Spiritually exists amongst all religions. I believe the carrier of this universal spirituality, is thru art. My passion lies in this language. As it knows no barriers. I’ve been blessed to be given the gift of craft and braiding as well, storytelling and writing. If I were to win this scholarship, I would be able to fund the start of a Youtube channel where I would share the production of my work of braiding and crafting hair sculptures of Crowns and Masks. This would be a great aspiration for living in a time where more and more technology based creativity is replacing hand work for example NFT’s introduction. If granted, I would utilize the funds to build a bridge. A bridge b/ the hand artisan and artist to the digital forward techie artist who still have great gems of wisdom to acknowledge at this pivotal and important turning point. I would do this by connecting my braided sculptures in context to further in the past of Western Art history where braids are present with, artists of today utilizing tech means to create their arts that are also composed of braids. The focus on braids speaks to the coded language of interests in various mediums, sciences to facilitate the expression of said artist. I would be grateful to serve as both contributor & connector/ bridge of these analog and digital technologies. This fuels my passion wholeheartedly.

Every morning we wake, we prepare ourselves to step into a new day. A new day holding some routines, but new events as time continues. Essentially, we redress our crown. Either literally, by fresh new hair and skin after refreshing shower or even perhaps by thoughts in goals & pursuits or resolves to matters in your que. Redressing your crown, demands that you think creatively. Methodically. Intuitively. To express your visceral, in a way that society can gauge for the better. Sometimes, the majority of society isn’t on the same page of say, marginalized communities mode of expression. True. And thus, for a common bridge of understand- both communities need to experience some form of “redressing” of their own thoughts- to better, understand the other. To do this, for peaceful co-existence as all life matters. No one, deserves to be abused. No one deserves to be mistreated. With this acknowledged, the need for social “masks” can serve not as a form of withdrawing emotion but instead, as a social bowing of protection of the collective stream of good. With this acknowledge, the need for social “crowns” can serve not as a form of arrogance but instead, as the social awareness that we all are capable of great assurance & confidence in our variables of skills, however small or great. However, together - collectively- our skill sets braided with one another and sculpted in harmony alongside or in congruent to one anothers, will recreate the natural fierce and peaceful balance of coexisting success for us all. The work I am presenting is my sculpture work of hand-braided hair, sewn into a fabric, then draped into a mask and crown form. I was inspired by the beautiful fractal system that exist in nature & how one small existence is a part of an exponential and respective design. Many architecture are influenced by this and so I decided to apply this in a repurposed textile design that worked with hair, that we all humans have. To then take it further, to create a mask and crown to represent as the fierce realization of the social and individual rights we carry each day, that carrying these with grace can make for a better harmonious world.

Creativity is my superpower. I swear Mattel borrowed this from my thoughts. Growing up from a conservative immigrant family, I’ve taken the risky lead of pioneering in the arts. So risky in fact, I’ve gone undercover in return to school as a business major just to further sustain and thrive, in the news learnings of the walls behind creativity that drives its existence. The production and the management of said art entity. This, taking creativity to another level- by well- being creative in business education. I am now double minoring in Art History + Fashion History, Theory & Culture. My superpower is now becoming fully activated and I can’t wait till I am 100% charged for release!