Lourdes Silva

Lourdes was born in the Bronx, NY; the eldest of six children, of a Puerto Rican family. At age four, her parents moved back to the Island, where she grew up.  She attended the University of Puerto Rico, majoring in Hispanic Studies.  The moment she walked into the university campus, she says, she discovered a passion for learning and for all cultural aspects.  “At that stage of my life, I particularly enjoyed reading, since growing up my access to books was limited to the public school curriculum. I also discovered the world of visual arts, and dance and music, and siezed every opportunity to attend the cultural events provided by the university.”

After graduating college, she became a college administrator, a career that she has cherished for over 25 years. While working in New York, she completed a Master Degree in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University. During this time, Lourdes expressed her creative side by writing short fiction and poetry; over time she added the visual arts to her repertoire.  “Art and music have been a constant in my family, although it wasn’t until my own daughters went to college that it became a formalized part of our lives.”

Currently, Lourdes is a volunteer at the “Olde Mill Gallery”, where she was in charge of displaying the art for the Spring 2009 Exhibit. She has also contributed her administrative experience to the day-to-day operations of the Gallery.  She lives in Indian Trail, NC, with her husband Mark Lupton, and has three daughters, two granddaughters, and three step children.

Art Philosophy

“My art philosophy is inextricably linked to my educational philosophy. I believe that we must educate ourselves not just for careers, but to become life-long learners. My own creative expression is driven by this philosophy.   I am eager to learn new ways of expression and new techniques, and to embrace them with a playful soul.”