Meet Abby! She’s helping out with our Outreach Program until May 2022. We sat down for a quick Q+A to get to know her a little better.

Where are you from, and what brings you to St. Louis?

I just moved here from San Antonio, Texas, to go get my master’s in Art Therapy Counseling from SIUE.

What’s your favorite thing to craft?

I like to make polymer clay earrings, embroider, and paint. I like to play with textures and try to play with random abstract patterns to see what works together. I mostly use acrylic paint and I love collage materials, fabrics, receipts, and other found objects.

Why were you interested in doing your practicum at Perennial?

I am interested in building community through art and I love the mission of reuse! During undergrad at Texas State, I started the first all-inclusive art organization centered around building community through art.

What do you hope to do with your art therapy experience?

I’d like to have a community art bus — a mobile art studio — so I can connect with different social agencies and community centers to connect people with art from where they’re at.

What recent project are you most proud of completing?

I refurbished all the furniture for our new house!

Give us three fun facts about yourself!