Affiliated with the national Young Audiences Arts for Learning network
About the Artist
Ash R Smith
A visual storyteller-artist-designer-explorer-artmaker sort of being, Ash folds circles - a hands-on exploration of nature, art, design, geometry, math, science and philosophy as reflections of one another. Ash's lifelong need to make sense of the world through her hands has shaped her way as theatre designer, teaching artist, and creative director. She collaborates with all ages, abilities, and life experiences to foster curiosity, awe and connection both internally and in collective. Ash's current creative practice expands on traditional methods of art and design by re-framing her creative process using the circle. Her choice of materials and techniques varies as a means for exploration and observation to what is present, integrating attention awareness as part of the exploration.and response Presently residing in Portland, Oregon, on Chinook speaking tribes' ancestral lands, Ash received an MFA in Stage & Costume Design from Northwestern University, a BS in Environmental Design from University of California-Davis and enjoyed a One-Year Immersive at the University of Leeds, England in Textile Design.
"Ash embodies that there is no right way and that we are all creators while also giving clear and supportive direction. Her open-ended curiosity and enjoyment of experimentation encouraged MY curiosity and experimentation." Student- Circlebook Workshop