Today we’d like to introduce you to Colette Miller.
Colette, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. For folks who missed our prior conversation, can you talk wiht us about where your story begins?
I the creator of the GlobalAngelWingsProject I painted my first pair in 2012 in the streets of downtown Los Angeles. I had a type of vision of huge angelic type wings on the walls of the city in 2011 or early 2012. I acted on it and made them human-size so people could interact with them. I wanted them to remind humanity of our higher natures- To remind humanity we are the Angels of this Earth. Wings may have become popular or even basic as many others are now doing similar things, but my original intent was humanitarian based. I’ve painted them in remote and destitute areas such as an orphanages in China, Africa, and Mexico, War refugee camps in France. But also, such amazing locations as the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, or the World Trade Center at Spotify. Even Moscow, at the highest observation deck in Europe. I believe Humanity no matter what background or situation can be reminded of our divine selves. Even for a moment.
I have been painting since I was a child
As an adult, I worked as an editor/documentary camera person in interesting locations around the world with EcoNews
I was in the formative years of the heavy metal group GWAR during college where I played a character called Amazina- It is a costume and performance band, so we built props in an old dairy plant “the Milk Bottle” warehouse that had been converted to studio/live spaces. I lived there for a year even in the winter, with no heat except little portables. They started in Richmond VA and that is where I graduated from Art School, VCU. VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity is considered one of USA’s top Art Universities.
As a child, we moved a lot: North Carolina, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia (where we all hand-built the family house my father designed, which is passive solar (main windows face direct southern light with Solar shades )My mother grew up in the Dutch East Indies (Holland/Indonesia), She immigrated to the US, after WWII, from the Netherlands technically as a War Refugee. She loves the US and is grateful for it. She has childhood memories of the US dropping food packages from planes with corned beef, peas and carrots, canned fruit, a little chocolate, and a tiny American flag. People were literally starving in areas of the world devastated by the War. I grew up in a big family and the Arts were encouraged. I was often taken to museums in my youth.
After I left Richmond and finished Art school I traveled through the Middle East and Europe where I paid my way across the continent by doing odd jobs like picking olives, flowers, oranges, or working at restaurants. I literally would sit at tables in the early morning in Chania, Crete playing Chess with other hopeful workers to be chosen to labor the lands that day. I remember making friends with two Egyptians who, when we were all picked as a group (my friend me, and them) we all did a walk like an Egyptian dance to the waiting pick-up truck and made the whole cafe burst out in laughter. When I returned, I based myself in NYC to pursue Art.
I also lived a few years in South Africa where I pursued art and music. Africa is one of my favorite continents, it and I’ve returned many times, once to help facilitate building of wells in Burkina Faso and a few times in East Africa helping with a few orphanages and delivering of supplies via a big shipping container filled with discards from the northern hemisphere which could hopefully enhance the lives of people in that area of the earth.
I had moved to LA in 1999 -2000. Honestly, though I loved NYC, it had become a difficult place for me as an artist that needs space and time.
I’ve painted throughout my years animals, nature, mostly things from my imagination, but always working on the calm of the composition, something you could live with. I am now working on a planet series. Each planet has a saying. Example, Mars- “Love your Neighbor or Uranus-“It’s getting Weird Out Here.”
I’ve traveled a lot and been responsible, I hope, spiritually and financially. Like most people, I have had lessons to learn, things to admit about myself. I have had many adventures, what the Human Experience is for all of us. Too much to write here. I think any one of us could write a book, our life story. I recommend health first, without health you are compromised, and thinking for yourself…
I did a pair of GlobalAngelWingsProject wings I called HumanKIND based on the skin tones of humanity, a nod towards humility and empathy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pursuing your Art has to be based on your own passion and initiative. It’s often not financially or realistically feasible, one must create for creations sake. I like to travel, it’s priceless and the best of educations and keeps an open mind. Your values are your integrity.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Painter and have edited /camera on documentaries and performed/wrote with musical groups. GlobalAngelWingsProject creator.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My publisher Sugarpressart.com
My merchandisers scarves, p0uches totes
Global Angel Wings pool floats with Intex.
Dog and Cat collars with
https://sixpointpet.com/collections/earth-angel-by-colette-miller
Pins, prints with Paper and Fabric.
ARTNET portfolio
https://colettemiller.com/merchandise
Contact Info:
- Website: www.colettemiller.com
- Instagram: @colettemillerwings
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colettemiller9/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/colettemiller
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/colettemiller
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/colettemiller
- Other: www.globalangelwingsproject.com
Image Credits
Judson Studios
Luis Pons
Dietmar Kohl
DaygloDave
Richmond Virginia
