ABOUT THE ARTIST

Monterey-based artist Emerald McColey has been honing her skills as a painter, illustrator, and image storyteller for over a decade. Originally from Merced, her studio skills started with sketching portraits and pastels. She then expanded into more mediums such as spray painting on canvas and charcoal murals on rocks of Lake Tahoe, also known as “temporary art.” Emerald is seeking to continue her education in arts and global entertainment by applying for university (again). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Management and International Business from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2020 at the height of COVID-19.

Emerald offers a variety of talents from painting and illustration to musical instruments and an eye for design. Her goal is to be known as a professional Creative Artist and Director in the spaces she works in. She has exhibited art at CSUMB’s Biennial Alumni exhibition in 2022 and at the National Steinbeck Center with audio poetry in 2019. Her camera operating training began as a sports photographer while living and working in Lake Tahoe, 2020-2022, which has since expanded. Her niche is having learned how to music code using Gibber. Emerald is truly a multi-talented, free-spirited, gem bridging voiceless stories to hope. She uses her story as a former foster youth, first in her family to graduate college, and woman of indigenous heritage to advocate the unheard narrative.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Since childhood, I’ve told myself, “don’t put your 2 cents into nonsense.” The nonsense I’m guilty of was giving time to systems not designed to support my story. According to national statistics, being that I was homeless the first 5 years of my life before foster care—a person like me wasn’t in the design to make it far.

Feeling secure has been a long journey spiritually and physically. The twirling kaleidoscope in my mind is the light beam through the scepter I wish to show. Whether it be a deep poem or heartbreak in a portrait. I use a lot of femininity in my work to express my own journey of “feeling like a woman.” Feeling like a woman is not the same as becoming what other women look like in terms of characteristics and physicality. For me, it’s knowing where my masculine energy lies. In fact, I sculpted with recycled materials a woman wearing a dress out of feminine features to show there is a stigma in media. Some of my work may attract any gender and that’s my point. I’ve called myself a “tom-boy” for a long time not knowing I was discounting my masculine energy or rather my understanding of it. I grew up playing dolls with boys! All I knew were riding bikes and playing soccer. I was attracted to sports that involved boys and girls (all). My art delves into the act of being radically authentic.

The Message Behind the Artist: Lost Art Means Lost Children

I’ve lived a large portion of my life fighting ghosts. I come from homes of addicts whether it be drugs, food, or toxic relationships. What lives inside me is and was a lost child. The very child who yearns for connection and creativity. Thus, the creation of "Lost Art Means Lost Children" because I had limited access to creative outlets. When I say I have a passion for serving voiceless and at-risk youth it is because I was one of them. Every minute not allocated to a child’s creativity is a lost child. Art is a high-impact resource that is not thoroughly considered in child development and foster care agencies. My goal is to create a bridging solution to this issue artistically and professionally. Please contact me if you would like to talk about my story. I invite curiosity.