Ep. 7: Naomi Even-Aberle - MFA in Visual Arts Now Martial Arts Studio Owner & Working Artist

As Naomi’s martial arts studio grew, her time creating art dwindled. She enrolled in a low-residency MFA visual arts program to combat the imbalance. But rather than doubling down on the bifurcation between professional and personal, she tore down the “imaginary brick wall.” Infusing her artwork with her perspective from years of martial arts practice and leadership revealed her voice. Now everything is art, and everything informs her art. The struggles with misogyny and patriarchy she endured in blackbelt training is as present in her artwork as the joy—and complexity—of teaching Lakota children living on sovereign nation land an East Asian discipline. Concepts she studied in grad school, like Orientalism and stereotype fetishization, find their way into her instruction, business planning, team training, and even paperwork. Her advice for identifying non-negotiables and building a life around them helps her as much as her students and instructors. And, hopefully, you’ll find some guidance for navigating your work and creative life in this episode.  Books & other resources mentionedOrientalism by Edward SaidGuides for local small business assistanceWhere to find Naomi and Full Circle Martial Arts/ConsultingEvenAberle.StudioNaomi on Facebook, Instagram, and [email protected] out more from The Work SeminarVisit theworkseminar.com or find @TheWorkSeminar on social media. Sign up for The Work Seminar newsletter to receive updates straight to your inbox.Support the show