My favorite part of the shoot was the wings, and humoring my wild idea of re-rigging Christi’s studio to combine aerials with the wings. I love how much of her personality is on display in the studio, so many studio spaces are so neutral it's hard to get a sense of place from them.
The three most important things in my life are art, beauty and movement.
Creativity and art has always been a defining characteristic for me. I love the emotions that art of any medium can evoke. When a book leaves such an impression on you that you are forever changed for having experienced the story, or music that swells emotion through the fiber of your being, a painting that unveils mystery upon mystery the longer you gaze upon it. Those moments are the moments that transcend the mundane and give meaning to the daily grind that existence demands.
I want to live a beautiful life. I want my life to be filled with beauty in it's environment and with the people that inhabit it. To me there is nothing more gorgeous than growth; of someone that is able to delve deep into their shadow, face the fears and insecurities that lurk there, bow to them and begin the transformation of growing through them to a higher expression of self and integrity, and movement.
I make no secret of my family's struggle with mental health and addiction; I believe that secrecy only compounds the issue. Movement has been a huge part of my own recovery from trauma, neglect, depression, anxiety, and sexual assault. Finding aerials was a lynchpin in turning my life around when it went through its darkest hours. Therapy isn't the only modality to treat mental health, and for me I've needed to take a multi-modal approach in my healing journey. Movement complements the work I do in therapy and it is always available to me, I don't need to wait for a weekly appointment to process whatever is disturbing my peace, I can flow, bruise my limbs for the sake of art, or condition my muscles until I am exhausted but happy once more.
What lights me up? Words of affirmation. I can never get enough validation and the sense of being seen and understood. I think that I felt like such an ugly duckling and difficult child (even though I was incredibly well behaved and an honor student) that now I'm making up for all those moments that I wanted more from my life. My dad said I could do whatever I wanted when I turned 18, so I am. Tattoos, motorcycles, aerials, make-up artistry, and modeling. It's incredibly liberating to be able to perform and have that self-expression seen and validated.
Something people don't know about me? Well, now that would be telling, wouldn't it? I'm very much an open book, but even I hide tomes away in the restricted section. (And if that didn't give it away I'm a librarian as well).
The wings were too good to pass up and I love the opportunity to get in front of a camera. My inner child would be absolutely astonished if she had even an inkling that this would be a part of the life she grew into.