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The Artist, Irisa Raen Kennedy, Where did she Come From?

My Name is Irisa Kennedy, I grew up living between 2075 and 2055 Red Rock Loop Rd Sedona Arizona. My mother Is a Professional Artist; with a BA In Fine Arts, who specializes in landscapes and She took it upon herself to make me her apprentice at a very young age, and helped me enter my first piece of art in a show at the age of 11. Little did she know, that art show would trickle into an entire career as an artist. By the age of 14 I had decided art classes from school were no match to independent study, and with the help of an art club, I made and gifted to my mother, a sandblasted mirror which perfectly spelled out her Artist’s Name “Wondrus”, over the Scene of Starry Night. Later my mother would teach me her craft with creating Belly Bowls for pregnant Women, which I still make to this day.

Although I am most known for my work with acrylic on canvas, exterior and interior murals as well as writing both short stories and poetry, publishing my work independently; I continuously seek new projects and mediums. I myself dabble in binding books by hand, watercolor illustrations, fabric dyes, sewing, crochet, handmade jewelry, and so much more. Many have asked where my inspiration comes from. My answer being, my unending desire to change this world for the better, with art.

I went to college at College of the Redwoods in Ft Bragg CA, studying Early Childhood Education, and Dendrology amongst other things, so I could be qualified to teach the local nomenclature during outdoor hikes. I would continue guiding groups professionally for various outdoor activities through my twenties at locations strewn across the United States. My previous experience as an Assistant Director for The Blue Rose Theatre of Sharlot Hall Museum in AZ, combined with time spent teaching Leadership and Teambuilding at Four Winds Adventures, has led me to be well equipped as a fascilitator. Whether it be for a nature walk, or trash pick-ups, art classes, or other projects where we work in teams. The decade of experience in guiding teams, has left me with a desire to use that knowledge and experience to take on the challenge of changing the world, which I soon realized I could not do alone.

As a project in college, I experimented with an idea, to use art as the motivator to get the people of my community involved in local projects like trash pick-ups, and other activity-based projects oriented towards making our town a more beautiful place. I saw the benefit of being an artist myself whom was also cross trained in these other ways, and decided to act on it.

If for example: we wanted trash picked up, artists would paint paintings for a raffle. Local businesses then voluntarily entered meal tickets and coupons to raffle off in support of our cause, and people all over the community picked up trash instead of paying cash for their raffle tickets. I knew I needed to spread this idea to other towns.

Eventually I found that my Voice and Ideas did Not go unnoticed By Mis Annalee Toby. Simply providing an outlet for the community of Chehalis to participate in, led to astounding results in participation Earth day 2022, and my hope is that it can create a spark of inspiration within the hearts of other creative minds in, and beyond our community. As a proud member of Experience Chehalis, I look forward to my part in fascilitating the Next Art Raffle and seeing our community come together through future art-based projects that could change our community, and in turn, the world for the better.