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About Gina
IN SHORT:
I’m an artist and a teacher, originally from Northern California. I now live outside of St. Paul, MN with my husband, twin daughters, and our shameless foodaholic dog, Sally. The first thing I do when I come to a new town is to find the nearest art store and the main branch of the public library.
WHY I LOVE DOING THIS:
Several years ago, I was on a hunt for distinctive, creative wedding announcements that didn’t follow every trend that was out there. I didn’t find any that reflected my creative style: vintage, but elegant. That’s what ultimately moved me into the world of mixed media art. I wanted to create and feature styles that I wasn’t seeing in retail stores. And, in general, I like doing stuff with my hands.
I love mixed media and collage because their use of diverse materials allows for creating something unique. Although some aspects of art practice can be routine, a piece of work is never the same, which feeds my need for variety.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I’ve practiced mixed media art for over 13 years, often for my own pleasure and sometimes for gifts. Usually, I squeezed in my late-night art sessions between my full-time work as a teacher and eventually, between being a wife, teacher, and mom to twin “tween” girls.
I reprioritized my life in 2021; first, I took a leave from my teaching career. Teaching for 28 years, my father’s death, the pandemic, and the events surrounding George Floyd made me realize I was drowning. When my family and I moved from California to Minnesota, I experienced winter for the first time (and I mean, “real” snow: Minnesota, big-time, deep, cold snow).
As a native Californian, winter was an eye-opener. I didn’t realize how quiet falling snow is, and how everything is bathed in silence. I had never walked in newly fallen snow before; its gentle crunch was like a poem beneath my feet. Furthermore, everything stops: nature rests; my mind, for the first time in a long time, was blissfully silent. It was during that profound quiet that I thought, “I want creating art to be a larger part of my life.” That’s how the birth of Mahogany Snow Creations came to be.
“Mahogany” honors the beauty of Blackness, as well as other underrepresented voices, especially women and women of color. Mahogany wood is dark, expensive, and can be hard to work with. I liken this to my journey as an artist. We artists are often hard on ourselves by denying our gifts and downplaying our abilities. I wanted to acknowledge the ongoing challenges creatives go through to honor their voices and their talents, especially as Black women. **
—Gina McKuen
*Much of this piece reflects the writing expertise of Kathleen Woods, writer extraordinaire and a long-time friend. Thank you, Kathleen!!!
I’d Love to Hear From You!
If my work speaks to you, let me know. Any issues with your order? I’d love to hear about it. Is there an author you’d like to suggest for artwork? Questions about the process of making a Mahogany Snow Creation? Use the form below to get in touch with me and I’ll get back to you ASAP.