kin

About: Part of this collection revealed itself during a time when Maia was deeply immersed in a year long Peruvian shamanism and yoga training. Maia shares beliefs with many different indigenous and First Nations’s traditions that all creatures are our relations and that they can teach us about ourselves and how to walk on this earth. In this particular training different animals were embodied, studied and meditated on to assist the participants with processing trauma, old false beliefs and more. The insight and support she felt from these animals was tremendous and they helped her navigate meaningful changes. Hidden within each hand drawn, ink on paper image is a yoga posture symbolic to the artist of the wisdom of animals being held by a human in a sacred manner. She later collaborated with a clothing designer to imprint some of these drawings, as well as additional commissioned drawings, on a line of eco-friendly yoga-inspired clothing. These items were sold throughout New England, Long Island and North Carolina.

Media: Ink on paper. Ink on beechwood cloth.

Medicine: Earth stewardship. Animal totems. Ancient traditions.