Running Public Programs at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

I was part of a team that transformed a museum in deep decline into a thriving central gathering space. Through fearless experimentation with participatory programs—cultural festivals, family paloozas, launching the teen program Subjects to Change, and managing a range of intergenerational projects—I created events and exhibitions that connected people to art, history, culture, and one another. I collaborated with everyone from balloon artists and foster youth to folklórico dancers, university professors, community volunteers, and supporters, all of whom generously shared their stories, creativity, and ideas. It was both fun and impactful—two things I continue to champion in my work.

Designing The Sassport Project

This felt particularly important because it was during the peak of the pandemic, when connecting with others was incredibly challenging. In partnership with TARRA and Babe Walls, I designed a socially distanced adventure throughout Denver, where participants collected custom-made stamps made by 17 local artists in a souvenir passport notebook. The artists represented Babe Walls, Colorado’s first all womxn and non-binary mural festival. It proved to be a generative way of supporting both local businesses and artists in such a restrictive time.

Making the Meet Cart…and then rolling it out

I had this idea in my head for years: a way to socially bridge strangers together with a wacky little thing on wheels. When I moved to Denver, I brought it to life. The Meet Cart is a mobile structure where unfamiliar people become unexpected pals---it's where strangers and friends meet, greet and play through games, prompts and activities as a way to spark more meaningful connections. Amidst COVID, it shifted to virtually rolling its wheels around the world hosting celebrations, company happy hours, and various community-building experiences world wide.

Co-creating a Giant Mural for the Denver Art Museum

This time, I got to be the artist, alongside Olive Moya as I blended my social art practice with her visual arts practice. In the beginning of 2021, The Denver Art Museum (DAM) issued a call for submissions for a large-scale mural that would tell the story of the Denver metro area’s vibrant creative scene. Together, we crafted a dynamic proposal centered around the themes of belonging and what it means to truly feel connected within community. We were honored (and completely blown away) to be selected to create the very first mural on the main level of the newly renovated Martin Building.

The mural serves as a beacon that welcomes students, families, and visitors of all ages. One of the foundational elements is a community sourced backdrop, featuring over 700 wheatpasted images of the sky from Denverites and beyond. These images represent how diverse perspectives can connect us a whole--- reminding us that while our individual experiences and viewpoints feel different to each of us, we all exist beneath the same sky.

Learn more about the piece, its creative process, and the inspiration drawn from the four elements: air, earth, water, and fire. I Invent It, My Hands Draw a Cloud is on view through December 2024.

Producing a Podcast

After working with teachers nationwide through PBS News Student Reporting Labs, I recognized a strong need for a platform where educators could share experiences and learn from each other. Why? Because in the current educational landscape, teachers are grappling with ​burnout and isolation, creating a deep longing for connection and a ​shared sense of purpose​.

Teacher Reporting Labs (TRL) is a teacher-led podcast where educators report back on a mix of topics, triumphs and challenges they face in the classroom through exploratory and candid conversations. Each episode features teachers from diverse backgrounds, all sharing the massively important goal to amplify student voices. Tune in here.

Curating an Exhibition from an Old Coloring Book

During my graduate students at the University of Oregon for Arts Management, I focused specifically on studying Community Arts. While struggling to hone in on my final research project centered around the personalization of place, I discovered a 1979 Eugene-themed coloring book in a little local bookshop (you know the type: the kind where the scent of old pages greets you at the door.) Inspired, I invited various community members to "remix" the coloring book, encouraging them to share their personal stories of Eugene while exploring the contrast between tangible, hand-drawn interpretations and digital remixes. The result was a collection of creative expressions and perspectives, which I curated into an exhibition showcased in downtown Eugene.

As noted by the Daily Emerald, “The project ditches the stodgy, hands-off nature of most art exhibits.” The Eugene Coloring Book Project promoted hands-on interaction, personal reflection, and communal storytelling. After I graduated, the exhibition was extended to the Lane County Historical Society and Museum, allowing it to reach an even wider audience with further participation.