After the sudden passing of my father and grandmother when I was 16, art became my outlet when I couldn’t speak the words. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was how I began to process grief and heal.
I spent a lot of hours after school trying out different mediums and fell in love with photography and painting. So much that I was encouraged to apply to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was accepted! I chose a different path but my love for the arts remained.
During my time as a licensed Mental Health Therapist, one of my favorite forms of therapeutic methods with children was art therapy. Art can convey deep layers of emotions when words cannot.
I joined the Duluth Art Institute Board because representation matters. As a two-spirited person, I appreciate the inclusive community the DAI generates. I am grateful for the connection to the arts community, and I look forward to serving on the DAI Board.
My favorite thing to paint was celebrity portraits. My favorite musician at the time was Pam Tillis, so I painted her and gave her the painting at one of her concerts.
Miigwech.