Legacy Woven in Art: Unveiling the Cultural Tapestry of Alanna Green's Journey with Heritage - Stand United L.L.C.
Preserving Native American Art and Culture through an Entrepreneurial Endeavor.
Deep in the heart of Alanna Green's mission lies the history and heartbeat of a culture; the life of a father who weaved stories not with words, but with the intricate designs of Pacific Northwest Native Art that would forever leave an impact on his daughter; and, the legacy of a grandfather on her mother’s side who was a direct descendant of the Métis, an indigenous people in Canada who trace their ancestry to both European and Indigenous parents. Alanna, the founder of Heritage - Stand United L.L.C, wasn't just born into art — she was molded by it.
Young Days Amongst Art Galleries
Alanna's early memories revolve around the galleries her father worked at and helped manage, where she was introduced to the enchanting world of Pacific Northwest Native Art. It was here that her passion for art was ignited, and a lifelong love of the transformative power of creative expression took root. Her encounters with Edward Curtis photographs, Pacific Northwest basketry and carvings, and the friendships her father fostered with Indigenous artists left an indelible mark on her soul.
An Artistic Ancestry
Alanna’s childhood introduction to the sway of cedar baskets and the gaze of black and white Curtis photographs — which were her father's world, in turn became hers. His deep enthusiasm for art became the underlying theme during a childhood torn between artful summers spent with her father in La Jolla, California, and a single-parent household with her fiercely ambitious mother in Seattle, Washington. Her mother’s ambition was evidence of the strength of her own father, a highly respected man who had fought on behalf of the Canadian Navy during World War II and was a direct descendant of the Métis in Canada. This early introduction to art and deep admiration of Indigenous culture gave rise to a resonance within Alanna. An aching emotional journey stirred by the empty void of an absent father further kindled an untamed passion for the very art that had been the source of their connection.
Her passion for creativity was kindled amidst the bullying and social isolation she faced at school, which she escaped through the sanctuary of art. The absence of a stable school life led to a rendezvous with art as a lifeline, spending solitary hours sketching her own identity in the sanctuary of her school’s art studio. Navigating the pain of being bullied and isolated from peers, Alanna sought refuge in art. Each brushstroke, each carved line, became her means of escape. It wasn't just an outlet; it was a declaration that in the face of adversities, she could create both beauty and solace.
Alanna was not only exposed to art; she lived it. As a young girl, she watched as her father cultivated relationships with Native American artists across the Pacific Northwest. It was here that Alanna learned, not from a lecture, but from life, the deep reverence that art can command. The untimely passing of her father, in September of Alanna’s senior year in high school, reinforced for her the powerful emotions that art could invoke, becoming a necessary balm for her grieving heart.
The Palette of Change
Despite tremendous personal loss, it was through the healing power of art where Alanna was able to find her true muse. Choosing to embrace her trials as a part of her narrative, Alanna pursued her passions with unbridled determination. Her art education led her to Principia College, where she painted a vivid new chapter of her life. Through European travels and studies, including a French immersion program in Nice, France, her palette broadened, and her strokes grew bolder. The turning point in Alanna's artistic odyssey came from a two-month independent study program pinned to the end of the immersion program in the French Riviera. Alanna had designed an independent program for the completion of her art degree that involved traveling solely throughout Europe by train, painting en-plein air and visiting art museums scattered throughout Western Europe. On a bright beautiful day in London, she decided to paint her future not in oils and watercolors, but in the grandeur of English Literature. Finding herself in deep reverence and awe at the pages of history within the visitor gallery of the British Library, history and imagination entwined, and Alanna's musings transformed into a desire to redefine her academic journey, one verse at a time.
It was in London's British Library, where the colors of her life took on new shades, and a love for English literature was born. Her European solo travel and immersion in the interconnected world of literature and art led her to the halls of academia, where she discovered her love for culture and meaningful discourse. After graduating from Principia College with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art (2010), Alanna was led on a path to an immersive study of English Literature and Culture at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England where she completed both an MA (2014) and PhD (2018).
The Artisan of Resilience
The passage of her postgraduate experience was punctuated with the compassionate encouragement of support from her mentor, Ulster-born Professor Emeritus Norman Vance. Her profound relationship with Vance, a figure who championed her when life's canvas seemed blank and unyielding, is a testament to the power of support in shaping one's career. Turning pain into purpose, Alanna delved into the venerated archives of institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery in London and Dublin, weaving her thesis on the works of poet Thomas MacGreevy into the tapestry of literary academia.
An Academic Yearning for a Deeper Sense of Self
Alanna's academic journey at the University of Sussex was not just a pursuit of knowledge, but a discovery of self. Her thesis on Irish Modernist poet Thomas MacGreevy, aligned with her Irish lineage, took her through the corridors of history and the caverns of cultural identity. Supervised by mentors who shared her passion, —the esteemed Cambridge alum and Professor Emeritus Alistair Davies for her MA thesis on the Yeats brothers, Jack and W.B. Yeats, and the esteemed Oxford Alum and Professor Emeritus Norman Vance for her PhD thesis on Thomas MacGreevy, — each penned line of research brought her closer to the masterpiece of her own understanding.
Alanna's immersion in diverse cultures, broadened her perspective on the immense power of art to transcend individual challenges. She discovered that in honoring her familial roots and personal narrative, she could carve out her own place in the world of the arts — one that embraces both the intellectual discourse of academia and the profound emotional resonance that art holds. Despite the storms and societal shadows, Alanna has steadfastly painted a career that interweaves her love for art, culture, and travel—currently setting the stage for her mother's inclusion in her own art endeavors.
The Artist's Journey Continues
Alanna's art today is a confluence of tradition and modernity, a dance of the ancients with the contemporary. Her recent revelation on a birthday celebration with her mother on horseback through the ochre slopes of Ghost Ranch, esteemed artist Georgia O'Keeffe’s New Mexican haven, highlighted the vast, unexplored canvas awaiting her stroke. From the Red Rock glades of New Mexico, Alanna draws a strength that colors her artwork in shades of intimate, cultural exchange—a dialogue between the creator and the created, between the artist and the art.
In her vision, the soul of her father and the resilience of her mother's openness to culture continue to paint stories that resonate far beyond the artist's studio. Alanna's ongoing mission to explore and perpetuate her Pacific Northwest upbringing, her father's love for art, and her mother's resilient strength is an homage to the intertwined connection between personal history and a communal language shared by all, irrespective of their background.
Finding Harmony in Creativity
The melody that underscores Alanna's life is one of finding connection and solace in the ever-evolving stories around her. At its core, her narrative celebrates the enduring elements of ancestral lineage and the transformative power of art. For those whom life's colors may have been obscured, Alanna stands as an artist and individual who found healing and purpose within her palette and prose. Her memoir, still a canvas in the making, resonates with those who dare to dream and brush against life's every hue.
Drawing on her experiences, Alanna forges ahead, intent on sharing her story with the world, both as an art enthusiast and cultural commentator. With the resilience of a champion, Alanna utilizes the life-giving force and power of art to unify and heal. As an observer and creator, Alanna Green's personal journey is an ever-evolving creative endeavor, inviting others to find their own healing and connection through the canvas of life.
Forging a Path Carved in Heritage
What drives Alanna isn't the mere trade of goods, but the transformation of spaces into sanctuaries of shared history, of traditions that beckon the curious to immerse themselves in worlds they might never otherwise explore. Every piece is both a portal and a keepsake of lost legends and living lore. Fast forward to today and Heritage - Stand United L.L.C. is more than just the culmination of Alanna's past; it's a beacon for the future. By creating a virtual and physical space for this cultural exchange, Alanna's mission serves not only as a market but as an educational platform.
Stand United in the Art of the Native Community
Heritage – Stand United L.L.C. is more than a tribute to the art of her upbringing; it’s a platform built on the pillars of authenticity, community, and education. This enterprise is Alanna's response to the silent call she's heard all her life—a call to preserve the cultural legacy of Native American and Indigenous art. Visiting renowned art markets such as Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Heard Indian Market in Phoenix, Arizona, she doesn't just stray through stalls; she stands as a representative, and a bridge for an awareness often overlooked.
Through her participation in these art markets and her relentless support of local artisans, Alanna has chartered a borderless voyage into the heart of Native American culture. Heritage - Stand United L.L.C. is more than a business; it’s a bridge that connects artists, communities, and individuals. It's a tribute to the craftspeople who have invested their souls into their work, often facing the challenges of preservation and recognition.
Art Is Love; Love Is Healing
Alanna's story is one of loss, love, and legacy. It's the tale of her father’s passion for the art world, — vivid, emotional, and captivating. Her bond with Native American art didn't just define her upbringing; it refined it. It sculpted a future for herself that not only celebrated her father's world but sustained hers.
In an age where cultural ancestry is often lost in haste, Alanna stands firm in her resolve, her hands firmly clasped with those who seek to carry the past forward. As she embarks on her voyage as an entrepreneur in the industry, she remains steadfast in upholding the honor of her father and courage of her grandfather. Through her writing, she seeks to ensure that the rich tapestries of culture are not just a part of history books but are living and breathing additions to our communal conversation.
In crafting a business established in reflecting the beauty of life, she has found her path to follow and, in doing so, has opened up new trails for others to wander through. Her journey is proof of the transformative power of art and culture—the very elements that bind and build, that express and bridge, and in the end, define not just a person, but a society as a collective canvas of human experience.
Heritage - Stand United L.L.C. is not just a company; it's a continuation. A continuation of love, loyalty, and life. It's an ongoing testament of dedication to the stories that art dares to tell.
The British Library is quite something. Visited it on my first day in England (partially because I was staying just across the road).