Active Mind, Creative Spirit
Biography
Outdoors, adventure and expression (visual and written) have always been the place where I belong.
Following my first step into visual storytelling, I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts, with emphasis in photography, ceramics and glass sculpture. Endeavors since then have routinely included adventure and storytelling. Twice in my life, I’ve shoved everything I own in a moving truck, and driven it across the country to find a new home. We figured out jobs and housing after arriving – adventure style.
More recent adventures have included climbing mountains, creating, owning and running an outdoor magazine, and teaching art and writing classes, and I’ve just launched a new endeavor to reconnect people through nature. I’ve had the pleasure of immersing myself in cultures, religions and ideologies from far corners of the planet.
Each endeavor is, for me, an adventure into something new. If I am not learning, I feel small and contained, rather than expressive and free.
As the photojournalist for my first Nepal project, I accompanied a group of Nepali musicians on a tour along the Everest Highway to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest for an environmental campaign. The project’s goal was to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on the Everest region and its glaciers and people. From that one month endeavor, I wrote a 300 page book about that experience: Song of Chomolungma, A Musical Journey Along the Everest Highway.
More recent Nepal projects have included humanitarian work, education in remote rural villages, implementing new infrastructure, and working with local leaders to fund classroom additions to overcrowded school buildings. One project i am proud of is devising and facilitating rubbish clean up in remote villages of Nepal, in a place where no roads or garbage service exists.
After a decade of specializing in Nepal culture and spending time there, I completed a second book: One World Lens: A Cultural Journey Across a Decade of Adventure in Nepal. It’s over 300 pages and 100 images, chronicling the people, cultures and events of Nepal, from my own experiences.
I have created and curated a photography group based in Nepal which promotes imagery of real life in developing countries, rather than promoting stereotypes based on front page news.
Co-owning a daily outdoor publication allowed me to lead a team of writers and editors while creating my own manuscripts and managing the publishing process in an industry I love. I consult with writers who are working on manuscripts for publication, often acting as editor and teacher for writing process, style and the formalities of getting their book published.
Through Events Wild, I teach art and photography using nature and culture as my guideposts.
I lead trips into the mountains as well as teaching creativity, wellness and helping people be more fulfilled.
I am at home as a public speaker, giving presentations and workshops, and I also speak to school groups and communities about visual arts, nature, culture, travel, writing, and inspiring people to follow their passion.
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