Baker Artist Portfolios

I've always loved making art. But when I went to college, I decided to study anthropology instead. I liked working with people and the field fascinated me, so I put my art on pause for a couple of years. One of my professors happened to teach visual anthropology - the use of photography, film, and video to enhance the communication of anthropological observations and insights. Visual anthropologists also study how humans rely on what is seen and how they integrate that into their lives.  When my professor noticed I was interested in building a visual practice into my studies, she encouraged me to go for it.  Thanks to her guidance, I found ways to intertwine my interests in art and culture together. I decided to apply for a field school in Berlin, Germany, where I spent one summer learning how to produce a documentary film. In this film, I collaborated with a theater group organized by refugees to discuss refugee experiences living in Berlin. The first screening of my film at Berlin's Moviemento theater was filled to capacity, inspiring me to continue my work supporting organizational and grassroots efforts. Building on my residency experience, I returned to Berlin the next year to conduct research for my undergraduate thesis. My thesis culminated in an anthropological analysis complimented by journalistic photography. I am particularly excited by ways visuals can enhance ideas words alone cannot express. After graduation, I moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to complete two terms of service in Community Art Collaborative, an AmeriCorps program that connects teaching artists with local organizations to invigorate arts education programs. With Youth Voices for Consent, I was awarded a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to design a consent education curriculum which I swiftly adapted to virtual platforms at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. My experiences have taught me that visual means of communication can play a unique role in the need for change. I try to apply all of my experience towards the advancement of equity. I am currently focusing on building my painting practice as well as exploring new mediums such as digital art and printmaking.