Description

She was born Mona Lisa — not after the da Vinci painting, but the Nat King Cole song. Even so, her name might be what destined her for painting. Mona created art inspired by her mossy, forested stomping grounds. Mineral Lake was one of her favorite places — to fish, to camp, and to enjoy nature with those she loved — both her dogs and her people. Growing up rural and lesbian wasn’t the easiest coming-of-age combo in the 60’s and 70’s. Mona struggled to feel at home in her own skin. But painting gave her the self-expression she craved, and we know she’d be over the Mineral Lake moon to support an artist’s time there. To honor her spirit, Mona’s family has created a two-week visual arts fellowship open to an artist who self-identifies as LGBTQ and lives in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington) or the provinces of western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon). This fellowship funds a two-week residency any month and transit from Seattle, Portland, or points between. Depending on the medium and artist preference, they can work in the studio room where they sleep, spread out in the gym, or improvise outdoors.