Erica Alexia Tinderbox Print Auction

Signal Fire’s Tinderbox Artist Residency embeds an artist in a grassroots environmental group to produce a body of work in response to the group’s mission or current campaigns. This year Southern Oregon artist Erica Alexia has worked with Rogue Climate to create 4 prints inspired by the organization’s work and response to the ongoing crises of 2020.

Erica Alexia (She/Her/Ella) -- born and raised on Takelma Land in the Rogue Valley of Oregon. Her indigenous roots are in the Wixaritari, Tepehuan, and the Chichimeca lands, also known as Nayarit & Zacatecas, Mexico. She has claimed her identity as an xicana-indígena mujer in an attempt to regain autonomy over her politicized brown body. Through her artwork, Erica shares her ancestral heritage of migration and colonization, which are integral to her own story and the story she tells others. www.ericaalexia.com

“In my community, I use visual art and storytelling as a way to build a sense of collective memory and connection. Being surrounded by the BIPOC community has allowed for so much personal healing in my life. With the help of those around me, I have begun to see my culture without looking through the lens of the colonizer. I see our culture for what it is and what it means to me, personally. I use my art to express the way I feel, to allow space for those who need it, and to imagine a better world.”

All proceeds from this auction will support the ongoing work of Rogue Climate and Signal Fire.

Rogue Climate’s mission is to empower Southern Oregon communities most impacted by climate change, including low-income, rural, youth, and communities of color, to win climate justice by organizing for clean energy, sustainable jobs, and a healthy environment. We do so through leadership development, political education, fostering conversations, and campaigns for policies that benefit our communities over the special interests of the largest corporations.

Signal Fire provides opportunities for artists and activists to engage in the natural world. Our projects instill self-reliance, catalyze creative energy, and invite interdisciplinary collaboration. The Tinderbox residency program reflects Signal Fire’s dedication to build bridges between environmental advocacy, activism, and art by creating a platform for dialogue with the greater public and Signal Fire supporters. www.signalfirearts.org