Artistic Statement
Commitment to accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion is paramount in my work as an artist, administrator, educator, and human. My personal commitment is grounded in my background as a queer, trans, non-binary, mentally disabled person growing up in rural, alt-right Central Oregon and my experience with systemic discrimination institutionally and communally.
Like many multi-hyphenates, is difficult to summarize all of my artistic inspirations, aspersions, and passions in one place. Artists are leaders. Leaders inspire passion. Passion ignites change. For me, art is entirely about social progress. But, that may not take the form you may think when hearing that phrase.It can look like creating a community of acceptance and focusing on underlining and encouraging each person’s unique background, identity, talent, and voice. It can be acknowledging and uplifting marginalized experiences and encouraging them to not only be allowed, but be the flagship that is needed to grow and evolve our community and, in turn, our society at large. It can also look like pure and authentic joy. It can be the reveled-in freedom to fully be and fully explore every facet of oneself in a safe celebratory environment. I want to focus on art that critically questions what used to be and invites the collective genius to dream of what can be - then model it for the world. Art continues to shape society.
This societal shift is imminent and necessary and begins with educational reform, institutional reform, and personal internal commitment to growth. I believe in pushing for the world we want to see by modeling it on our stage - challenging preconceived ideas of casting in gender expression, race, sexuality, and ability. The voices and truths of marginalized minorities must become the forefront of the conversation, the curriculum, and the community.
As part of this commitment, my work to be an informed human will continue. I am dedicated to modeling open, clear, and inclusive communication, and I am excited to engage with stories beyond my experience, listen and learn, and share what I have learned from my community, classes, and colleagues.
Like many multi-hyphenates, is difficult to summarize all of my artistic inspirations, aspersions, and passions in one place. Artists are leaders. Leaders inspire passion. Passion ignites change. For me, art is entirely about social progress. But, that may not take the form you may think when hearing that phrase.It can look like creating a community of acceptance and focusing on underlining and encouraging each person’s unique background, identity, talent, and voice. It can be acknowledging and uplifting marginalized experiences and encouraging them to not only be allowed, but be the flagship that is needed to grow and evolve our community and, in turn, our society at large. It can also look like pure and authentic joy. It can be the reveled-in freedom to fully be and fully explore every facet of oneself in a safe celebratory environment. I want to focus on art that critically questions what used to be and invites the collective genius to dream of what can be - then model it for the world. Art continues to shape society.
This societal shift is imminent and necessary and begins with educational reform, institutional reform, and personal internal commitment to growth. I believe in pushing for the world we want to see by modeling it on our stage - challenging preconceived ideas of casting in gender expression, race, sexuality, and ability. The voices and truths of marginalized minorities must become the forefront of the conversation, the curriculum, and the community.
As part of this commitment, my work to be an informed human will continue. I am dedicated to modeling open, clear, and inclusive communication, and I am excited to engage with stories beyond my experience, listen and learn, and share what I have learned from my community, classes, and colleagues.
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Riley Gene
Artistic Statement
Commitment to accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion is paramount in my work as an artist, administrator, educator, and human. My personal commitment is grounded in my background as a queer, trans, non-binary, mentally disabled person growing up in rural, alt-right Central Oregon and my experience with systemic discrimination institutionally and communally.
Like many multi-hyphenates, is difficult to summarize all of my artistic inspirations, aspersions, and passions in one place. Artists are leaders. Leaders inspire passion. Passion ignites change. For me, art is entirely about social progress. But, that may not take the form you may think when hearing that phrase.It can look like creating a community of acceptance and focusing on underlining and encouraging each person’s unique background, identity, talent, and voice. It can be acknowledging and uplifting marginalized experiences and encouraging them to not only be allowed, but be the flagship that is needed to grow and evolve our community and, in turn, our society at large. It can also look like pure and authentic joy. It can be the reveled-in freedom to fully be and fully explore every facet of oneself in a safe celebratory environment. I want to focus on art that critically questions what used to be and invites the collective genius to dream of what can be - then model it for the world. Art continues to shape society.
This societal shift is imminent and necessary and begins with educational reform, institutional reform, and personal internal commitment to growth. I believe in pushing for the world we want to see by modeling it on our stage - challenging preconceived ideas of casting in gender expression, race, sexuality, and ability. The voices and truths of marginalized minorities must become the forefront of the conversation, the curriculum, and the community.
As part of this commitment, my work to be an informed human will continue. I am dedicated to modeling open, clear, and inclusive communication, and I am excited to engage with stories beyond my experience, listen and learn, and share what I have learned from my community, classes, and colleagues.
Like many multi-hyphenates, is difficult to summarize all of my artistic inspirations, aspersions, and passions in one place. Artists are leaders. Leaders inspire passion. Passion ignites change. For me, art is entirely about social progress. But, that may not take the form you may think when hearing that phrase.It can look like creating a community of acceptance and focusing on underlining and encouraging each person’s unique background, identity, talent, and voice. It can be acknowledging and uplifting marginalized experiences and encouraging them to not only be allowed, but be the flagship that is needed to grow and evolve our community and, in turn, our society at large. It can also look like pure and authentic joy. It can be the reveled-in freedom to fully be and fully explore every facet of oneself in a safe celebratory environment. I want to focus on art that critically questions what used to be and invites the collective genius to dream of what can be - then model it for the world. Art continues to shape society.
This societal shift is imminent and necessary and begins with educational reform, institutional reform, and personal internal commitment to growth. I believe in pushing for the world we want to see by modeling it on our stage - challenging preconceived ideas of casting in gender expression, race, sexuality, and ability. The voices and truths of marginalized minorities must become the forefront of the conversation, the curriculum, and the community.
As part of this commitment, my work to be an informed human will continue. I am dedicated to modeling open, clear, and inclusive communication, and I am excited to engage with stories beyond my experience, listen and learn, and share what I have learned from my community, classes, and colleagues.