We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kachina Leigh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kachina below.

Kachina, appreciate you joining us today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

Although my studio is now located at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, it took a few tries to get there. Many times, I lacked the confidence to actually hit “enter” and complete the application. When I finally did submit an application, I was rejected. And it stung. I was new to exhibiting my work. I had little sense of how to write an artist statement, or how to go about getting quality photos of my work. Looking back at that initial application, I can understand why I was not offered studio space. I realize that had I been accepted at that point as an artist, I would not have been able to keep up with the rigor of a studio practice. I would have gone deeply into debt, and I may have never taken the opportunity to focus on my role as an educator. I love teaching and working with students from high school age and older, and I took advantage of multiple travel opportunities solely for educators. As a result, I have traveled extensively through Europe, Japan, South Africa as well as Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey. I’ve taught a wide variety of textile techniques in Oaxaca, Mexico as well as throughout the United States. It was these experiences that enriched my own artmaking, and lead to my studies at the University of the Arts, where I earned an MFA.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I make my work using textiles, paper, and leather. Some of my work is the size of a grand piano, and other pieces are small enough to fit in your hand. I also make work that is wearable, and seeing my work being worn by someone else is incredible … it becomes part of their story, and I often wonder what might have happened while someone was wearing one of my scarves or shawls. My mother was an artist, as was my Grandmother. Both women were integral to my development as a person, educator, and artist. My mother was a Professor at a small liberal arts college; she taught courses in textile design, fashion, marketing and the like, but her true love was ceramics. She earned her MFA from MICA in ceramics. My Grandmother was a child of the Depression, and out of necessity, learned to sew and embroider. She later earned money as a seamstress, and once retired from her work, she owned and ran a small knitting machine shop. Both women encouraged me to be creative, and both had a strong work ethic. Making things has been a part of my life since I was a child, so doing what I do now – teaching studio art and maintain my own studio practice – is just a natural progression of the kind of exploration and play that was the foundation of my childhood.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Being raised by a single parent, I watched my Mom worry a great deal about money. She sacrificed a great deal for my sister and I to have an education. For me, I specifically sought out a profession that would enable me to continue to learn and earn money. I had to wait until I had made enough money teaching to be able to afford a studio, materials with which to make my work, and not follow marketing trends but instead, make what I want. I largely use shared equipment in the studio facility of which I am a part when I want to explore printmaking or ceramics.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media has its place, and for a while, I paid someone to create my content for me. That said, nothing replaces time in the studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kachinaleigh.com
• Instagram: kachina_leigh

Image Credits
Kevin Brett/Soul Imagery