Forever Plants
Using recycled materials every plant is different and made either to order or on a whim. To see what I have contact me via instagram, email or text!
Artist Statement:
My fiber art has grown out of my love for the environment and creating a huggable cactus. The Forever Plants are made out of recycled materials and clothing to make them a part of our lives. I reflect on the plants we select to reproduce for our homes and how each one is still evolving with us from then on becoming a part of our family.
Artist Bio:
Flora and fauna have always been my passion. I aim to celebrate the world that humans pretend not to be a part of but destroy so easily. I left my hometown of New Orleans to get my BFA in Fiber Art at the Kansas City Art Institute in 2004. When I returned, four years later, I had a new passion for textile, wearable, and green art. My art celebrates the rebirth of materials and life.
Missing the sense of community and collaboration that I experienced in art school, I decided to purchase a large run-down building in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood and, with a lot of hard work and generous help, turn it into what became the Aquarium Gallery and Studios.
In 2016 the building was almost entirely destroyed by a large fire. The very next day, I started rebuilding with help from my family and friends. During the rebuilding process, finding myself without a home or studio I started the performance group the Flamins Flagettes, opening a new arena for my artistic instincts and my costume-making.
In 2019, with the Aquarium Gallery and Studios finally rebuilt and reopened. I want to nurture the skills in collaboration and community-building that I discovered in myself due to necessity, while also renewing focus on my fiber art inspired by nature and the environment.
Artist Resume:
2011- present Founder of The Aquarium Gallery and Studios New Orleans La EDUCATION 2008 Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, BFA in Fiber Art 2004 New Orleans Center for Creative Art, New Orleans, LA, Visual Arts SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2023 STAY CLEAR OF DITCHES, Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, La 2022 Forever Green, Aquarium Gallery, New Orleans, La 2021-22 Trickle Down, 5Press Gallery at N.O.C.C.A., New Orleans, La 2019 Trickle Down Ecology, Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, La GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES 2025 Crypto-Zoolgy, Alabama Contemporary Art Center, Mobile, Al 2024 TBD, LeMieux Gallery, New Orleans, La 2023 All That Was Bright, The Art Gallery (TAG) University of West Florida, Pensacola, Fl 2023 Roller Soul, disco horror play, actor and props, Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans, La 2022 Is This Too Much?, LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, La. 2022 Spring Swings, Longue Vue Home and Garden, New Orleans, La 2022 As We Heal, Second Story Gallery, New Orleans, La 2021 Trembling Prairie, Aquarium Gallery, New Orleans, La 2021 Since You’ve Been Gone, Aquarium Gallery, New Orleans, La 2021 The Waiting Room, Wading Room Gallery, New Orleans, La 2020 Nucleotide Tsunami, Good Children Gallery, New Orleans La 2019 Queer as F^ck, Flaming Flagettes performance, One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans La GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES 2019 Team Aqua, group show, The Aquarium Gallery, New Orleans, La 2018 Neither Here Nor There, Box13 Window Box Collaboration, Houston,Tx 2018 The Last!, Aqua Mob water ballet, New Orleans, La 2017 Two Legs Bad, Aqua Mob water ballet, New Orleans, La 2017 Peaches, The Music Box Village, Flaming Flagettes performance, New Orleans La 2016 Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Cultural Exchange Pavilion, Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans 2016-17 Old 77 Hotel and Chandlery, New Orleans, La 2016 Mardi Gras After the Apocalypse, Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, La 2011-16 Monthly Group shows at Aquarium Gallery and Studio, New Orleans, La RESIDENCIES 2023 Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, La COLLECTIONS 2021-present 5 Press Gallery, N.O.C.C.A., New Orleans, La 2020-present Garden of Legends, JAMNOLA, New Orleans, La PERFORMANCE GROUP/ KREWES 2016-present Flaming Flagettes, all drag flag parade team founder and member, New Orleans, La 2016-2019 Aqua Mob, synchronized swimming ballet performer and costume design, New Orleans,La 2012-present Krewe de Jeanne d' Arc, props and masks, New Orleans La 2009-17 Spirit Sticks, ribbon dancing and performance art group, New Orleans, La WORKSHOPS 2023 Hand Sewn Lily Pad Bags, Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, La 2021 Paper Mache Props, Krewe de Jeanne d’ Arc, New Orleans La 2018 Paper Mache Large Scale Masks, Music Box, New Orleans La 2016 Paper Mache, Krewe de Jeanne d' Arc, New Orleans, La 2013-15 Seasonal Paper Mache Large Masks, 5Press Gallery, New Orleans, La 2009 Crazy Quilting, NOCCA, New Orleans La INTERVIEW Kia Callia, “Behind Artist Jacob Reptile”, WVUE Fox 8 News Aug. 2018