We recently connected with Ava Kinsland and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ava thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

When someone asks me what I do…….. there is really not one simple answer……..

At the age of 18 I decided to move out of my hometown Kansas City, Missouri to Lawrence, Kansas and begin my own dreadlock business called Lovely Twistz Dreadlocks. I had been practicing on my own hair and my friends hair for years and decided that I wanted to share the love and skill with other people. Working on peoples hair allows a connection to grow deeper with individuals, learning about each others lives, spending hours and hours of time together, diving into a process that requests both parties to be in a receiving & giving state at the same time. I have been a business owner for the past four years, working with 50+ clients from all over the country such as, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado and many more places! My services include, dreadlock installation, maintenance, permanent & temporary extensions, reconstructions and more! ” A vision of lifting self confidence and love through the journey of hair”
FOLLOW THE LINK – lovelytwistzdreadlocks.com

I had also discovered the joy of flow arts when I was 17 years old, playing with old hula hoops in my fathers backyard. From there, flow art movement became a staple in my life. Over the years I discovered more props and more ways of incorporating them into my own personal “flow” or “style”. I began applying to events to perform with flow props and soon discovered an even bigger inspiration and love.
Aerial arts, acrobatics and fire spinning came into my life in 2019. When I first discovered aerial I began to take classes at a local studio in Lawrence Kansas. I had a background in gymnastics as a child so this art seemed like it clicked naturally for me. Training and working on these arts throughout the years has given me unbelievable opportunities to create with myself and others. My specialty acts include, aerial hoop/lyra, multi person aerial, hand balancing, flying pole and fire spinning with a plethora of props. I’ve also been apart of “ReKinection” since 2018, which is an event production company that focuses on the “collaboration of guides, performers, musicians and artists conspiring to inspire greatness by guiding people to reconnect body, mind and spirit.”
I have performed all over the country in places such as Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona and even Costa Rica! I have also been an instructor for many events and currently teach at Inspired Aerial in Lawrence, Kansas!

Within in the past year I have also taken on being a Social Media Marketing Manager for ReKinection and a local band called Recycled Funk. Learning how to create art physically and digitally is two totally different things, so Its wonderful to be trusted by my mentors in this new art form that i’ve taken on as well!

It wasn’t easy getting to this place I am now and it still isn’t, but what Ive learned about myself is, I generally don’t like easy things. I like to challenge myself, see how much I can expand, see how many people I can touch in different ways. I choose to live by passion rather than by standard. When you choose to live by passion you choose to accept all the waves, all the bumps, all the highs, all the lows, but you’re always reminded that passion only grows.

Ive been able to grow my passions and love to keep me alive and keep me moving to do whatever I am here to do.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing being an artists is seeing the infinite circle of inspiration constantly being exchanged by individuals. I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t inspired other peoples strength and power. When we see other people loving their talents and using them in a positive way, it inspires us to do the exact same. When we are surrounded by a community with like minds and visions, we can truly create a dream life. When we create our dream lives we can inspire and assist others to do what they are destined to do.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal and the mission is to be the best person I can be for myself, my community and the people that cross paths with me for any needed service.

Contact Info:

• Website: lovelytwistzdreadlocks.com
• Instagram: @aavarenee / @lovelytwistzdreadlocks / @rekinection / @recycledfunk
• Facebook: Lovely Twistz Dreadlocks / Ava Renee Performance Art / ReKinection / Recycled Funk

Image Credits
Lam Light Photography Fristy Media Kristin Wickland Paige Sierra Photography C.MAC Photography Patrick Emmerson John Clayton – roscoepoet Michael Weinberg Photography