Building Space for Creative Renewal
Today, I have an amoeba in my stomach — a parasite, if you will. It’s throwing a party inside me and having the best time. For me, this is incredibly painful. It feels as though someone is taking my stomach and its surrounding parts and tying them into one big knot at random points throughout the day. Sometimes it’s so painful that the most comfortable way to stand is bent over. When I lie down, the fetal position is best. I’ll see the doctor at 2 p.m. and, hopefully, be rid of this little rascal once and for all.
My dog, Beanie, is very concerned about why I’m home instead of at school. He doesn’t function well off-schedule and keeps staring at me as I try to write this.
I thought I’d share a bit more about Bolo Arts Residency I’m building in Northern Portugal — primarily the “why” behind the project, along with its mission and vision.
Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply committed to creating and sharing my work. Between the ages of 25 and 40, I was highly prolific, exhibiting in numerous galleries across Nashville, Austin, and Baltimore, as well as internationally. In recent years, however, the demands of full-time teaching have significantly limited my ability to sustain a regular studio practice, especially since 2020 and the COVID pandemic. I am now at a place in my life where I would like the time and space to return to focused creative production.
My goals include not only making new work but also collaborating with others, organizing events, and dedicating time to writing. I envision a setting that allows for uninterrupted work, reflection, and reading — an environment where my schedule is shaped by creative priorities rather than institutional demands. Above all, I’m seeking the opportunity to reclaim my time for my own professional growth as an artist and writer, away from the constant obligations of teaching.
As an arts educator, I know I’m not alone in this position — wanting to make artwork, yet stuck in the grind of teaching. (It’s enjoyable, but it is, in fact, a grind.)
My mission is simple: to provide art educators with space and time to reflect on their work as educators, create new bodies of work, establish connections, collaborate, and build community through cultural exchange. To me, “art educators” include professionals across theatre, dance, visual art, and music — from K–12 teachers to professors and arts organization leaders (museum educators, workshop owners, art camp directors, etc.).
I’ve built my career around the idea of art as a community uniter and a powerful tool for giving back. This has been a longstanding goal since 2002, when I started Bluraku Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. When I earned my MA in Community Arts in 2010, I cemented my belief that art should inspire and help others — not only exist as something to collect or sell. While those avenues for art are also valuable, I’ve always believed that art can transcend language barriers, economic differences, and geography to help people see life more positively, despite the challenges of everyday reality. Without sounding cheesy, art can be medicinal and often therapeutic.
My vision statement for Bolo Arts Residency reads: A space where art educators can thrive as creative leaders: inspiring connection, cultural understanding, and vibrant communities through the transformative power of art.”
I’ve always wanted to give back to the community that made me who I am. Being an art educator has allowed me to live and work in six countries around the globe. It has enabled me to author books, give presentations, and share my passion for art with countless young people. Some years were harder than others, but I’ve always finished each year of teaching as a better, more wholly formed person.
Bolo Arts Residency represents more than a personal retreat — it’s a commitment to the belief that art and education are essential to human connection. By carving out time and space for art educators to create, I hope to help sustain the very people who nurture creativity in others. In doing so, I aim to build a community that values both artistic practice and the act of teaching as combined forces for cultural understanding and positive change.
Find out more about Bolo Arts Residency and how you can take part at: www.cakecrush.com.