what other things am i working on?
For LoveD
BAAM 2024 Exhibition, Feb 2024
Back in August last year, Fairbanks Arts Association invited BAAM to host the next BAAM exhibition for Black History month. Fast forward months of outreach and gathering creatives - we opened the first all Black exhibition in the Bear Gallery. We had 12 Black creatives across the state, spanning from poetry, music videos, performance art, paintings, and sculptures. Both a traditional and digital exhibition. Then mid-month, we welcomed performance art back into the space with poetry, vocal alchemy, and live music. We had a beautiful exhibition for the month, and you can check out all the captured memories at Perseverance Theatre’s website & BAAM’s facebook page.
https://fb.me/e/4miAJDMjb
Found Out I’m in the Anchorage Museum
How to Survive - Anchorage Museum Exhibit, October 2023.
Earlier this year, my pal Fran - curator with Anchorage Museum - reached out to me about this collaboration on ‘How To Survive’ the climate crises. They were looking to include local pictures and stories about how folks are getting thru it. That was awesome, so I spread the word to my networks. It was pretty simple - share some pictures and some audio answering a prompt. I added mine, but focused more on getting others involved.
The exhibition just opened in October, and I did not check to see if was in it. I thought it was a selection process and they would let you know if you got it! So I’m visiting the MANA exhibition that also opened late October and lo and behold, there I am.
It’s a beautiful and collaborative exhibtion that takes up the 3rd floor. You should definitely check in out if you’re in Anchorage, and see all the details online >> anchoragemuseum.org/exhibits/how-to-survive
You can also see me and the other contributors on the community climate archive tab>> anchoragemuseum.org/exhibits/how-to-survive/community-climate-archive
Third Time’s a Charm
Black Alaskan Art Matters Tri-City Exhibition
April - June 2023
BAAM was awarded a grant back in February to bring the works in person. After 2 iterations of being mostly visual exhibitions, this was a wonderful opportunity to bring our artists and their works back into the community - our way. We worked increidibly hard to host 3 different exhibitions in Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage - and it was a wild success! ❤️
Check out the BAAM facebook page for more pics and updates >> facebook.com/BAAMatters
Lessons from around you,
This campaign year, Alaska’s first Alaska Native woman candidate won the special primaries for our Congressional Representative seat. She planned to run to hold that seat for the next line of leadership. Last month, so many people around the state prompted me to make some from Mary Peltola’s campaign. She had put out a call for artists to make original pieces. I wanted to do something a little different than just a ‘vote for mary’ design. I wanted to have it specific and personal to and for Mary. I listened to her interviews where she shared story of her fishing with her dad and drying fish, being in honors orchestra, learning how to mush with her team. There was one where she said, "If you don't take care your team, you're irrelevant", and that really stuck with me as the theme thru all of these memories. Being a candidate and elected leader can be dehumanizing in many ways, so I wanted to make a personal piece for Mary. Something she could look at, remember, and be at peace.
Check out her campaign here!
Art to Thrive
Alaska Just Transition Submit Commission- May 2022
For close to a year, I worked closely with creatives, climate and environmental justice organizers statewide to create a zine for the people. I made the covers, the icons, and provided feedback on the content in hope to paint the intersectional picture of Alaska that is needed and very present. Below are some of my favorites. The zine is free to view at this link here >>
Regenerative Economies: A Guide To A Thriving Alaska (For Web)
vid cred: Leah Moss ❤️
A Gift for the Plaintiffs
AKC Auction Gifts - March 2022
As predicted, our current Alaska Supreme Court Justices do not value our right to survival, or a future free from pollution, injustice, and inaction on the climate crisis. Back in 2017, 16 youth from across the state joined together to file a suit against the state government for protecting the fossil fuel industry over out collective health, safety, futures - while doing nothing about the climate crisis. Sagoonick v. State of Alaska.
In January of this year, after oral arguments, the Court denied to bring the case forward. A rehearing was applied, and late February, the Court denied the rehearing - thus closing the case. It was a demoralizing and deplorable time - 5+ years of someone’s childhood wasted so easily, to absolve our elected and judicial leaders any accountability or responsibility to the crises they continue to perpetuate by their inaction.
My coworkers and I had a great idea to honor some of the plaintiffs at our auction this year. Something that would bring them a little light, a thank you for the immense sacrifice none of them should have made, but did for all of us. So I got a little digital art practice and made this. We sent this to the plaintiffs, and presented some framed pieces to the others in town. We also honored Constitutional leader Vic Fisher with a piece as well, and he loved it!
Hopefully they know just how loved and seen and needed the all are. They, we all, deserve so much better than this system and government is willing to give. Their example proved that better does not come from elected/appointed leaders, but from us.
Photo cred to my wonderful co-worker Tanner Johnson.
BAAM is Back! - February 2022
The BAAM Dream Team is doing the dayum thing again ~With the continued support and love of Perseverance Theatre, M.C MoHogani Magnetek, Amable Rosa, and myself have curated another space for Black creatives to be supported, respected, and shine. We are elated to feature 14 Black creatives from across Alaska, of all ages, journeys, and disciplines. You can check out the full exhibition here. We will be hosting chats, events, and performances all this month, so stayed tuned for updates!
Click here to watch to opening curator chat with me, Amable, and MoHogani!
First Publication: ✔️
Artist-In-Residence - May 2021
I’ve been chosen by the Anchorage Museum to be the artist-in-residence. This month, they’ll be highlighting all my weird, cathartic-ness for the state to see. They published this wonderful on my work you can check out here X, and you can check out their insta for posts about my work thru the years X
Towards the end of the month, I’ll have a Live Chat event with the curators, make sure to join! >> Alyssa x Anchorage Museum
Why It Matters
AHF Commission - April 2021
Back in January, the Alaska Humanities Forums reached out for a sticker commission for their ‘Why It Matters’ initiative. They wanted to highlight peoples’ stories about why voting and civic engagement is important. I decided to tell the story of my mom and I, and how civic engagement is a skill. Growing up, she would always take me to go vote, attend protests and rallies, volunteer - we were a very engaged family. Having someone teach and invest in that time and skill with you, I think, is what makes it easier to be engaged as you get older.
You can get this sticker and other AHF goodies by sharing your voting story at their website here!
And you can check out Ted Kim’s sticker and stuff at their insta too!
End Of Year Stickers!
AKC - December 2020
I’m glad that my coworkers humor me in my learnings of digital art. I’m really not that good yet, but these turned out great! We wanted to do something personalized and creative to thank all our friends and cool community folk that helped us out this year. So I made some stickers about cultivating care, and one specially for our election protection volunteers. It was a tough year, and we found our ways to navigate so many different challenges. Hopefully these stickers carry on our gratitude.
(I’m also not very good at drawing birds…. that’s a Hairy Woodpecker. Very common in Alaska, also very annoying if you live in a cabin. Very good at reminding you that you indeed live in a wood cabin.)
Let My Hijas Grow Up
No Borders on Stolen Land Exhibition - October 2020
I finished my first digital art piece for an online art exhibition, highlighting the humanitarian crisis at our boarders. I wanted to a create a positive piece - something that give hope and healing to the future that all of the families impacted and imprisoned by our federal administration should and will have.
It was a good exercise to envision the future, what that hope looks like and can embody. And I was happy to learn that it was accepted in. Check out all the other works here! —-> Land Back ~ Families Back
Upgrade
Sign Cover Up - October 2020
Not the first time that fools try to make a joke, especially during election season. My friends Donald, Brenna, Taryn, and Ben all worked to take some petty, inappropriate nonsense and create something new and beautiful. It’s a wonderful example of being innovative and working with the community to fix a problem. And I was so happy to be able to be a part of the solution.
About 4 hours, many shouted obscenities, almost getting ran over by racist white men never seeing a Black woman artist before, and being reported to the cops, we have this beaut. Donald and Brenna loved it, and hopefully all of those folks who pass by love it too. We need more communal art projects in this town - maybe this can be the start.
BAAM Curation - Sept 2020
Earlier this year, I was invited to be a part of a project focusing on the centering the voices, works, and stories of Black Creatives. I got to do this work with 2 other amazing Black creatives, M.C MoHogani Magnetek and Amable Rosa with the support and love with Perseverance Theatre. Together, we curated and hosted a virtual exhibit and multiple events for our communities to highlight, celebrative, and thrive with other Black creatives across the state. We have gotten so much attention and I am elated to create this space for other Black creatives~ they deserve so much and more. Please Please Please, check out the exhibit here and support our Black creatives —> BAAM
Check out these events, interviews, and articles here!
Juneau Empire x News Miner x BAAM Curator Discussion
Follow Perseverance Theatre’s facebook and youtube to catch the other BAAM events and news!
Down For The Cause
Campaign Stickers - August 2020
What a success story of true community care and leadership. It is always so inspiring to see your friends invest so much love and empowerment into the place that they love, and take that next step to be one of the one to help guide it. My good friend Donald Crocker is running for our local Borough Assembly, and he commissioned me to create a sticker for his campaign. Something that encompassed building community. Stickers? Community? I am always down for the cause!
Check out the progression and finally project. I’m putting all the winning intention in every line, because we deserve a leader like Donald, and Donald deserves to lead. Check out why!
My First Article!
News Miner Interview - August 2020
David Jones with the News Miner did a lovely article about me and my art for the whole town to read. We talked a lot about the need more equitable access in the arts, especially for creatives of color and in communities marginalized. I hope this piece allows for other creatives to have the same space I was given. And now I share with you!
How much a Black Man costs…
‘I Can’t Breathe Rally’ - May 2020
There’s no answer to that. But too many of us are forced to be the question. Countless victims to police violence. There’s not a lot to say, and far too much feel.
I was able to join other community leaders to host an march to honor all the victims of police violence and brutality in our state and in the country. We provided a space of recognition, healing, and action. I took a moment to make a mini mural of George Floyd and his daughter. This was originally a black and white picture that I used as reference. Complete magic happened with this piece, in a way that I cannot fully explain - I somehow knew what the daughter looked like without knowing her at all, or seeing her fully. I brought it the march and people left flowers and novella candles for them. We smudged, cleansed with incense, cried, walked, and spoke with honor and commitment to creating a more just, liberated world. A world this little one can hold her head up high in complete confidence and excitement for life.
________________________________
To Help the Floyd Family and Minneapolis, MN:
Donate to the ‘Official George Floyd Memorial Fund’.
Our collective community of this country has raised more than the goal, but an extra funds will the support the family thru these times. Keep donating.
Donate to post bail for Uprisers and get them from behind bars:
- MINNESOTA FREEDOM FUND
-Louisville Community Bail Fund
Donate to local MLPS organizations:
- BLACK VISION COLLECTIVE
- RECLAIM THE BLOCK
Support the Minnesota ACLU with legal representation for the victims’ families and for the uprisers.
Pay homage to the founders of the Black Lives Matter Movement -
Alicia Garza ~ Patrisse Cullors ~ Opal Tometi
Donate and fund the Black Lives Matter movement
Don’t let them cut us
Listening Party and Fundraiser - October 2019
2019 is for taking risks. I don’t consider myself as a song writer or a poet, but I swam a little deeper into the creative pool and tried something new. My friend Heather Warren had this idea to gather the communities poets, artists, leaders, and shakers and record a spoke word album in response to the Dumbleavy Admin’s budget cuts. They asked me to do the album cover art, one thing lead to another, and I ended up recording an improv poem that is now on the album.
You can listen and buy the album >> here! All proceeds go to the Bread Line and Native Movement.
Draw on me like one of your french girls
Interactive Art Show - July 2019
The BodyMark Show was such a success. Shoutout to Kara and Adam @ Goldies for putting up with my giant grandma couch, and over 30 people sprawled out for tattoos for over 6 hours. Good lord.
I had this idea a couple months ago to do something different. I’ve done a lot of First Fridays, ‘come look at my art, buy my prints’, and that’s it. I wanted to connect and engage with people differently. And I remembered being a kid at art night - drawing sharpie tattoos on my friends, how to draw on skin, the smiles and conversations that sparked being able to be the art in that moment. And then I knew what to do.
People were lined UP - arm after arm, after foot, legs, fingers, calves, and a very pregnant belly! I drew all sorts of stuff, from moose and mermaids, to flowers covering up scars, to tattoo mock ups and designs. Oh, and a llama.
I had the best time! It felt really rejuvenating to be able to connect with people in such a casual, yet intimate way. Here are some of my favorite shots from that project:
The Rest in Resistance
State of Alaska - July 2019
If you have been following the news in Alaska, you know that our Governor is an actual piece of butthole . He cut literally every sector, public accommodation services, education pre-k through university, our state performance scholarship, Medicare, judicial services, senior benefits, public broadcasts, public transportation, power equalization programs - everything besides oil and gas.
We knew he was bad news, but now everything’s much worse. We had no way to expect the brevity of his surprise cuts. Our entire state has been forced into a nonsensical, false choice, fiscal crisis. Houseless people, elders, children, rural Alaskans, crisis survivors, students of all ages and will have to suffer because of our classist, racist, sexist, whiter than white bread supremacist, Trump lovey-dovey, dumbass, third-grader PowerPoint, giantass forehead, headass ‘got all this mouth but ain’t got no money for suit that fits’ “Governor” and his ego.
In an effort to stop his proposed cut, we tried to get 45 out of the 60 Representative and Senators to override the vetoes and establish an actual budget. So I drew this image to mobilize that message. Everything he has ‘promised’ not to do with our state, he had done. Now, it is time to stand up with your constituents and override the vetoes. This pretty had been used in screen-printing for direct actions across the state.
———————————————————————
After a loooong week of limbo with the future of our state, our legislature was not able to get 45 votes to override the vetoes. Because of 22 cowards refused to do their constitutional duty and show for special session. Now we are all in crisis. But with art, we can heal, vision, and plan for a future worth fighting for. This will definitely bring about more art.
In the meantime, enjoy these pics:
Power to the People
Collab Art Show - June 2019
woof, what an event!
Some good friends and work partners of mine got together and organized the dopest, taco-iest, collab-iest, Brown and Blackest gotdayum event we’ve seen in Fairbanks. So, we can brag a little bit. :>
I got to help with the flyer design, along with a cool window stencil you could kiiinda see in some of the pictures. Lots of trials and redo’s and learnings, but gotdayum can we make a gotdayum dope ass event!
By Alaskans, For Alaskans
Alaska Center Auction - May 2019
My coworkers sure have some artsy ideas! We wanted to do something a little different for our action tables. We’ve been training our staff on Just Transition framework and principles, and how to develop that into our work. As an introduction, we thought it would be cool to do a live mural during the action, to get people thinking and excited about what a Just Transition could mean to them. So I set up shop, 8 hours, 12 chalk markers, and a heckton of baby wipes later, Chalk Mural! It was the first time I’ve done something like this, and people were really inquisitive about this piece while they were watching me make it. What do you think?
Budding with Resilience
Beginnings of Fireweed Collective - April 2019
A good friend and coworker of mine starting working with youth and young adults statewide on a group of young leaders, building relationships, knowledge, access, and community in its path. As we were developing our intentions and mission, we realized that we needed a logo. So I got to work on some ideas, and this what came out! One of these buds actually got featured in a presentation at the League of Conservation Voters conference this year!
Protect What Is Sacred
Anchorage Arctic Refuge Hearing - February 2019
Well, I thought I was done with February, but when artistic duty calls, it calls. In a week of nontransparent, inequitable, nonsensical hoopla, my close friends and coworkers drove down to Anchorage to make sure that BLM understood that in Alaska, we protect our lands, our livelihoods, our beginnings and ends. They needed some art to print onto bandanas. Something that would connect and protect them, while spreading the message to STAY OUTTA THE GOTDAM REFUGE. So I and 2 other close art homies spent ALL night, designing and sketching and erasing and digitizing until we got this. Look at my art babies! These both were used in the protests and direct actions at the BLM Arctic Refuge hearing, and I’m so proud of them! They did their job; protecting my friends and spreading the message.
We’re Done Here.
If you live in Alaska, you know about —————>
that dude.
He’s our Governor, Mike Dunleavy. He’s very racist, sexist, absent-minded, and fiscally irresponsible. He just proposed a budget that would completely devastate every single industry and sector in our state, public and private; Education, Cannabis, Labor, Rural Services, Voter Access, the list goes on. All of this is a ploy to shock our communities into justifying extractive projects, demolishing trust in our government, and cutting essentially services that are a matter of live and death for Alaskans. Definitely another annoying governmental official on the list to make snarky, petty stickers for!
Take a gander of this idea below. Stickers to come!!!
to love & love again.
First Friday - February 2019
What a wonderful way to kickoff the lovey-dovey time and Black History Month. I’ve chosen to show my love for growth, self, and transformation with an art show. I tried a lot of different with these news pieces, and I feel this will be the most vulnerable show I’ve done yet. I’m very excited to share all the pieces with you all soon. If you happen to be in Fairbanks, swing by the Little Owl Café and see these beauties for yourself.
Love y’all! ♡
Power and Connection
Protecting Mother Earth Show - December 2018
Earlier this month, I was invited to submit some pieces to a show happening in Anchorage, about uplifting local artists, creatives, and community leaders. So far, I’ve been really thinking about the intangible we all have with the lands and beings around us, and how I can personify that. All of these pieces were inspired by rivers and berries and the Northern Lights.
Meet Nuchalawoyya - Where Two Rivers Meet. This piece is the Tanana and Chena Rivers as sisters. You can see the meeting just outside of Fairbanks, the calm and powerful feelings from both rivers mixing is always an subtly powerful occurrence to see and feel.
Our Share - This piece is about the a story from the first time I went berry picking, when a raven swooped down and stole some of our berries, only to come back later and brought us some bigger ones. Here, a raven is sharing some blueberries and cranberries with a goddess.
Overseer Protector - This piece is a tribute to the Arctic Refuge, to the Gwich’in, and all the organizers who are standing up to protect what is sacred. I wanted to make a piece that makes people feel powerful and protected, like a visual shield against disrespect and evil. That no matter what happens, the spirits got our backs. So I made this Northern Lights goddess watching over a small pod of caribou.
It was an awesome show! The first time driving down to Anchorage, the first collab show I did outside of Fairbanks. Lots of firsts and a great way to end the year.
All 31 Days
Inktober Challenge - October 2018
I DID IT. All 31 days, 1 theme a week, all pen and ink.
I am very proud of myself. Inktober was smack-dab at the near end of the S4S campaign. I was working 10-14 hours a day, and I committed to finishing this challenge. AND I DID IT! A vast improvement from last year’s attempt, if I do say so myself.
Week 1: Circle Portraits
Week 2: Half Thoughts & Ideas
Week 3: Insults
Week 4: Compliments
Week 5: Ink Studies
Rally Ideas
Climate, Jobs, Justice - September 2018
Seems like this year and this job is always giving me more opportunities to make art part of our movements. This time, I’m working with tons of local partner orgs for the Interior’s first Climate, Jobs, and Justice March. One of my roles in this movement was to host an art party for marchers to make their signs. I figured I might give them a little something something to start getting the ideas brewing, and so I made these. They got a lot of response, and I think they definitely got some folks out to the party. Overall, huge success!
I am Quite Angry.
Fairbanks Community Coalition Kavanuagh Protest - August 2018
As fast as this man was being nominated, I was called by a couple of partners to join and coalition to oppose the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh, as well as make some art for some postcards. As busy as I was, I couldn’t pass that opportunity up to channel my anger and fright into something petty. Many like to assert that artists and public figures shouldn’t be voicing their opinion about politics. I am not one of those artists. Politics is a part of our everyday lives. It’s in everything we do all the time. Politics is our behaviors and beliefs and needs; it’s our worldview and how we treat other beings around us. This is a very frightening and triggering time for many people nationwide, including me. Art is a way for me to process, learn, strategize, and most importantly embolden, empower, and act. So I created these to give us something we could use. I’ve never delved into pop-art, but hey, doesn’t mean I can’t start now. So let this be a tribute, to all the survivors and SCOTUS scholars.
I see you, I hear you, I appreciate you, and I’m glad you’re here.
We can pull through together.
My First LinoPrint Ever
Art & Action Camp - July 2018
I went to Native Movement’s Art and Action Camp for the first time. It was a great opportunity to recuperate, meet awesome folks from across the state, and try some new crafts! One of them was this lovely man. He’s based off of my Bargaining piece from the Death Series, and I tried to make it look exactly like it. Instead, he came out super edgy and punk and I love him. Lots of people loved this one too, so I decided to try another new craft and make stickers. Cheers to trying new things!
Salmon Filles
Stand For Salmon First Friday - June 2018
Ever since I started my new position, I’ve been trying to find ways to marry the art community with community organizing. And BOY was that the best idea. Some artsy friends and I teamed up and showcased a Salmon First Friday, showing our love and inspiration for our wild salmon. This was a bit of a challenge for me, as I rarely draw animals…let alone fish. But I’m very happy with how these pieces came out. I did a lot of research on these slimy guys and tried to personify those species. Voilà, the trio!
Small Change
Penny Art Challenge - March 2018
How small can you go?
Well, by the title you can guess. Those little guys are as small as a penny. Another challenge by a close art friend for a collaborative March First Friday. They now have a good home with other tiny, tiny art!
everyday...
The Sketchbook Project - February 2018
I entered the Sketchbook Project call for sketchers! Check out the digital library here! (X)
Another artsy fren Ashe and I challenged ourselves and joined the national collaboration 'The Sketchbook Project'. We were sent a small sketchbook, with just the simple request of filling it and sending it back. From there, it is stored in their library with thousands of other sketchbooks, and it travels across the nation. It was a wonderful opportunity to expose and push myself, as well as dedicate some practice time. Here’s some pictures of my favorites:
united bodies
Inktober Challenge - October 2017
For Inktober, I trusted my marker skills and drew these bodies. I've never done the challenge before, so I'm very pleased on how this little set came out. Cheers to trusting one's artistic ability and markers!
These pieces are nestled in a sketchbook of mine, but selected prints will be available shortly.
