Individual Artist Project

My social practice informs my life as a working artist; namely, to increase disruption of the status quo through the promotion of art that revolves around trauma-informed, cultural literacy. Authentic art engagement means access, relevance and reflection of pressing community issues. There are alarming and increasing numbers of unsolved cases of missing women in Duluth, and the state of Minnesota. A friend narrowly escaped capture in a Hillside neighborhood, even with crowds of onlookers nearby. But people do not see what they are not looking for, and sections of Duluth have entrenched issues proven by investigators to be related to the exploitation of women, namely-- panhandling and drug trafficking. I can use my craft to decrease ignorance and increase vigilance. Denfeld Co-op in Duluth is an ideal nerve-center for this exhibit of work. Awareness of MMIW in the Metro area is much stronger than the Northland; I am honored that my work will have a platform to participate in the dialogue going on at the state level, through an exhibit with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (letters of confirmation attached).; I look forward to this project because it continues my involvement in addressing the intersecting themes of sexism, ableism, racism and resource scarcity, which have and will continue to inform my art practice. My measurable outcomes with which I will gauge the accomplishment of this work will be the following: 1) completion and exhibit of 2 Clay Collage collections, each featuring a Trilogy design of a)abstract, b)surrealism, and c)realism, with the addtion of wax paste mediums, following my stated workplan. 2) materials available from PAVSA and MMIW at each exhibit. 3) survey cards available for feedback. 4) an exit interview with site staff regarding daily audience response. 5) Final Report with ARAC. You can believe in my ability because: 1. In 2020, I created wearable clay work for Blackfeet Nation Boxing Club in Montana as part of publicizing MMIW. My poem about trafficking in Duluth was published in the anthology, OtherWorldlyWomen in 2022. In 2022, I received a Future Art Writer's Award from MOZAIK Philanthropy, which was related to the topic of trafficking outside the U.S. 2. These will be my fourth and fifth solo shows, with venues appropriate to the theme of the work. 3. The body of work required for the exhibits are a realistic, appropriate expansion of my wheelhouse of work, without being overwhelming. 4. I have been honored to receive grant funding in the past, and my track record shows that I respect the immense opportunity related to utilizing public funding for my work---through successful completion of all project goals. 5. The entry points of the project exhibits supports publicity for my platform, as I transition from wearable, to wall art, to public art. ; I have been greatly influenced by my role as a partnering artist with the First Ladies of Hillside (a Duluth artist incubator for women leaving homelessness). In 2021-22, I mentored women affected by gender exploitation. My grant proposal focuses on two exhibits related art highlighting the horrifying social issue of missing, murdered and exploited women in the Northland. I know I will be successful by 1) completion and exhibit of 2 Clay Collage exhibits, featuring 3 unique designs and painted with wax paste mediums, 2) materials available from PAVSA and MMIW at each exhibit, 3) survey cards available for feedback, 4) an exit interview with site staff regarding daily audience response, and, 5) Final Report with ARAC about what I have learned and experienced in this process.