Artist Spotlight - Chloey Cavanaugh
Who are you? What do you do?
My name is Chloey Cavanaugh - I was born in Sitka, AK, and raised in Juneau, AK, and I am a child of the Was'ineidi Tax'Hit, Eagle Wolf clan in Kake, Alaska. I run an indigenous LGBTQ+ owned business based out of Juneau, AK, called Black and White Raven Company, named after my grandfather Archie Cavanaugh.
What do you do?
Shoot, okay. I am a graphic artist who sells apparel and does art stuff, but my business also works with community-minded individuals on logo design and website design. I have also been fortunate to work with The Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy (TCLL) Program, teaching graphic design.
Who/what inspires you?
I had this 9-year-old kid approach me and say, " Hi, Chloey! you taught my design class at Harborview." She then talked to me about her recent designs from my graphic design class. That inspires me. Our youth are the future - seeing them talk about what they are creating, finding, and building upon the pride they feel in themselves inspires me to do more, give back, and remember what it was like to be a child growing up in Southeast and what that means to me as an adult.
What is your favorite moment in the process?
I love that moment at the start of the process when all these ideas feel like they will burst out of me. All these bundled-up emotions that are sometimes happy, sad, mad, or eager for change get to burst out, and I see them visually. I also enjoy the end of the process is also a favorite of mine - when I get to share them with the world and see who feels what I feel too - and it opens up these conversations or shared experiences.
What is a trick of your trade or a piece of advice for artists in your medium(s)?
Ask questions, create with others, uplift one another, and trust in who you are. People will have perceptions of what your art means and ways it should change or grow - but at the end of the day, take it all with a grain of salt. Your art should be something YOU are happy with - the rest is just a perk. In a world full of preferences, Coffee drinkers, tea fanatics, and soda pop drinkers - you can't be everyone's favorite cup of coffee.
What's coming up?
I work as a Design & Marketing Manager for Áak’w Rock, a biennial three-day Indigenous music festival from September 21 - 23 in Juneau, AK. Tickets are for sale right now at: https://jahc.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/14435
Where can we find you?