We were lucky to catch up with Jieun Beth Kim recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jieun Beth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

As an Asian – American female, I often encounter people perceiving me to be a certain way based on their understanding of my Identity: timid, docile, passive, and unassertive. Although, as a human, I can relate to those traits, I generally tend to defy their expectations in my natural tendencies. For instance, I used to work for a grocery store in Austin. When I started the job, due to my small stature and quietude, others had low expectations of me to accomplish specific laborious tasks like lifting heavy loads or carrying highly stacked pallets of items.  However, I was determined to work hard and prove them wrong. I lifted heavy loads and performed as well as a male colleague who was six feet tall. As a result, I eventually became one of the best employees because of my efficiency and determination.

Dealing with people’s assumptions about me based on how I look or their perception of my identity can be challenging. But I see it as an opportunity to redefine their expectations and show them that I am an ambitious, assertive, and determined individual, regardless of my background. Working in new environments or meeting new people has given me the chance to break down preconceptions and showcase my true self.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I am a visual artist and a teacher, committed to community enrichment through my artistic gifts. I have exhibited nationally and internationally, showcasing diverse artwork based on my research on Personal Identity. As an educator, I design curriculums to teach essential skills, increase professional knowledge, and encourage authentic character-building. Additionally, I launched a successful exhibition program at the Austin Central Library as the inaugural Director of the Gallery, partnering with 80 entities and producing 50 exhibits and seven public artworks. I also run a small business called Kimchi Rok, purveying artisan-grade kimchi based on family tradition, and offer internship opportunities at Clifton Career Development School, serving students of special needs and nurturing ambitious students as the next leading chefs.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Supporting local artists and businesses is not only a matter of cultural preservation but also a smart economic choice. A thriving creative ecosystem reflects a community’s cultural affluence and advancement, while promoting the power of art to shape society. By providing access to art education, museum visits, and community art activities, we can ensure that everyone benefits from the transformative power of art, regardless of their economic class or language. A strong local community built upon the foundation of supporting local artists and businesses leads to economic development and growth opportunities beyond our locality, thus bringing abundance back to our community.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Working as an art administrator and educator while maintaining my own art practice has been quite challenging. It requires long hours of work and balancing time and resources. Despite my hard work, finding security in the art world has been a difficult and uncertain path. Navigating the unknown has tested my faith and resilience.

However, art has always been an essential creative outlet for me, and it has served as a vital communication tool since I was young. It helped me understand the depth of my identity and brought enlightening insights to help me mature. The profound connection I have with my art has kept me resilient and has made me trust in the power of my artwork beyond any material reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jieunbeth.com & www.kimchirok.com
• Instagram: @jieunbeth & @kimchirok