"Arts have the potential to reveal the world anew.  Dance, poetry, sculpture can remind us of the elegance of movement, the intricacy of relationships, the infinite variations of color and tone.  Even as a child, walking in woods, one is reminded of the childlike wonder of finding a feather during the course of a busy day. I found materials in nature and understood, at a primal level, that the process of conceptual and instinctual making transformed these raw elements into art.

I have been exploring the vessel form since the 1990’s.  Baskets, ballet slippers, a circle of women – each represents a container, and each is filled with quiet energy.  I stitch together materials and meaning so that we can hold in our hands something as ephemeral and strong as a basket made of feathers that has assumed a form, but not a substance. Since ancient times, feathers have symbolized spiritual communication; birds, like messengers, fly between earth and sky. I invite the viewer to join the great journey through this world with fresh awareness.”  CA Michel. From the article by Suzanne Smith Arney, published in the Summer 2010 issue of Fiberarts.

During a recent conversation, CA Michel said she was motivated to make this generous donation because she feels one should be “paying forward, passing back”. She has reached a level in her career where she wants to help others who may not have the same opportunities for education that she has had. She is hopeful that artists will be inspired by her action and will support other organizations in a similar manner.