Issue 07: Love Lives Everywhere with Kimberly Fulton Orozco
Happy hearts and broken hearts - all hearts are welcome this Valentine's Day.
I’m so excited for you to meet Kimberly, a dear friend and beautiful artist. Her solo exhibition just closed at Fazakas Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. and she is doing cool things - see bio below! She lives in Atlanta, works on her MFA in Sante Fe, was raised in the Mojave Desert, and embodies her native Alaskan, Mexican, Scottish and Midwestern ancestral roots with reverence and joy. For Kimberly, love truly does live everywhere. For us, she is a model of how to love oneself and to love others. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Flavor of the Week: KP Q&A with Kimberly Fulton Orozco
Kimberly Fulton Orozco is a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her art has been exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, and she was recently selected by The U.S. Mint to join the Artist Infusion Program and design coins as the program’s first Indigenous artist ever. Kimberly is a Kaigani Haida Raven from the Yahgw’ laanaas clan of Craig, Alaska, and received the name Sáandlaanaay, which, put simply, means, “first sunrise,” referring to a Haida origin story.
Kimberly’s work explores the intergenerational effects of assimilation under hegemony and the formation of personal identity articulated to culture through the lens of survivance. Kimberly creates works that reflect the divergent influences that continue to shape her today, including her Mexican and Scottish ancestral heritages. She is currently an MFA student at Institute of American Indian Arts Studio Arts program. Find out more about Kimberly at krfo.art and follow her on IG @kimmhmm.
Introduce yourself more personally in 2-3 sentences.
“Sáandlaanay hin uu Xaad Kíl di ki yang,” which means “My name in the Haida language is Sáandlaanaay.” I am Kimberly Fulton Orozco. I'm an artist and I am a mom.
Where are you from?
I live in Atlanta, right now.
No, where are you REALLY from? (Haha!)
Well, this is always a complicated answer because culturally I come from many different places. I am the daughter of a first-generation American. My mom's first home was Mexico. And I was born in California, halfway between where my mom's family is from in Mexico and my dad's mother from southeast Alaska. So I'm also a Haida - that is a people from Southeast Alaska. And my dad's dad is a homegrown Kansas farm boy. I contain all of these things inside me and I feel like they are all so different and come in one container for me.
What’s your sign?
Cancer.
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Contemplative. Dreamy. Deep. Goofy. Serious.
What’s your connection to Komerican culture?
I like the art of my friend Jiha Moon. And the art of Inkyoung Chun and Sonya Yong James. I also like the food. I would say that my relationship to Komerican culture is new.
And of course, what are your favorite Korean foods?
I don't believe I've ever eaten anything Korean that I didn't like!
What was your childhood like and what has it taught you?
My childhood was beautiful, in the Mojave Desert where I grew up. I grew up really close to my grandparents and my cousins. My early childhood, I would say until I was 12, I was really sheltered and safe. And I think that that preserved a sensitivity that I've always carried with me.
Growing up close to my grandmother, we would spend a lot of time doing things with our hands. She taught me how to sew, how to crochet, all kinds of different handwork. She taught me how to do my makeup. And she would tell me stories while we would work on these things. Yeah, she told me a lot of stories that I really took to heart and carry with me. And this really influences my artwork, and what's important to me today.
Can you share something exciting that you’re working on now?
The most exciting thing that I'm working on is, how to phrase it… hmm. Connecting to myself in trust. And I'm working on becoming more embodied.
What do people underestimate about you?
My ability to persevere, to see things through and to keep going. And retain hope in the process.
Share your proudest moment in the past year.
I was selected as an artist by The U.S. Mint to create designs for coins, and I am the first Native person to ever have this position. There are a lot of artists and the Mint is trying hard to diversify its artists, which I am happy to be a part of – that movement. It was really meaningful [to be selected].
What was your hardest moment in the past year?
Oh, moving out of our family home – without question.
We’ve all been hurt in some form or fashion. What are you healing from?
I believe I'm healing from underestimating myself. And from feelings of unworthiness.
How do you love yourself?
Reading, making art and meditating.
How do you love others?
Listening, meeting, and making space for people's feelings. Yeah, I think the biggest thing that I feel like I can do is to listen.
What five things can you not live without?
Paint brushes. Coffee. My boys. Paper for drawing and writing. And socks.
What’s your favorite dance song?
Oh! Gangster Lovin’ by Eve and Alicia Keys.
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
Oooooooh, I love pie. I love all kinds of pie. This is a hard question! I may go key lime.
H Mart Happiness: What’s your favorite product and why?
“Growing up in NoVa, the small Korean market we went to only sold rice candies and popsicles. Then in the early 1990s, I saw Orion Choco Pie at the market. I love cakes, so did my dad, and he wanted to name me Orion when I was born. He didn’t get his way, but these are still special.” - William C.
What’s your favorite H Mart product? Leave a comment and share the love!
Crispy Crust: A Hint of Han - Subversive poetry that soothes
You Speak English So Well! "Wow, you’re a wonderful speaker!" "You pronounce words excellently!" "I love listening to you talk!" "You are so confident!" "I am so impressed by your vocabulary!" "What a surprise you are!" What were you expecting? ***
Love, Sarah
Korean School: 정 Jeong - An incomparable expression of love
Fun facts, idioms, translations and history
Jeong is a deeply Korean concept that can’t be translated with one word. It is affection, care, love, bond, generosity, and compassion one feels towards others. It is shown through behaviors that are thoughtful, considerate, warm, caring, and giving. What’s even more special about jeong is that it isn’t limited to just people you already know. Jeong is a feeling and action that can be expressed towards anyone you come in contact with and is used widely in everyday life.
When a vegetable vendor gives you more than you paid for, they are expressing jeong. When you are at a Korean restaurant and they don’t give you enough banchan, they don’t have jeong. When you share your snacks with a classmate who’s sitting next to you, you share a good amount. They will say “Just a little bit is enough.” Then you will respond “That is not jeong.” Jeong connects people and is not limited to a small intimate circle. It builds a community that cares for one another. It’s a special social glue and unique offering of Koreans and Komericans all around the world.
Sweet & Salty: A list of the tastiest treats satisfying all the senses
YAY for our friend and illustrator Mika Song for winning the ALA Schneider Family Book Award with author Jenn Bailey for their book Henry, Like Always — an award for books embodying an artistic expression of the disability experience. The book was also named a Geisel Honor Book, for distinguished beginning reader book.
CONGRATS to Komerican actor and comedian Joel Kim Booster! He was honored last week with the Rising Star Award from SCAD TVFest and tearing down stereotypes and presumptions of who tells stories. Check out this Hollywood Reporter feature for a great synopsis of all the fun that Joel is having while increasing representation of all kinds.
Spice up your Valentine’s Day in a G-rated way with a Single’s Inferno marathon! We watched every episode and had way too many nuanced conversations about the virtues and dramas of every contestant on the show. Netflix and chill the Komerican way!