My passion has always been anything creative: visual arts, theater, music, dance, poetry, puppetry, writing; all the things. But, I never had the confidence to pursue the arts as a career and ended up following my second passion, the natural world, graduating with a degree in biology. However, throughout my adult life, art has been a part of my career: from creating educational displays as a Park Naturalist at Lakewood Discovery Center, to teaching art classes at the Salina Art Center and Salina Montessori.

In the early 2000s, I got my start in puppetry with Tammy Jarvis. We worked on a project stemming from a Salina Arts & Humanities (SAH) Horizons Developing Artist Grant Tammy was awarded. Further exciting puppet projects with Tammy grew from this opportunity. In 2017, I branched out on my first large venture as a solo artist, pitching a Smoky Hill River Festival community art installation to SAH staff. I was given the opportunity and honor of creating Stage II’s stage skirt. The ability to work with SAH staff to develop ideas, as well as the support and trust I was given to accomplish the work, helped build my confidence as an artist.

The next year, Tammy and I attended a storytelling workshop hosted by SAH and had a chance conversation with Friends of the River Foundation’s (FOR) Jane Anderson. Out of this conversation, FOR’s river puppetry program was born. Not only do I now get to pursue my interest in puppetry, performance, and writing, I get to combine it with my knowledge and love of science! The FOR puppetry program would not have happened without the help of SAH’s workshops, Smoky Hill River Festival, Arts Infusion, and Horizons grants.

Throughout my journey as a professional artist, SAH staff has been there, encouraging, guiding, and providing funding as well as educational resources. I may never have found my confidence or place as an artist or accomplished all I have without the help and support of Salina Arts and Humanities. I am so grateful.

Explore more information about the Friends of the River Foundation: https://smokyhillriver.org/