Art Historian

I am a candidate for a Master of Arts in Art History at the Academy or Art University, San Francisco. I earned several Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees with specialties in Pedagogical Theories and Performance Aesthetics, Dance, Bilingual and Secondary Education, Spanish History, Nonprofit Management, and Philosophy, from Texas Tech University and Northeastern University, respectively.

I have a varied academic and professional background with extensive work in nonprofit management, environmental and family law, secondary education, marketing and event planning, fundraising and donor relations, and professional performance and education in dance. 

 Originally from west Texas, I moved to the Seattle area 13 years ago to study Seattle Grunge music and art. Well, I wanted to really be near it, as a proud member of Generation X. The music and lyrics changed and saved my life, so Seattle was my mecca. Fast forward twelve years and I finally began my destiny. 

Out of the four mainstream Seattle Grunge bands, Alice in Chains were my anchor. Especially the lead singer, Layne Staley. I owe my life to the man's lyrics, music, and performances. To me, he had major significance. Then, I realized I shared that with millions of his fans. He helped save a generation in crisis and uncertain destiny unknown in previous ages. However, his struggles with heroin casted him an agent of celebrity decadence and selfishness. But we who love him knew better.

So, my time came to do something about it. I wanted to write about his profound impact on Generation X...his profound impact on me. I want to reverse the erroneous journalism of his story. Layne needs to be remembered for the authenticity of his soul and his lifeline to millions of Gen X latch key kids maturing to adulthood and beyond. His musical and visual art is worthy of Generation X Art History.

Though I know Layne Staley's place in Art History is unknown, my academic quest hopes to change that. So far, I have related him to Classical Greek Art and Philosophy, the Italian Renaissance, and Friedrich Nietzsche's "Birth of Tragedy".

After completing my MA in Art History, I plan to apply for my PhD in Art and/or Music History at the University of Washington. Ultimately, I want to be a professor at UW and teach Grunge Art and Philosophy.

The focus of my Art History work is connecting the aesthetic and philosophical principles of Ancient Greece with the Seattle Grunge movement. The work will demonstrate how the aesthetics, philosophy, and artistic characteristics from Archaic and Classical Greece are influential and comparable to the Seattle Grunge movement of the late 1980s - mid-1990s.