of materials from the landfill! It’s a small, joyful way to give back and help others create.

A lot of my work is utilitarian, designed for daily interaction that reminds us of how something destined for the landfill can be transformed into something beautiful and valuable. My culture also deeply informs my work. Being born and raised in Puerto Rico and having to leave the island at a young age due to colonialism has shaped my identity. Navigating a culture that isn’t my own, and confronting the reality of living in a world built to oppress my people and the BIPOC community, drives much of my art. Though colonialism, white supremacy, and the climate crisis are interconnected, the pieces that more overtly highlight my culture are my painted work and an embroidered collection titled “Jerga”.

In Puerto Rico, like many colonized countries, cultural erasure has always been a threat. In the late 1800s, there were attempts to eradicate the Spanish language, but we resisted. Our language became a powerful form of defiance. Fast forward to today, and the displacement of our people continues, along with modern-day colonization. It’s frustrating, and at times I feel powerless, but I cope through art. One of my favorite Puerto Rican curse words is “Puñeta,” and instead of screaming it from the rooftops, I decided to embroider it in bold red letters. The process was cathartic—I’m sure I cried while working on it—but it reminded me that art and joy are also forms of resistance. From that piece, I started a collection to honor our language through the unique words that make up our slang. I asked my Puerto Rican community on Instagram to send me their favorite slang words, and I’ve been embroidering them, giving each word its own frame to celebrate our language. It’s an ongoing project that fills me with so much joy, and I plan to continue it for a long time.

Living in the diaspora for the past 13 years has been challenging, but being a woman of color in this country has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced. I’m proud of the person I’ve become through these experiences, but wearing a mask to navigate a culture that isn’t my own, one that has thrived at the expense of communities like mine, takes a toll on the soul. This is why community is so important to me. Growing up, my neighbors were like extended family—another set of grandparents or siblings—and everyone looked out for one another. I’m grateful to have found a similar sense of community within the arts community in Denver, and I’m committed to serving and fostering that community. There’s so much healing, love, and growth that comes from centering and nurturing community, and I can’t wait to keep building it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ah! There’s always so much to do and see—that’s one of the things I love about Denver and Colorado. You can never be truly bored here. For coffee and food, my top spots are Hudson Hill and Hearth (their Jeff and orange vanilla coffee are a 100/10, plus they get extra points for their sustainability and community initiatives). Leven is another favorite for coffee and amazing food—I take everyone there. Denver Central Market is fantastic for pretty much everything, but I have to highlight Izzio—so good.

For brunch, you can’t beat Fox and the Hen. For lunch and dinner, Mister Oso is a must, especially for the churros. Uncle has amazing ramen, and SMB and Barcelona are top choices for tapas. Honestly, I could go on forever.

When it comes to sights and activities, a drive through the mountains is a must. The Denver Botanical Gardens hold a special place in my heart, and any museum here is a fun experience. I absolutely love wandering through Denver’s neighborhoods with guests, just exploring. If time allows, I love doing the same in the different towns around Colorado.

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?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a beautiful support system. My parents, grandparents, and amazing friends always cheer me on, no matter what. I’d be remiss not to include my students, who have taught me so much. My Montessori education, along with some truly incredible teachers and my teacher training, has shaped who I am today. And my partner Danny, who constantly encourages me to pursue my dreams, especially during moments of self-doubt, fills me with even more gratitude and love.

Website: https://gbosch.art

Instagram: @gbosc.h