Faculty Spotlight: Pearl Mei Lam

Posted on Friday, August 29th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Written by Arts Corps

Headshot of Pearl Mei Lam, an Asian American woman in her 20s, with shoulder-lenght hair, smiling at the camera.

We’re excited to welcome Pearl Mei Lam is one of Arts Corps’ new teaching artists for the 2025-2026 school year.

Pearl, you’re such an active artist! You perform for stage and screen, write, and are a filmmaker. What made you want to become a storyteller?

I watched A LOT of TV. My childhood was filled with Hong Kong TVB soaps and YouTube sketch comedy titans like smosh and nigahiga. My entire high school experience was spent binge watching shows and obsessively giffing them on my multiple Tumblr fandom pages. One of these shows, Orphan Black, was actually the reason I began acting. Seeing Tatiana Maslany effortlessly play so many roles inspired me to take up Drama 101 in 11th grade, and I’ve been acting ever since. 

It all boils down to being fully and utterly immersed in stories — being so surrounded by them that I couldn’t stand just consuming them any more and had to create for myself. Absorbing art is how I still stay inspired these days. Watching new films, shows, plays, as well as reading new books, listening to new music — all of that keeps me feeling open and excited to create!

Much of your work lives in comedy and satire, but has social and philosophical ruminations and a deep heart. What is it that attracts you to these genres?

Heart and humor go hand in hand. There is always sincerity in the face of absurdity. In crazy comedies, characters don’t know they’re in absolutely bonkers situations but they do everything in their power to handle the circumstances truthfully. And that’s what I think makes comedy, especially absurd comedy, so compelling — it’s both a tool to disarm and a vessel for truth. 

I was also a film major (and if you think that sounds pretentious — you’re 100% correct). We spent a lot of time reading critical theories while studying films, which is why I often use philosophical texts as a springboard for my work. Film as a medium feels so tangible to me; it’s an image that can be coaxed, manipulated, and packaged into meaning. I love thinking about them as visual texts or essays!

During your in-person interview, you led us through some theatre exercises, and we were all a little nervous despite the fact two of our staff are also theatre people! It was silly, but also many of our students who are growing up in the midst of social media are scared of performing, because they’re scared of being judged. What are some of your tools to deal with nervousness both in yourself as a performer, and in others as a teaching artist?

Everyone CRUSHED it! But I also completely understand this fear of being judged — it’s something I feel all the time.

Fear is just attention in the wrong place. As a performer, I’ve learned to redirect my focus from “what if I look stupid?” to “what am I getting from my scene partner?” and that always drops me into the work. I’ve also found that getting into my body helps ground me, such as breathing exercises prior to performances or big physical choices that get me out of my head.

As a teaching artist, these are tips and skills I implement into lessons in the form of low stakes, silly games that get students in their bodies. This is a great way to practice learning to be present in the moment and listening to your impulses — and before you know it, you’ll be thinking less about nerves. I’ll also always lead by example and be the first to jump in to demonstrate that there isn’t a right or wrong answer. It’s just about doing!

As you start your journey with Arts Corps, what are you most looking forward to?

I’m so excited to be working with young artists in the making, whether they go on to pursue it professionally or not. I believe that artistry lives in every single person — it’s a state of being. And youth, especially, have an easier time accessing this instinctual, creative state than adults. I’m constantly looking for ways to practice tapping into this open river of inspiration, and I’m really looking forward to being in space with other explorers!

Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share about?

Thank you for asking! There are two projects in the pipeline I’m super stoked about…

The first is Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play by Keiko Green, directed by Mimi Katano (and Production Managed by the one and only Grecia!). It’s a delightfully absurd script with an incredible cast and production team, full of the humor and heart I cherish — and you learn lots about MSG. The play runs September 6 – 20 at Theatre Off Jackson. 

The second is my feature film, Wild Ragerz, an absurd dark comedy on reality TV featuring an all queer cast, coming 2026! We shot for two weeks in June across WA and are now in post — it’s got jello wrestling, mud attacks, and is inspired by philosopher Jean Baudrillard (so you know it’s some real high brow stuff). For updates, follow us on Instagram @wild.ragerz.

 

Pearl Mei Lam (she/her) is an actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Stage credits include: Seattle Shakespeare Company, Dacha Theatre, Jet City Improv, ComedySportz, the You’re Wrong About and American Hysteria podcast tour, and Seattle Public Theater, where she received a 2024 Gregory Award for her performance in Unrivaled. Onscreen, she has appeared in regional commercials, Pure Flix’s Going Home, and independent films, including her debut feature Wild Ragerz. Kindled by absurd humor and daring artistry, she is committed to redefining representation for queer people of color through work that sparks laughter, joy, and community

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Board Spotlight: Jason Ehlenfeldt

Posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Written by Arts Corps

Headshot of Jason Ehlenfeldt, a man in his 30s with a trim beard and balding, short hair, wearing a blue collared shirt

Arts Corps is excited to welcome our new board member, Jason Ehlenfeldt! 

We were lucky enough to meet Jason earlier this year when he came to the Arts Corps offices with the Best Buy Foundation for a grant application meeting, talking with our staff and seeing photos and art pieces from our programs. After the meeting, Jason decided to become involved with Arts Corps. He volunteered for our end-of-year celebration, Art & Sol, taking part of the chaotic magic that is running an event–– setting up merch tables and art stations, greeting students, and event directing traffic under a light rain. “Honestly, it was kind of relaxing!” he laughs. At the beginning of this month, Jason was officially voted into our board. 

At first glance, Jason might not fit the picture you typically assume when you think arts education. Growing up in the Midwest, he majored in Computer Network Security through Dakota State University before trying programming and officially switching to software development, which he’s made his career. But Jason is an art kid, through and through. He’s been singing for as long as he can remember, and he’s managed to be involved in theatre through various stages of his life and across multiple states. He’s acted, designed, done run crew, and even stage managed. You name it, and he’s probably done it in theatre.

Jason’s engagement in the arts and his willingness to try new roles comes from a formative experience in his youth. Jason was always a quiet kid, he shares. Then, in the first day of summer vacation after his sophomore year, he got into an accident with his 4-wheeler. He spent 3 days in the ICU. While there, he had a realization, “I don’t want to live my life afraid of doing things”. Once he was back in school, his choir teacher encouraged him to audition for Phantom of the Opry, a spoof of Phantom of the Opera. He was nervous but remembered his resolve. He got the lead role of Lt. Fairleigh Good, and the rest is history.

Beyond his deep connection with the arts, Jason simply loves helping. He volunteers with Child’s Play, a non-profit that brings gaming systems into hospitals, integrating play into the pediatric patient experience. This work has personal significance to Jason, as he remembers how the gaming cart helped him through his own hospital stay as a youth. He also volunteers at the Pacific Science Center, participating in their National Engineering Week and summer camps. He loves it because of the excitement, energy, and curiosity he gets to witness. 

Curiosity is a unifying thread for Jason, which continues to motivate him and connects all that he does. Art and tech are often seen as separate and different disciplines, but the reality is they have a lot of commonalities and help advance each other. Curiosity lets you see this. “Curiosity is one of the biggest things that can benefit a person” Jason says. “It’s the ever-dreaded question, right? The ‘why?’ But if you are always asking why, you never stop learning”. 

Through his new position as an Arts Corps board member, Jason is looking forward to fostering curiosity. He wants to help create spaces for youth to feel like they fit in, like they can ask all their question, and become who they want to be. After all, Jason understands the power of art to shape us. “Without it, I’d be a completely different person”.

–By Grecia Leal Pardo
Development and Communications Manager

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Faculty Spotlight: Jéhan Òsanyìn

Posted on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Written by Arts Corps

Jéhan, a black person wearing pink boots and a white scarf, in the middle of a brick-lined road beneath an arched bridge.
Jéhan walking along the Peak Forest Locks in Marple, UK February 2025.

 

Arts Corps is happy to introduce our new Director of Arts Education, Jéhan Òsanyìn!

Previously, you have been part of Arts Corps as a teaching artist. What made you return as an administrator?

One of the reasons I left Arts Corps as a Teaching Artist was because while working as a Creative Schools Initiative Teaching Artist in dual language classrooms, I learned what it meant to teach young people in a language other than English and fell in love with it.  It helped me more deeply root my pedagogy in anti-colonial theory through understanding my relationship with language and learning.  I knew I wanted to be a more proficient educator when teaching in Spanish speaking communities. I also wanted to investigate what it meant to be West Indian (St. Johnian and Jamaican) and think about how the Spanish colonization that occurred in 1455 in Jamaica. What residue remains after the Spanish left? What are the remnants of British colonization? Where does that live in body? In my practice? In my curriculum? While my work as an Arts Corps teaching artist helped me understand the depths of colonization and internalized racial trauma in an arts integrated classroom, I wanted to work with the adults who worked with young people to provide more advanced professional development opportunities. I needed to sew together the theories I’d discovered in the classroom. Returning to Arts Corps as administrator is an opportunity to support Teaching Artists and the young people they serve by creating systems around them. I’d love for the entire world to see teaching artistry as a career you can retire from. 

Beyond Arts Corps, you have so much experience as a transdisciplinary artist, educator, and facilitator! Can you tell us about some of the work you’ve done in the past and some of the practices you’ve learned from it?

Sure! I’ve had the lovely opportunity to work with a lot of organizations who made me sign an NDA before working with them. Feel free to make a guess of which companies and you’ll likely be right.  I’ve worked locally as a Director or on the team with The 5th Avenue Theatre (Into the Woods, The Wiz, Afterwords, Wonder Boy!, Yoko’s Husband’s Killer’s Japanese Wife, Gloria). I directed Wonderful Wizard of Oz at Seattle Children’s Theatre, I adapted and directed the World Premiere audioplay of N.K. Jemisin’s short story The Effluent Engine for Book-It Repertory Company, I’ve also worked with ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Village Theatre, and Intiman theatre.  I wrote and performed Yankee Pickney with a now defunct theatre company, Theater Schemeater. Yankee Pickney explored state sanctioned violence against Black bodies.  I trained in Cultural Somatics and Psychological First Aid with Resmaa Menakem. Some of the practices I’ve learned from that training was slowing down and moving the speed of discernment.  How slowly do I have to move to make sure I’m moving in alignment with the behaviors I’ve learned and practiced and not the ones taught to me by teachers with practices and values that no longer served me?

Something that ties a lot of your work together is theatre. Why theatre?  

This is hard to explain, but theatre has, historically, been the only place where I get to be in the fullness of my body and be believed. When folks are watching the journey of a character I’m playing from the beginning of the story to the end they believe what’s happened to them (with lights, sound, costumes, and supporting characters). As a big Black-bodied sometimes femme, people don’t often believe my life. I find they struggle to empathize without qualifying questions that dilute my experiences. Theatre was the only place where I could fully exist and breathe and be believed. Being believed is validating so I kept going on my path of validation until it diverged in a wood.  

What is something that excites you as Director of Arts Education?

The Teaching Artists. I was in the office during Art 4 Life and listened as Yaz and Atticus taught students how to read the symbolism in Steven Universe. I’m in the office as Teaching Artists gather supplies and laugh with the program managers. I’m on this planet to work in service of young people and to fund the Arts in perpetuity. Those are what excited me as the Director of Arts Education. 

What is something that excites you or is bringing you joy as a human?

Food.  I love cooking and baking. The week before I started in the office I perfected my “from scratch” croissant recipe, perfected my shortcrust recipe, and baked bialys and sourdough boules for my neighbors. My grandmother was the sweetest human and the best cook. Now my brother (who lives in Pennsylvania) and I bond over FaceTime while cooking and baking for our respective loved ones.  If you want to hear or see me in my happy place, talk to me about food. The highlight of my week is customizing my CSA box.  Truly, it’s the little things these days.  

 

A Batik tapestry of a person sitting on a rock, fishing, with a tree, a volcano, and a red sky behind them
A Batik tapestry Jéhan made while in Yogjakarta, Indonesia in January 2025
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Meet Our Performers for Thrive

Posted on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Written by Arts Corps

At our Thrive fundraiser, we are celebrating the power of creativity and community. One of the ways we are doing that is through a line-up of inspiring performances of both students and local artists!

Learn more about each of our performers and the power they find in art. 

 

All City Choir

Teaching Artist Erica in focus seated in a circle of young adults, singing and gesturing with her hand

All City Choir is led by seasoned Teaching Artist Erica Merritt!

Erica Merritt is a singer songwriter, vocal coach, and master teaching artist. She is also a social and human services specialist with more than 25 years of experience, as an artist as well as a worker in youth and young adult development in the greater King County region. She began teaching choir in 1998, and has continued to teach voice, songwriting and choir with organizations such as Langston Hughes, Arts Corps, MoPOP, The Residency with Macklemore, and The Creative Advantage. 

Erica’s work focuses on the belief that art changes the lives of those who experience its transformative and healing powers. Her teaching style includes laughter, critical thinking, self-reflection, full transparency and fosters a growth mind-set. Her student-centered pedagogy creates a learning space where the student becomes the teacher.

She has enjoyed the amazing opportunity to combine her passions of social well-being and music through the art of teaching. Erica takes great pleasure in supporting her students in becoming the best version of themselves.

What is All City Choir and how did it come to be?
All City Choir is comprised of youth ages 16 to 25 from all across Seattle King County area. They are joined together by their love of singing and creating beautiful music. We are not just choir, but a musical family that cheer each other on and keep giving each other reasons to smile. It is a safe space where young creatives can come and express their selves through music and song.

What are some of the practices you use in the choir room to help students thrive?
Self-empowerment is key, so I’m constantly reminding everyone that they are as great as they allow themselves to be, and it all starts with a growth mindset: believing that you can and believing that you will. I constantly challenge the limits that the students put upon themselves and raise the bar higher, and then watch them surpass it.

What has it been like getting ready for this performance?  
It has been an invigorating experience. We have about six new members that joined within the last month and we are all trying to get to know each other and each other’s voices while blending in perfect harmony, so I would say intense at times but lots of fun.

How does music relate to the building of a more equitable world?
Music is universal and a great example equity, as every voice is welcomed and valued. This creates a sense of belonging and inclusiveness.

 

Christian Paige

Christian Paige, a young black man wearing a salmon button up, holding up a mic and smiling in front of a seated crowd

Christian Paige is an Emmy nominated spoken word poet, a professional speaker and educator who speaks at schools, conferences, and events across the United States. Paige has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people and loves to work with young people who are committed to doing good in the world. Paige is a first-generation college graduate, an Actsix Scholar and is passionate about community, anti-racism, equity, and empowerment. He has spent his entire career in and around education advocating for historically marginalized populations and working to create equitable environments where young people can thrive.

He provides motivation, inspiration, encouragement and truth through school assemblies, professional development sessions, conference keynotes, community gatherings, and poetry performances. 

Paige’s work has appeared on national stages, on television, and in museum exhibits. Paige is one of the top youth speakers in the Pacific Northwest and is in demand nationally however, Paige believes there is no place like home. He was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington where he currently lives and serves as The Tacoma Poet Laureate. He believes that our voice is our most powerful tool and encourages others to use their voice to advocate, interrupt, empower, and teach. Christian often uses one sentence to summarize himself. He says, “I am just a somebody, who wants community to work for everybody”.

What does “Thrive” mean to you?
Thriving is having your needs met and as a result, living freely and authentically. It is being myself. Absent of the gaze of others, or the anxiety and pressures of “supposed to”.

How did you get to be a spoken word artist?
I’ve always loved orators and storytellers. As a young person I was introduced to speakers, revolutionaries, Harlem renaissance poets, and other writers whose work changed the world around them. Seeing how their pens and voices shaped their communities inspired me to do the same.

To you, how do creative practices and spaces relate to the building of a more equitable world?
Stories are essential to the fabric of our culture. Art is a language of authenticity. When people share their art and their story with the world, it dispels myths and stereotypes that are so pervasive. Art is essential for an equitable world and is a medium for understanding.

 

Nailah “Oni” Bulley

Nailah Bulley, a black woman with red twists, as she dances whipping her head back, her hair in the air

Nailah was born in the depths of a creative family, she grew up eating, sleeping and breathing art. She inherited drumming and singing from her father and dancing and business from her mother. Nailah has been dancing professionally since the age of five.

Her focused dance styles are West African and hip-hop dance. Nailah has had the opportunity to be a part of many companies such ADEFUA (30 years), KUTT ‘N’ Up ENT (20 years), Gansango dance and music (11 years), Kouyate Arts (8 years), Nu Black Arts West, Dance This, Broadway bound, KODE RED dance team (EWU) (5 years) and LADII ENTOURAJ. She also created my own dance group by the name of MYND KUNTROL (10 years).

Nailah has a unique style of choreography that she produces and shares with her community. Nailah has been given many opportunities to teach in a variety of places such as weekly community classes, Seattle Center (Festival Sundiata and Folklife festival), Cleveland High School Dance team (2016,2018, &2019 Bubbling Brown Sugar winners) school demonstrations, professional development seminars, and community engagements. She is also the funder of Oni Arts Collective LLC, a way of merging Bulley’s passion for social service and dance.

What does “Thrive” mean to you?
Thrive means to grow through adversity, shinning light in times that we’re made for failure, pushing limits towards success.

Who is somebody who has inspired and nurtured you in your journey as a dancer?

My sister, Chisula Chambers’s always has been a supportive outlet through my many life adventures, especially geared towards dance always helping me thrive, and see my self worth. 

My grandmother, Alyce Gloria Harris who always boosted my self confidence and gave me motivation to use my kindness and passions to create. 

To you, how do creative practices and spaces relate to the building of a more equitable world?

Creative spaces give people the ability to express themselves and be themselves, without these spaces people would never truly know who they are. If there were more spaces to be creative, there would be less world confusion, more leaders and less worry. Education happens in these spaces. For when you create and share with others, you are more understood, and then all the ism’s have the potential to fall off.

 

 

Our Thrive fundraiser is happening on Saturday, March 15, 6:00-9:00pm at WOW Gallery. You can buy tickets here. 

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Community Spotlight: WOW Gallery

Posted on Friday, February 28th, 2025 at 9:10 pm
Written by Arts Corps

"Wonder of Women Gallery" in a serif white font inside a black circle, under a white crown.

 

This year, we are hosting our fundraising dinner Thrive at the beautiful WOW Gallery! In anticipation, we asked their team to share a little more about the space and its story:

Not only is WOW Gallery a beautiful event space, but it is also an art exhibit and a healing experience for the Black community. Can you tell us a little about the story behind WOW? How did it come to be?
 
WOW Gallery was born from a divine calling to create a sacred space where Black women, girls, and people can heal, be inspired, and find liberation through the power of storytelling and art. As an extension of Wonder of Women International, WOW Gallery is more than a gallery—it is a movement dedicated to inspiring Black women and girls to find their voice, stand in their truth, and celebrate their wonder by telling their story.

It is a sanctuary where Black people can see themselves reflected in a space of power, beauty, and affirmation. WOW Gallery is a living testament to our stories, struggles, and triumphs—a dedicated space that fosters healing, joy, and the reclamation of our collective narrative.
 

Why was art such a central piece of your vision?
 
Art is a powerful medium for healing, education, ancestry, and liberation. It allows us to reclaim narratives, express our truth, and leave a legacy that empowers and inspires generations. At WOW Gallery, art is not just about aesthetics—it is a tool for transformation.
 
The vision of Wonder of Women International is deeply rooted in storytelling, and art is one of the most profound ways to tell our stories. It ensures our voices will never be silenced.
 

The exhibit on display is Dear Sista, I See You by Veronica Very and Hiawatha D. What are some Black artists or pieces that inspired you in the making of the exhibit and the space?
 
The Dear Sista, I See You exhibit is deeply influenced by the rich tapestry of Black artistry and storytelling. Hiawatha D., known for his vibrant and evocative portraits, draws inspiration from a lineage of Black artists who have celebrated the resilience, power, and beauty of Black women.
 
We are especially inspired by iconic local Black women whose names may not be widely known but whose impact is undeniable—educator and poet Dr. Mona Lake Jones, entrepreneur and activist DeCharlene Williams, and the late Dr. Maxine Mimms, founder of Evergreen State College’s Tacoma campus. Our intention is to uplift the unsung sheroes whose stories deserve to be recognized and celebrated in community. Dear Sista, I See You is creating sacred space for those conversations and celebrations to take place.

 
What are some events that you host in the space, and how can people get involved?
 
WOW Gallery is more than an art space—it is a movement, a living and breathing experience of Black storytelling, truth-telling, and community healing. Our events center, affirm, and elevate Black women, girls, and people. We host storytelling circles, healing dialogues, artist talks, and transformative gatherings that foster connection, self-discovery, and liberation.
 
One of our signature experiences, The WOW Experience, invites guests into an immersive encounter with art, culture, and the deep truths of Black love and existence.
 
Community members can get involved by visiting the gallery, attending or hosting events, and supporting the mission of Wonder of Women International. This work is sustained by those who believe in the power of Black women and girls finding their voice, standing in their truth, and celebrating their wonder. Those who feel called to be part of this movement can also contribute through sponsorship, collaboration, or simply by showing up and standing in solidarity.

 
What is one of your favorite memories that you’ve created in the space thus far?
 
One of the most profound moments at WOW Gallery was a multigenerational storytelling gathering, where Black women, girls, and elders sat in a sacred circle, sharing wisdom, laughter, and tears. In this space, Black girls were held and affirmed by the voices of those who came before them, and elders were given the honor of witnessing their legacy live on.
 
It was a moment where the mission of Wonder of Women International came to life—where voices were found, truths were spoken, and wonder was celebrated.
 
There is always an unspoken understanding in the room that this space is more than an art gallery. It is an altar, a sanctuary, a homecoming for every Black woman, girl, and person who has ever longed to be seen, heard, and held in love. These are the moments that define WOW Gallery—where healing happens in real time, and the stories of Black people are honored as sacred, significant, and sovereign.
 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
 
WOW Gallery is more than an art space—it is an uprising, a reclamation, a revolution. It is a love letter to Black humanity, inscribed in bold strokes, vibrant colors, and the resounding echoes of our ancestors.
 
This is a sacred offering to the Black community, rooted in love, light, liberation, and legacy. A sanctuary where our truth is honored, our stories are sacred, and our presence is power.
 
For those seeking connection, healing, and empowerment—this space was created for you, by you, because of you. Come and center yourself in the hope, healing, and harmony of Black Love. Stand in the unwavering truth that Black women, girls, and people deserve to be seen, celebrated, and centered in spaces that honor our divinity, our brilliance, and the wisdom of our wonder.

 

Thrive is happening on March 15, 6:00-9:00pm. We hope you are able to join us to experience WOW Gallery for yourself!

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Faculty Spotlight: Jacqueline Barbosa

Posted on Monday, February 3rd, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Written by Arts Corps

"they tell you to turn into a new leaf but then complain about your faded color" around drawing of a leaf, part brown, part green

Jacqueline Barbosa is an alum from our Interagency Arts Program and our Art 4 Life @ CAM internship. Since fall, she has also been one of our new Classroom Assistants, working with our New Futures and Out of School Time programs! It’s been so wonderful having Jacqueline back in the classroom as faculty, and seeing the way she is able to connect with our young students. We’re so excited to witness all the ways she continues to grow!

What made you decide to become a Classroom Assistant?

I decided to become a Classroom Assistant because of Adam and my teacher at Interagency Southwest, Ms. Mary, who both have been role models I’ve always looked up to. I loved making art with Adam and saw how much he enjoyed working with students while doing something he was passionate about. So many students, including myself, couldn’t wait to get to school just to vibe with Adam and create some art with him. Seeing the positive impact he had on everyone around him inspired me to want to make that same kind of impact for youth, be someone they can look up to and can’t wait to create art with.

What has been a surprising lesson you have learned in your new role?

A surprising lesson I’ve learned in my new role is how much the students have taught me about patience. While I came in expecting to guide them, I’ve realized the importance of really listening to each of their unique experiences. Many of them have their own challenges, but they handle each day with strength, which has inspired me to be more open minded. It’s been a wholesome experience to grow with them.

What excites you about continuing to CA this quarter?

What excites me about continuing as a Classroom Assistant this quarter is the opportunity to grow and become better in my role. I’m looking forward to gaining more experience, learning new skills, and finding ways to connect with the students even more effectively. It’s exciting to know that each day is a chance to improve and make a bigger impact.

You were a student both at our Interagency Arts Program and our Art 4 Life internship at CAM. Can you tell us a little about your experience in these programs?

In the Interagency Arts Program, Adam didn’t let us use our phones for inspiration when drawing or painting. Instead, he pushed us to think for ourselves and be creative. At first, it was hard because I was used to looking up ideas, but over time, I realized how much it helped me grow. I started making things I didn’t think I could, and it taught me to trust my own process. I’m glad I had that experience. In the Art 4 Life internship at CAM, I learned to take my time and be patient with my art. I focused on doing things step by step and picked up new techniques that helped me grow. I also met many talented artists who inspired me to keep improving and exploring my creativity.

What are some of your own creative practices or current projects?

Lately, I’ve been taking my time with art and exploring new techniques. I’m learning a lot from Maryem, which has helped me grow. Im really interested in color blending and cutting out shapes, making experiments like diy lava lamps, diy bookmarks, and using pastels for drawings, and more!!!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for making this such a great experience. I’m really grateful to be part of such a friendly and supportive community here at Arts Corps.

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