Discipline: Photography

I am a self-taught artist drawing on early childhood memories of my grandparents and their Mexican culture and
heritage, my work becomes a whimsical and positive interpretation of various periods of my
own life. I am especially inspired by my own experiences working in animal husbandry and
ranching. Many times in Mexican folklore animals were often used to teach right from wrong
or to explain the current political events. This was one way to keep the rural population
informed since many of them were illiterate. Animals often assume human characteristics in
my work and I strive to create an open-ended narrative that allows my viewers to create
their own story. In some of my current work I am writing and illustrating children’s books.
This is a wonderful new challenge that pushes me to look at my work from a different
perspective.

Juneau Jazz & Classics

Kait Glasswell began working as a public folklorist for the Oregon Folklife Network in 2023. She is responsible for developing and implementing programming that serves Oregon’s culture bearers, who dedicate their knowledge, skill and agency to transmit cultural practices across generations. This work joins her two previous career paths: community advocacy and arts education.

Glasswell was born in Pullman, Washington, and has a deep appreciation for rural communities of the West. She earned her bachelor’s in East Asian studies and Chinese language from St. Olaf College, where she had the opportunity to live in community with the Asian Rural Institute in Nashushiobara, Japan.

She believes in the inherent worth and dignity of all people and finds joy in creating with others. She currently lives with her wife, dog and two cats in Eugene, Oregon.

Project Manager, The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

Kane County Center for the Arts

Program Coordinator, Mana Maoli

My name is Kapali Bilyeu and I’m a kanaka maoli (aboriginal Hawaiian) born and raised on the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. From birth I was exposed to the creative process of music; my father is a founding member of a popular Hawai’i band called Kalapana and I had the privilege of meeting many talented artists, some of whom I still have a close relationship with today. The music industry in Hawai’i is very close-knit and has been an environment I always imagined myself being a part of when I’m an adult. My journey into traditional Hawaiian arts began in elementary school when I attended Kanuikapono Public Charter School, which specializes in place-based learning. My daily schedule was full of Hawaiian music, chanting protocols, Hawaiian history, cultural practices, and STEM programming done directly on the land, from the mountains to the sea. This experience inspired me to pursue and earn a BA in Hawaiian Studies and completion of the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program, both offered through Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.

Kathy Weber is the product of the American Dream and the Peace Corps.
She was born on a small family ranch in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, the daughter of a hard-working forester and a first generation immigrant from the South Pacific Islands.

The neighboring rancher cut her umbilical cord. She grew up playing in dirt, curious about everything and inspired by the work ethic of her parents and ancestors from the Pasifika islands of Rotuma and Samoa. Thanks to encouragement from her family, Kathy became the first person in her family to earn a master’s degree studying broadcast journalism and political science. Today, Kathy draws upon more than 20 years of experience as an award-winning journalist, political strategist, campaign advisor and business consultant to add firepower to her clients’ capacity. She’s a trusted ally for small businesses, corporations, cooperatives, professional associations, non-profits, major events and organizations who value her ability to get the job done right.
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Kathy is blessed to be raising her two children in Western Montana, exploring the rivers, lakes and mountains around the West. She passionate about the practice of hula and an active community member of the University of Montana Pacific Islanders Club.

As a passion project to honor her Rotuman heritage, Kathy is the co-founder of The Rotuma Project, the first virtual reality tour of a Pacific island disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Rotuma Project aims to document and honor Rotuman stories, language, cultural practices, geography and traditional knowledge while empowering indigenous voices. Learn more >>> www.therotumaproject.com

Kauai Concert Association

Kayenta Arts Foundation