Salome
Tlingit
Institute of American Indian Arts

Salome (Tlingit) was separated from her mother at a young age. Her father was destitute, and she grew up homeless. Despite her uprootedness, Salome says she has always had an inquisitive nature, and entered the Institute of American Indian Arts to seek stability through education, despite not having graduated from high school. She earned high academic honors, and graduated with an associate's degree. Salome is now studying at IAIA to earn her bachelor's degree, and plans to earn a master's degree in fine arts. “I believe that art is a sacred language that has the potential to awaken humanity and catalyze evolutionary growth through amplification and deep psychological symbolism. I also want to address issues relating to the ecological crisis we are now in.” She plans to do so working as an artist and a teacher. She enjoys working with young people, and has volunteered with the Santa Fe Mountain Center, where she worked with teenagers recovering from drug problems.