This year AS220 has been working on creating several residencies in order to build leadership in the arts. We asked these young artists to tell us a little bit about what they do, why they do it, and how they became involved with AS220. Here’s what Luna had to say:

Greetings! I’m Luna Marie Ayala; Latina, Muralist, Painter, Poet, Dancer, Actor, and Producer! I work intensely with AS220’s Youth Studio and I am the emerging arts management fellow for Providence’s very own Sheyla Rivera! I focus mainly on murals and acrylic painting for larger scale canvases. My drive is to empower young women and men to not be afraid to be who you are and embrace the art inside of you! I draw everyday things but with a trippy and twisted intent.

My home base is AS220 Youth and I’ve been with AS220 Youth for about 4 years now. It’s truly amazing to be hired into Vatic Kuumba’s performance theatre program. We work as a team doing screen-writing/reading, poetry, and spoken-word, and team building. My work with Shey has focused directly on producing artistic cultural events following my work as a visual and performing artist; researching other cultural non-profit organizations and how they operate around the history of the neighborhood.

Following Vatic’s program we’ve been breaking down systematic oppression and how it affects us as artist and as minorities in America.  We’re prepping for Future Worlds 3 this year and it’s going to be exciting to touch base with AS220’s movement and purpose. Graduating from Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts I am solely motivated and grounded from the experiences I faced in High School. My art is dark and abstract and based around everyday things I perceive.

You can go to Luna’s Tumblr page and check out her portfolio! https://ohyouphancyy.tumblr.com/