artist statement

haley zelda addams

artist, writer, collaborator

my work and practice centers around human ecology: our inherent interconnectedness to one another. through the use of mixed media, words and language, care practices, education work, collaborative healing, and personal introspection, i continue to adventure deeper into myself, where instead of solititude i find the strings that tie me to my ancestors and neighbors, my friends and lovers, and to this beautiful earth we are privileged to be alive upon.

ABOUT

i was born in 1996 to a 17 year old mother and matriarchal southern cajun family. i grew my first branches and roots in longview, texas. i spent my childhood mostly confused, abused, and neglected, which deeply impacts and motivates much of my work.

i am a multi-gender trans person. i practice non-monogamy and anarchy in all of my interpersonal relationships. in addition to being texan and cajun, i am also mexican and indigenous, to tribes i cannot track because of the erasure of colonialism and white supremacy. i am disabled, as in, unable to function independently under capitalism.

PRACTICES

teaching — 
education is a communal process. we each have something to teach and many, many things to learn. my teaching practice is rooted in my anti-colonial work, and my deep belief that all knowledge is a bridge to knowingness of each other.

creating — 
creation is to be human, to be alive. when i stop creating, i die a tiny death inside myself each day. i create to express, to share, to connect, and to enjoy.

healing collaborator — 
Highlight what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown in each job.

care collaborator — 
Use lists, indentation, and character styles to organize and format this information.

writer & philosopher — 
poet, essayist, novelist, compulsive journaler. words are my way. writing is my primary thinking practice—the place i set aside feeling and lean into the wisdom of myself and my teachers, and the lessons we all can learn together with our words.

EDUCATION

Childhood: exploration, imagination, awe, observation, love

New York City: empathy, friendship, english writing, foundational philosophy, anti-racism, independence, binary politics, personal style and expression

East Texas: partnership, childhood development, teaching thesis, acrylics and watercolors, curation, artist management, event planning, disability justice, love politics, indigeneity, boundary setting, healing practice pt. 1

Southeast Michigan:

SKILLS

languages: english, spanish, ojibwe, ASL, portuguese (brasil), french