Art has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. To know me as an artist, you must know my grandmother. I am an artist because of her. 

While growing up, I was fortunate to have my grandmother living close by in Asheville, NC. She was my lifelong mentor and teacher. It is because of her that I signed up for art as an elective in 6th grade. I would continue to choose art electives through 12th grade, and graduated with credits in art honors. After graduation, I continued my art education for another two years before switching my major to early childhood education. 

My grandmother was an accomplished artist and teacher at John C. Campbell Folk School, and spent her life dedicated to “perfecting her craft.” The Folk School ‘s  mission has always been to “transform lives, bringing people together in a nurturing environment for experiences in learning and community life that spark self-discovery.” (https://www.folkschool.org/index.php) My grandmother truly lived by these words, and I am striving to do so as well, through my commitment to developing a youth arts program within my own community of Sans Souci.

She provided amazing opportunities for me to be exposed to a variety of artist and mediums. The summer before my senior year of high school I had the opportunity to take a weeklong enameling class at John C. Campbell Folk School.  For this, I will be forever grateful.  

There is a part of my grandmother in every single piece of work I create. I hope to honor her memory and love of art as I continue to grow, and “perfect my craft.”

To view some of my grandmother’s beautiful work, click on “My Mentor-Mema.”

I also must mention that art is a matter of survival for me. I have battled with mental illness for what seems most of my life, and I don’t know where I would be without art. "Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art." Yayoi Kusama