The Art of the Red Kettle: Francheska Gomez-Rodriguez
Francheska L. Gomez Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico on November 1st, 1990. That first year was a bit hard for her parents, Ricardo Gomez Torres and her mother, Idalys Rodriguez Orama, who both though they might lose their daughter to Meningitis and bronchitis. Against the odds she survived and have lived grateful ever since.
Her first drawing was made on a sunny day in the island with the help of her grandfather, Francisco Gomez. After that drawing became a hobby shared with cousins. She took some classes in glass painting, jewelry making and other craft growing up.
She went to the University of Puerto Rico and studies History with a minor in Literature. While doing so she explored writing and maintained her habit of drawing in all her notebooks and filling binders with drawings.
On 2014, Francheska moved to Milwaukee, WI and lived with a family member for 7 months. Upon applying to UWM for the Film, Video & Animation program she was accepted. She is now on her 3rd year on that program and is on the Dean's Honors List that recognizes outstanding academic achievement each fall and spring semester.
She works at The Farmhouse Paint & Sip as a manager, art instructor, bartender & marketing lead. Working there helped her explore painting on a deeper level and realized she enjoyed the medium even more than drawing. She used her free time to create her own paintings and eventually participated in an exposition called RAW Milwaukee Connect that gave Milwaukee artist the chance of being exposed and gain fans.
She is an active member of the Milwaukee Collective called L.U.N.A. This collective is for Latina females of Milwaukee that do art. Here they empower support each other and shares resources and opportunities. One of their main purposes is to help their community deal with identity and representation and use arts as a medium to unite people.
Her goals include portraying her people more accurately in the big screen, writing children’s books, making a self-sufficient animal shelter in Puerto Rico, help with the development of a better educational system for minorities in the U.S and creating chances for young dreamers to be able to make their dreams real.
Each day until the Milwaukee County Red Kettle Kickoff, we will feature each of the artists participating in The Art of the Red Kettle. At the end of our friendly competition, there will be three artists who win the titles of Most Social Media Likes, Most Funds Raised, and Most Creative. You can help us decide! On November 9, we will post a photo album of each artist's kettle. You can vote for your favorite kettle by liking that kettle's photo. If you'd like to help the artists raise the most funds, you can visit: salar.my/KETTLEART and donate to your favorite kettle. Funds will support The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, which supports over 80 programs and services throughout Milwaukee County. Thank you for supporting The Salvation Army and local artists.