Monica Miller

This project comes after leaving Artist Trust in Seattle, WA after 6 years and the Seattle art scene after 10. In that time, I was fortunate enough to work with some wonderful organizations and 100’s of artists. I moved to Thorp, WA full time in January 2010 to give birth to my son Porter and live full time with my husband artist Justin Colt Beckman. This area is rich with talent and artists, many of whom are unbeknownst to those on the other side of the pass. Artists here crave for a dialogue. Artist Trust makes a substantial effort to bring resources to artists all over the state. 5 local artists created PUNCH as a way to showcase their work to a broader audience and build a bridge between the two seemingly distant communities. In the year since the birth of my son, I have had a few moments to reflect on the varied opportunities that exist for an artist and the challenges that artists have to reach those. It’s my hope that the experiences I have acquired from my experience with SOIL, The Henry, 4 Culture and Artist Trust, the Fremont Arts Council and now Gallery One, Alley Cat Artists and the Ellensburg Arts Commission can be of use to artists on both sides of the pass.