Occupational Folk Poets, 2026

rehydrated acrylic and India ink on upcycled canvas

11” x 14”

Occupational Folk Poets is a response to the occupational poetry practice of the same name, synonymous with the Pacific Northwest. In this work, Mikell intends to simultaneously bring attention to a fading creative and cultural practice situated in her intergenerational home region and uplift a family history working in outdoor labour vocations and creative practices, specifically that of her Great-Grandfather, an artist who worked in the Forestry sector with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, her Great-Grandmother, a journalist and poet, and their son, Mikell’s Grandfather who followed suit in every regard.

consistent with Mikell’s practice, this piece is composed entirely of repurposed materials diverted from cycles of disuse, in an effort to mitigate industry waste. As a result, imperfections to the surfaces of frames and canvases are to be expected. Please contact the artist with further enquiries about production.