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About Me
Biography
I was born in Germany on March 3rd 1988, and lived in Turkey until the age of five. People say I was an energetic and goofy girl from the start, which is probably true. I returned to the United States to live in Tallahassee Florida from the time I was five until just before my seventeenth birthday when I moved to Missouri to live with my brother and sister-in-law.
During my high school years I became interested in writing, singing and art. I decided to attend Stephens College where I began a degree in Creative Writing, and then switched to Graphic Design. I was fairly close to finishing my Graphic Design degree at Stephens when I took an interest in new media and transferred to Missouri State University to pursue a Digital Art degree with a Minor in Art History. I felt with my previous knowledge already gained in the graphic design field, earning a Digital Art degree would allow me to enjoy my artistic interests while still adding new media to my design skills.
Educationally I feel really lucky to have received knowledge from such a variety of wonderful instructors. My years in college have been rewarding and insightful. I am now happily married and looking forward to graduating in December of 2011.
Artist Statement
Typically I struggle with pressures of being a female and being misunderstood as a Christian. In response to the struggles of being a woman and a Christian, I often turn to fantasy and mythology which serve as a "lens" through which to understand my feelings. Fantasy is an important element of my work, because it is a statement about my faith. My belief in God and His miracles gives me faith that anything can be possible. I just feel like it is not our place to "put a cap" on what He can do.
As I began to depict ancient mythology in my work, I learned more about stories of certain female creatures. I became fascinated with the parallels between the characteristics of these female creatures relative to current por- trayals of women. My interest has developed into a self-portrait series. Through my art, I have played the roles of these creatures and used their situations to express or question some of my own. I have titled these creatures Bride, Widow, Hussy, Tease, Shrew and Damsel in an effort to force my viewers to think a little more about their circumstances in relation to modern female stereotypes.
Events
| Events | Date | Location |
MSU Senior Exhibition |
(show ended) 11/4/11 through 11/12/11 |
MSU Student Exhibition Center: 838 E. Walnut, Springfield, MO Regular Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 1:00-5:00
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Anything is Possible (Collective Works Show) |
12/2/11 through 12/30/11 | The Hub: 811 North Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802 Hours: Sun Closed; Mon-Fri 7:30am to 8:00pm; Sat 10:00am to10:00pm
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What is When? |
2/12 |
Book release for sale online |
Of The Spirit - - This area of my site is dedicated to encouraging my viewers to become aware of and take action in humanitarian issues - -
I wanted to include this portion on my website because of my relationship with God. It is always on my heart what a blessed life I live, and I constantly feel the Holy Spirit encouraging me to pass those blessings and love on to others in this world. I have decided to call this area of my site "Of The Spirit" where I am calling attention to some of the awesome love the Spirit is doing through great people and organizations in our world. I guess "Of The Spirit" could even be thought of as a movement I want to ignite in businesses, and individuals to remember to promote and encourage each other to not only support the wonderful movements already existing in the world, but maybe to even go out and start a new one. There is always need for more love in this world.
Every month, 10% of my profits will be donated to one of the causes listed below. It is my hope that someday that 10% donation from my work can even grow to 50%, when I am financially able. I really hope Of The Spirit touches lives in even some small way, and that everyone reading this gets the chance to learn more about some of organizations listed below like Just Breath, SADS, His Kids Too, REDTHREAD, and Vastergaard Frandsen Disease Control Textiles.
(much more information to come)
JUST BREATHE
Puschase jewelry or T-Shirts to help provide research and aid to children with lung disease. (This cause is close to my heart personally because Just Breath was started by my little cousin Robert Loveless His last hope in this life was to help other children who suffer the way he did)
WHAT IS SADS? Warning Signs: family history of unexpected, unexplained sudden death under age 40; fainting or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle; consistent or unusual chest pain &/or shortness of breath during exercise. MISSION: The SADS Foundation is dedicated to informing the general public (and families, medical professionals), about the effects of untreated/undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmias and the methods by which death can be prevented. Initiatives include sponsoring public awareness meetings in local communities, providing educational videos on LQTS, and establishing media relationships to promote publicity about these "silent killers", through magazine and newspaper articles and TV & radio shows. The Foundation also sponsors the International SADS Awareness Week (Month) each year (formerly the Long QT Syndrome Awareness Week), where volunteers and the foundation participate in awareness activities, support groups and other awareness events. Through comprehensive awareness programs, the SADS Foundations hopes to prevent additional tragedies that can be avoided through early detection and proper treatment.
Our Mission: His Kids Too! is committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with orphans in Ukraine, by providing humanitarian aid, health care and educational opportunities.
Our Vision: That orphaned children in Ukraine can grow in an atmosphere of dignity and respect, fulfill their God-given potential and, ultimately, participate in the economic and spiritual future of their country.
Vastergaard Frandsen Disease Control Textiles "We operate under our own unique Humanitarian Entrepreneurship business model. This "profit for a purpose" approach has turned corporate social responsibility into our core business of creating life-saving products for the most vulnerable."
Life straws (created by Vestergaard) are bringing clean water to people around the world, please learn more at
video by Emilyann
ETERNAL THREADS Our MISSION Eternal Threads is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most at risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation by providing sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects.
Learn more about the REDTHREAD movement:
In itself, wearing a red bracelet is not important. It is merely some threads woven together and worn on one's arm. But what if there was a story behind that bracelet? What if the person who wove those threads together was a twelve-year-old girl from Nepal? And what if that same girl had been rescued on the border of her country from a sex trafficker, before being enslaved by one of the most prominent international crimes to date? The impact of the Red Thread Movement is three-fold. First, wearing the red bracelet creates awareness of sex trafficking [it's happening more than we might think, with as many as 12,000 girls trafficked across the Nepal border each year]. Second, making the red bracelets provides employment for girls in Nepal who have been rescued from the hands of sex traffickers at the border. Third, the revenue from the Red Thread Movement [each bracelet costs $3] employs not only the rescued girls but also funds the safe house that welcomes them and continues the establishment of border units. These border units along the Nepal/India border each rescue as many as 100 girls per month from the bondage of slavery. More information coming soon!
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contact me at emilyanngirdner@gmail.com