Hi, I'm Kari-Elyssa
I am an independent African American illustrator, photographer, jewelry maker, fashion designer, writer, and textile artist. I also work periodically as a knitting and crochet instructor, mostly teaching friends and family. My crochet and knitting experience is now at two decades. I have a BFA in Visual Communication Design, with a focus on illustration and photography. In April of 2020 I received my teaching certification from Craft Yarn Council of North America for instruction in beginner knitting. I have been working with fine art and textiles for almost two decades now, and continue to learn new techniques as part of my commitment to lifelong learning, and my decision to dedicate my life solely to art, writing, and creative advocacy. Whenever possible, I also look to my family's African, Indigenous, and Asian background, in a way that also balances modernity, kindness, and sustainability. Being an introvert, and someone who has always been a constant target of bullying and social ostracizing, I am not keen to show favoritism or pride for any culture/lifestyle; most of my life I have felt that while many human societies are worse than others, there is not perfect place, and there will be always be problems whenever there are humans involved. Apart from a few art/textile related things, I generally dislike every other aspect of my heritage; for a time I saw it as unfortunate, but really, it's no fault of my own being that I did not create the cultures norms. I firmly believe that many traditional practices and beliefs, irrespective of what part of the world they come from, are extremely egregious, bigoted, dangerous, disgusting, and unnecessary; these aspects of human culture not alone affect other people, but animals and the environment. I take no issue criticizing my own family or the cultures they came from generations ago, or where they chose to associate with in the present. I try to bring light on these issues, as well as on the vanishing of the few good aspects of various global societies.
This ties into one of my goals other: improving animal welfare and environmental sustainability not only with the fashion and art industries, but in other aspects of society as well. This includes promoting more plant-based foods, and an end to cruel and unsanitary delicacies. More than anything, I care about animals and plants, species conservation, biodiversity, protection of natural landscapes. Human society (some more than others) has and continues to play a major rule in the planet's destruction either deliberately or through negligent ignorance. Cruel cultural practices, eating habits, superstitions, social trends, and a commonly held mentality that humans are superior to all other life or the only creatures on Earth (anthropocentricity), have all caused a lot of suffering.
I am also a women's rights activist, hoping to use female empowerment (specifically among the BIPOC community) as a means to help everyone and everything, not just a few people. No one should have to be fearful of their security, their right to exist in a world already uncertain; unfortunately, ingrained hatred and brutality continue to threaten so many on daily basis. Women deserve access to education, business startup resources, proper healthcare and guaranteed reproductive rights, as well as freedom from violence and exploitation, discrimination, and other traditional social norms that have been used as tools of oppression for centuries. The world would benefit greatly if more people of every culture could understand this. It is truly sad to see that even after so many centuries, there are many who do not want women to have even basic rights. There are many too, who still see nothing wrong with animal cruelty, violence, or destroying the planet. In the end, there is one Earth, and frankly, most humans do not deserve a "second chance planet" somewhere else.
Thanks for stopping by! Peace! Be kind as much as possible, and speak up against bullying, sexism, and animal abuse!
This ties into one of my goals other: improving animal welfare and environmental sustainability not only with the fashion and art industries, but in other aspects of society as well. This includes promoting more plant-based foods, and an end to cruel and unsanitary delicacies. More than anything, I care about animals and plants, species conservation, biodiversity, protection of natural landscapes. Human society (some more than others) has and continues to play a major rule in the planet's destruction either deliberately or through negligent ignorance. Cruel cultural practices, eating habits, superstitions, social trends, and a commonly held mentality that humans are superior to all other life or the only creatures on Earth (anthropocentricity), have all caused a lot of suffering.
I am also a women's rights activist, hoping to use female empowerment (specifically among the BIPOC community) as a means to help everyone and everything, not just a few people. No one should have to be fearful of their security, their right to exist in a world already uncertain; unfortunately, ingrained hatred and brutality continue to threaten so many on daily basis. Women deserve access to education, business startup resources, proper healthcare and guaranteed reproductive rights, as well as freedom from violence and exploitation, discrimination, and other traditional social norms that have been used as tools of oppression for centuries. The world would benefit greatly if more people of every culture could understand this. It is truly sad to see that even after so many centuries, there are many who do not want women to have even basic rights. There are many too, who still see nothing wrong with animal cruelty, violence, or destroying the planet. In the end, there is one Earth, and frankly, most humans do not deserve a "second chance planet" somewhere else.
Thanks for stopping by! Peace! Be kind as much as possible, and speak up against bullying, sexism, and animal abuse!
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