| "To whom much
is given, much is required."
These words are all too
familiar to those whose paths happen to cross Pilar at any
given moment. Perhaps this former Epidemiologist, blessed with
the opportunity to later pursue her passion as an
artist, is a testament to her own mantra.
With rich Trinidadian roots,
this wife and mother of three graduated with her master of
science degree in 1999 from the University of Illinois.
From there, she served as an HIV/AIDS Epidemiologist for the
City of Chicago's Office of HIV/AIDS
Surveillance.
It was in the midst of
Pilar's spiritual journey to rediscover her natural talent as
an artist and a performance poet/dancer that she was
discovered by Saxophonist Prince Saleem, becoming the feminine
addition to his quartet, The Jam Master, and becoming the
female host of the well-known SOME LIKE IT BLACK night
club.
After a wonderful 6 month
stint, Pilar was approached by Vibe N'Verse, a travelling
performance poetry jazz band founded by Reggie Gibson (A Blues
for Nina, Love Jones) to add her profound flavor of
interpretive dance, vocals and spoken
word.
In 2003, Pilar
met and married the man who would become the "rhyme to her
reason, " Darryl Reed. In addition to her then 11 year old son
Christopher, Pilar and Darryl gave birth to Vashti and Ayden,
and it was during her pregnancy with Ayden that she decided to
pursue her second passion - acrylic painting and jewelry
art. After 6 months of doing private jewelry parties and
vending at neighborhood festivals, Pilar and Darryl
collectively decided it was time to step out on faith and
open
Kreative Soul by Pilar
Boutique...
and
Madame Pilar has been living her dream and inspiring others to
do the same ever since. When asked to describe her
sentiment to the world about the beauty of following
one's heart, she poetically recited...
"I am
Free.
But do not hate me because of
it.
Instead, find your passion...your
purpose...
and never lose sight of it...
plant it in
fertile ground,
water it with faith and
perseverance,
and let God increase it's
measure.
When it blooms in due season,
do
not uproot it.
Lean into it,
and
breeeeeeathe.
Now you, too, are
free." |
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