"This Winter Camp was a much shorter residency than other residencies that I've done, so every day was intentional, with a focus on both goals and rest. I arrived Camp without any expectations or preparations. and I had also never met the other artists in person before, but we connected really well. I appreciated the diverse energy each woman brought to the forest; it was comforting during our nights.

I had never seen such a dramatic contrast in landscapes before—Olympic National Park with its snow-covered forest floor and toppled trees, and just minutes away, a lush, green trail. While we were hiking, I remember encountering the puma tracks. The national parks were technically closed during our visit due to the unpredictable nature of the land and weather changes. As we ventured deeper into the snowy forest, it was both intimidating and awe-inspiring to see the tracks of a larger animal that had explored the area before us. It served as a healthy reminder that we are merely visitors. In my culture, pumas are sacred life-guiding animals, so it felt particularly beautiful and meaningful to be walking along its path.

Drafting my artwork came to me quite quickly because of my interaction with the other artists during the trip. We're all part of a larger body in the art world but have our own unique ways of moving through it. Sharing that energy with each other on this trip was special. My artwork, titled ‘Leave the World Behind’, features four figures engaged in conversation, each uniquely influenced by the water they are immersed in. In this piece, nature and the figures intertwine, merging into one another as their forms and the elements become one."