A good path...

BooZhoo! Aniin! Mino giizighad! (Greetings! Welcome! It's a Good Day!)

Well, it's August and hard to believe that half the year has already come and gone. There was much growth personally and within my career development. There's been tears of happiness, frustration, sadness and perseverance. 

I began the year accepting the first Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellowship. This wonderful program is intended for those working within the Arts sector. 
​
"The first cohort of the Intercultural Leadership Institute is a collaborative program of Alternate ROOTS, First Peoples Fund, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) and PA’I Foundation.

The Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) is a year-long rigorous personal and leadership development program for artists, culture bearers and other arts professionals."

I am blessed with connecting with so many forward thinking, like minded artist professionals. As a full time studio artist trying to pursue personal and career goals, there can be an isolated feeling. With the ILI Fellows, I have been reassured that I am not alone. 

To further my career development, I have had the honor to attend the Social Innovation Summit and the first Springboard for the Arts Train the Trainer Intensive (Work Of Art + Community Development). These were scholarships were through the Bush Foundation, and I'm happy to announce in continuation of this process, I will also be attending the SOCAP17, Social Capital Markets in San Fransisco. I am truly appreciative of the Bush Foundation as well as the many others who have believed in my mission. 

It was not long ago I had felt lost, unsure where to begin in moving forward. These workshops, conventions and fellowships are life changing.

Next week I will embark on my third trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the We Are The Seeds in the Railyard on August 17 & 18, and end the weekend with SWAIA Indian Market on August 19 & 20th. I enjoy my time in Santa Fe, it is wonderful to have a large audience in which I can share stories as a Modern Day Storyteller with my art as well as absorb creativity from everything under, above and around me. 

My artwork has slowly been developing, as time is completely borrowed. I have broken from limitations that I may have placed on myself due to assumptions of what is accepted, and continually learning new methods as well as integrating traditional arts.