Eight

Any personal information you want to share?
I love making people laugh and seeing people happy. I try to overcome obstacles through the power of positive expression and I'm called Miss United Streets because I've dedicated my life to helping transmute pain into power and unite people with the love and understanding that we all need each other, despite our differences in race, creed or color.

Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. I live my life on the road, & wherever the wind blows.

Tell us about your family.
My father was a structural steel manufacturer and purple heart korean war veteran who raced sprint cars. My mother supported his dreams and lifestyle. My older brother flew fighter jets for the armed forces. My sister is an attorney and my son has put himself through college on a full ride scholarship and is now on his way to becoming a senior financial advisor. We are all very strong, determined, opinionated and out-spoken, to say the least!

Tell us about past work/school or other meaningful experiences.
I graduated film school and sound engineering school, and I was a music business teachers assistant at UCLA. I have traveled the US touring with artists and producing car shows and concerts.

What is something you are proud of?
My love, loyalty, strength and resilience. My eagerness to learn, understand and grasp the mosaic process, despite any limitations I may face.

When did you first come to Piece by Piece?
2019

How have you grown as a person and artist since joining Piece by Piece?
Yes, tremendously. PxP has helped me learn, grow and heal in so many ways. It's symbolic.

How did you first hear about Piece by Piece?
My friend Renea Baca took me to class once and Ms. Leigh Adam's invited me back. From then on, I just had to become a part of the PxP family. It became a goal and aspiration.

What has Piece by Piece and creating mosaics added to your life?
Being beat with a tire iron, while saving a family members life, I suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as feeling like my life was completely shattered into pieces. Coming from a long history of being abused, I couldn't make sense of it all. Piece by piece provided me an outlet of creativity and in the meantime helped me heal while creating art in both the physical and spiritual realms, symbolizing my life coming back together, literally piece by piece, which has brought me much insight, wisdom and peace in the process.

Who inspires you?
Dawn, Ms. Leigh, Ms. Bea, Juney June and all the artists who continue to push through life and overcome obstacles through the form of creating art and inspiring others to do the same.

What project have you enjoyed most? And why?
I really enjoyed the stepping stone at the arboretum because of the natural, beautiful and peaceful environment it was created in and that it was created with my fellow colleagues. It was an awesome feeling to be included and feel like I am part of such an awesome community.

What are you most proud of from your PxP time so far?
My determination to work through my traumas while expressing myself through love and art. My resilience and motivation to heal so I can in turn help others do the same.