Nekoda Witsken

How does my art make the world a better place? – Art provably impacts mental and physical health in the communities in which it lives – communities that invest in art experience meaningful improvements in academic and social outcomes. Art drives tourism, sets and reflects culture, and often serves as a primary platform for discourse around critical civic issues. My goal is to use my art in service of those outcomes. I want to raise the profile of people and organizations doing work to better the communities in which they live. I want to inspire discussions around equity, and what good citizenship means in the 21st century. I want people to look at my art and see a celebration of diversity, even as they’re called to recognize a foundational human oneness.

How does my artistic process accomplish these goals? – My goal is to create art that’s both accessible and compelling. To do that well, I look for three things: (1) A damn good story – a mission statement, a personal ethos, a cultural message – whatever the context, the content must have something to say. Without it, the art will have nothing to say: (2) Dynamic partners – our goal is to create something that sings. Something that delivers the “damn good story.” The best art comes from collaborating with partners who share that vision, and who are excited to bring their story to life. (3) The technical tools – complementary color schemas, dimensionality, medium; art is more than simple transcription. The best art takes the tools of the profession and uses them to elevate the story. It speaks the language of the text more beautifully; it compels participation more powerfully. That’s my hope for my artistic process: that we uncover the stories worth telling, use art to tell them as richly as possible, and make the world better for having done so.

On a more personal note – I was born and raised in Indiana (HSE and Purdue grad). I absolutely adore my husband, James, and my dogs, Potato and Cupcake. My personal motto is “best energies and bright colors.”