About Us
The following are excerpts from Na Mee's proposal:
I am a Korean American adoptee and a mother. I write poetry and personal essays, many of which become multidisciplinary works through collaborations with musicians and filmmakers. As a cultural producer, I organize artist and art events in my community, and as a teaching artist, I most often work with folks outside formal literary circles (teens in treatment centers, prisons, rural communities, shelters, etc).
When I was a baby, I lived with my birthmother for several months before being relinquished. Then I lived in an orphanage, then a foster home, and was eventually adopted by an American family in Alaska. I reunited with my birthmother in 2007 and again in 2022. I became a mother myself in 2009. Although the surface content of my work discusses race, womanhood, parenting, and the natural world, I find that all my projects (writing, organizing, and teaching) return to three deep underlying themes/obsessions: grief, interdependence, and belonging.
These obsessions have origins in my experience as an adoptee and as someone who has grown up on the margins. The content, the audiences, and the communities I work with directly reflect my preoccupation with bringing everyone together. Ultimately, I seek to find/create the places and spaces and moments where we all belong.
Since 2019, I have been working on a mixed genre memoir that explores intergenerational healing between my birthmother, me, and my son. Residencies, fellowships, and mentorships have generated work that is ready for editorial review. It's an auspicious time: a senior editor at Harper Collins enthusiastically supports this project and is awaiting more pages. I would like to have work peer reviewed. This grant would support fees as I submit work for publication
You may be the next grant winner! Click here to apply.
There is no specific type of artist that we focus on or primarily support. Creative expression comes in a wide variety of artistic disciplines and genres. We are looking for passion and excellence in your craft. Tell us why your work is important to you and how you hope it will impact others.
Where Eagles Soar (Isaiah 40:31)
Integrity: Arts & Culture Association is honored to approve Mee's funding request and we wish her continued success in her endeavors.
CONGRATULATIONS TO IACA CYCLE #37
MINI-GRANT RECIPIENT, NA MEE!
Click here to learn about artist mini-grant recipient, Alan Blackman!
IACA is not posting Na Mee's writing sample at this time, as work is being
submitted for publication and we are protecting intellectual property.
Visit Mee's website to read other available writings: www.tsunamee.com/writings
