Help Make a Dream Come True!

I am an autistic artist who is both mentally and physically disabled. I have a past of abuse and continue to struggle with depression, anxiety and loneliness, but glass art has been a bright spot that has helped me through. It has allowed me to focus on learning, look to future possibilities with my art, meet amazing people and feel like I am part of an encouraging, supportive community of people who all have a passion for glass art like I do. I am working to raise money for tuition for a week-long intensive class from amazing glass artists at Corning Museum of Glass Studio in New York. This class will grow my skills and confidence as an artist and allow me to be in a supportive environment with others as I learn. All the money I am raising here goes directly towards tuition to pay for the classes. If you can, please consider helping me know, connect with others and continue to grow as an artist and a person.

How I found Glass Art and how it has changed my life:

In 2012 my life was shattered, and everything I knew changed. Before this, I had spent all my adult life in an abusive marriage, just trying to make it daily, but it was all I knew at the time. 2012 left me entirely in the unknown, struggling to find myself, my purpose and how to understand and cope with my disabilities as I began my life alone. 2012-2014 brought so much change, upheaval, and depression that it left me unsure what to do next. I felt lost, alone and entirely without direction. I began taking some art classes to get out of my own head, which resulted in me taking classes in stained and fused glass. I fell in love with glass as a medium, and after working with fused glass for a while, I tried flameworking and glass blowing with a torch. I loved working with the glass, the torch, and the creative possibilities it offered. I set up a home studio to work in, and from 2015 to 2017, I experimented with the torch making glass pendants and exploring as many techniques as possible. In October 2017, I was hospitalized for a week due to a still undiagnosed gastrointestinal issue and underwent testing in the following months. Shortly after that, in January 2018, I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and began treatment, making me very sick for the next 5-6 months. During this time, I stopped doing all my art, including glass, and my depression and anxiety began spiraling. That fall, I decided to try to take control of my life and pursue my dreams again. I took a one-day class in making small glass birds on a torch. It was very simple compared to what I had been doing, but it rekindled my desire to pursue further instruction and exploration in glass art using a torch. I had dreamt of taking classes at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York since 2014 but never thought it would actually happen. I decided to take a step and applied for classes in winter of 2019 and got into them. It was an amazing opportunity, and due to the generosity of others, I was able to spend two weeks at Corning taking classes from amazing glass artists. I learned so much, connected to a fantastic group of people and grew greatly as an artist and person through the experience. During the summer session, I was accepted into a few more classes with the generous support of people who follow my art, as well as receiving generous scholarships from Corning. I spent five weeks at Corning in a supportive, accepting environment, learning and growing and meeting and connecting with other glass artists (both teachers and classmates). That summer was a massive step out of my comfort zone and turned out to be the most significant growing experience of my life. The following fall, I was hospitalized again for gastrointestinal problems, resulting in a partial colectomy, although I didn't let that stop me. Winter of 2020, I had a chance to take one more class before COVID disrupted all of our lives. Covid paused my education, and the gastrointestinal issue I thought I had put behind me arose again, leaving me sick and isolated for the past couple of years. I have undergone many tests in the past six months, and I will need another surgery to remove the remaining portion of my colon. Still, I don't want life circumstances to keep me from my dreams, so in the meantime, I am looking to return to Corning to continue my education, so I am beginning again to raise money to take a class during the 2023 winter session. I am only looking to raise funds for class tuition with no room & board this time because adding that to tuition would put this goal way out of reach. I am only trying to raise what I need for a week-long intensive class and will hopefully be able to find somewhere to stay when the time comes. If raised, this will allow me to spend a week at Corning learning many different techniques from artists that I can practice and build upon while also allowing me to meet other artists and leave the isolation I have found myself trapped in the past few years. If I receive more than my goal, I may be able to take two classes. I didn't want to set the bar too high since money is tight everywhere, and I am thankful for any help and classes I can attend. My dream is to continue to learn new techniques and connect all the things I am learning to form my voice through my art. I also want to continue to learn so I can make art to share with others and teach others the art I love so much. I named my glass art Infinitely Fearless Designs several years ago when I set up my website, Facebook and started doing fairs. I want to embrace that, set aside my thoughts and fears, and go into this new year in my life fearlessly seeking my dreams regardless of my anxiety, depression and health issues. I hope you will be able to partner with me in this as I make these steps. I truly appreciate everyone's support in helping me begin again as I set out to fearlessly embrace my art and my future.

Update for those who don't know:

During the pandemic, I moved and lost my home studio, leaving me unable to work on my glass, but I now have a garage. I am currently turning part of the garage into a studio. Someone is working to install ventilation and electrical so that I can fire up my torch again, hopefully in December. My Corning education and experiences have brought me within reach of some of my dreams. Further education and experiences at Corning will give me more tools to work with and the support and confidence I need to make these dreams a reality. The past few years have been hard physically, mentally and emotionally, and I am working hard to push through those. Yesterday I had the opportunity to sell some of my glass art at the Raymond Village library fair and talk to people about my art and passion, and I am excited to see where this journey will take me. Thank you all for taking the time to read my story and considering embarking on this journey with me.

For anyone wishing to contribute to class or travel expenses, glass expenses or anything else please contact me.