Over the years I have seen the impact of creative constraint on my productivity and artwork. I saw my art becoming smaller and smaller as I worked to fit it into the spaces and roles I found myself in. 

At the same time, and probably out of a response to this, I was getting more and more interested in public art, the idea of getting out of my studio practice and creating in a way that allowed for expansiveness and connection to others. 

Here in Issaquah I have encountered other artists, community members, and groups also interested in the intersection of place, art, and communal bonds. I can feel myself expanding and dreaming as a direct result of tapping into this collective vision and work.

Tina Velazquez Hays, Public Artist & Art Therapist