I live near the shores of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin and identify as a queer parent, artist, water protector, abolitionist, water protector, and community organizer. In recent years, I jumped ship from the path I was on (once again) to focus on my practice as a textile artist and quilter, an arena in which I’ve quickly gained traction as an exhibiting artist and teacher. My work draws upon the generations of quilters in my family and I enjoy pushing the boundaries of quilts as art versus craft.
My commitment to social justice is often communicated through my art, such as in my Water Protector Series which centers Indigenous resistance to the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline threatening the waters, lands, and communities throughout the Great Lakes.
Furthermore, my map based art draws upon my background in wetlands science and use of technology to connect people to the times, places, and experiences that give a feeling of belonging and connection in this beautiful, devastating world.
I am also a strong improvisational artist and made my first improv quilt in elementary school after being inspired by Gees Bends quilters. My process often involves fast piecing followed by hours and hours of slow hand quilting using a long needle and handmade palm thimble to add dense texture, visual interest, and care to each quilt. I am currently working on a new series called Rest & Resistance which draws upon the wisdom of resilience-based organizing developed by Black women organizers and the queer and trans rights movements, to remind us that rest and self-care are radical acts of resistance in this beautiful, devastating world, and that sometimes, the most important thing we can do is to hold one another under the comfort of a handmade quilt.
Her quilt “Rock Harbor, Isle Royale” received a Special Recognition award by Karlee Porter in Duluth, MN in 2024 and was exhibited at QuiltCon in Phoenix, AZ in 2025. In the past couple of years she has taught over a dozen workshops including with the Grand Marais Art Colony, Minnesota Maritime Art Museum, Washburn Cultural Center & Museum, and to quilt guilds in the midwest. In 2027 she will be teaching at QuiltCon in Atlanta, GA.