I was blessed with two different grants in the last year.  The first grant was from the Ann and Steve Bailey Opportunity Grant here in Knoxville.  I am grateful to them for selecting me along with 20+ other artists in the greater Knoxville area to benefit from their generosity.

I also received the FY24 Individual Artist Fellowship in Craft from the Tennessee Arts Commission.  When notified, I scraped myself off the floor and read what the adjudicator had to say-

“Each work is sculptural, resourceful, sustainable, and the adjudicator particularly enjoyed the incorporation of beads and freshwater pearls within the work. Each piece demonstrated a high level of skill and craftmanship whilst pushing the expectation of a basket to a true work of art. Additionally, the array of materials and processes that she is incorporating in each work shows a range of skill and a fascination with exploration.”

These awards have gone towards outfitting the interior of the gallery I’ve opened in Townsend, TN.  I’m living proof if you don’t try you’ll never know what is possible. I particularly want to thank the Art Cultural Alliance of downtown Knoxville for making me aware of these opportunities and helping me through the application process.