Continuing Tradition
I became enamored with history listening to my relatives share stories of their past, the joy and sorrow - and hearing about the relationships they had built over time. As I aged, my appreciation for tangible belongings identifiable of these memories became a footprint for the work I does in my professional and academic careers.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History from Metropolitan State University of Denver (Go Roadrunners!) in May of 2024 and quickly began my graduate studies at Michigan State University in August of 2024. Currently I am living and learning in Nkwejong (East Lansing, MI) and am studying to receive my Master of Arts in Arts, Cultural Management & Museum Studies - along with a graduate certificate in American Indian and Indigenous studies. Despite being the first in my family to pursue a graduate degree - I carry the lessons and ways of living and relating that my family has instilled in me as the most valuable knowledge I have gained.
Reaching the Future, Walking Through the Past
In the midst of developing my masters thesis, I found myself looking for a space to heal when the history became overbearing. My art was that space. This piece was a reflection on my first experience at the Field Museum. Recognizing that I had a multifaceted experience - mourning, celebration, privilege, and appreciation, I created a piece that poured this feeling onto the paper.
Artwork, History, and Collections
NDN’s in Museums, beads on Pellon
Influenced by the traditional beadwork I was caring for in museum collections, I began developing my artistic style to take the same position as a marker of identity, time, and place. My first piece entered into exhibition at the Denver Art Museum, was titled NDN’s In Museums, reflects on the identity of individuals who find themselves feeling torn between tradition and collection.