​Having grown up in Ohio, I am an Oregonian by choice. I have lived in Portland for 30+ years and have yet to tire of the natural rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

My attention is drawn to the forest, water, rocks and sky. I often think about time, human and geologic and how these things change or don't change over the minutes to years. Their longevity is reassuring as I witness the turmoil and chaos of our current human world. These elements, water, sky and stone will outlast us all. 

Currently:

For the past few years, my artistic focus has been the stream along the Lower Macleay Trail. This waterway serves as a powerful metaphor for resilience, though its transition from wild stretches to a culverted storm drain provides a stark illustration of human impact on the landscape.

Through my work, I have researched the history of this area. The land was originally home to the Clackamas, Multnomah, Lower Chinook, Atfalati, and Tualatin people. Following their forced removal, Danford Balch received a land claim here, only to murder his son-in-law seven years later. Given this history, "Balch" is an inappropriate name for a creek in such a beloved park.

I am now working in consultation with the Tribes and other stakeholders to rename the creek "kulla kulla"—the Chinuk Wawa word for "bird," as suggested by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This effort to move past colonizing myths and toward a more inclusive history has added great richness to my practice. By focusing on the Bird Alliance and the confluence of the creek, the name kulla kulla reminds us of our responsibility to protect nature and the power of having an understandable, human scale focal point to guide our efforts.

If you would like more information on how to help or are willing to write a letter of support for this initiative, please contact me at kullacreek@gmail.com.