Elena Sakuda is our Uptown Cafe artist for November 2020. You will be able to check out some of her art in the cafe til the end of the November and here at the bottom of this blog.

Continue reading to learn more about Elena, her art, thoughts, and our Albuquerque community.

My name is Elena Sakuda, I am a filmmaker, an artist, and a teacher. I have been drawn to the arts ever since I can remember. For this reason, I quote Lilias Trotter, “I have no more to do with my gifts than with what is my color of hair.” These gifts that I have are not my own, but from God. He has blessed me by giving me the smallest sliver of His immeasurable artistry. And for this, I am grateful beyond measure to even experience this tiny morsel.

I started following Jesus in the early 2010’s and He is the reason why I create. He is the reason that I sign my name with a cross. I see God’s beauty through film, and the arts and am often mesmerized and intoxicated by the beauty. God is a storyteller and the story/reality of Jesus is the greatest truth I’ve ever known.

My name Sakuda, comes from my Japanese heritage. I grew up with an influence from Japanese culture and Cuban culture. My diverse background has given me a very interesting upbringing and for that I am grateful.

Little Bear Uptown Cafe (apple maps + google maps)

Describe what it is you aim to do as an artist, and how you feel it impacts you and your community?

As an artist, I want to create a space where people question and think. I have many things to say, but what I find more effective is to ask the question. People are going to come to different conclusions, but I think this is very important in todays world. We are spoon fed many things, I don’t want to tell you anything, I only want to ask.

I desire for my work (whatever it may be) to be truthful, to be clean, and to draw people into a narrative.