Trish Stockton

I'm a Navy veteran who discovered my passion for art in 2019 when the Veterans Administration referred me for recreational therapeutic art after horseback riding and kayaking didn't work out due to my disability. I found my home at the Veterans Art Project in Vista, California, a nonprofit that provides free supplies, space, and instruction for veterans, their families, active military, and first responders. When COVID hit and my job as a rideshare recruiter ended, I finally pursued my lifelong dream of going back to school for art. I started at community college in 2021, initially thinking I'd do ceramics and make jewelry, but discovered sculpting and metalsmith jewelry instead. I excelled in school, becoming president of the art club and earning the highest award at the school, which led to a scholarship to UCSD. My husband and I moved on campus so I could fully immerse myself in my studies, which worked out well since his radiation treatment was right down the hill. He was my biggest supporter, having been a part-time artist himself. Tragically, he passed away in October after I returned from a summer study abroad program. Despite this devastating loss and managing my disability, I persevered and just completed my bachelor's degree in Visual Studio Art with a minor in Art History Theory and Criticism at age 60. My work focuses on ceramics and glass, and I create pieces that make viewers think rather than just say 'that's pretty.' I recently had my first piece accepted into a museum, a major installation about ocean conservation featuring a papier-mache sea turtle, jellyfish made from recycled plastics, and QR codes linking to information about endangered species. I love creating political satire and drawing connections between historical and contemporary art. The Veterans Art Project hired me a year ago, though I'm currently on furlough due to funding issues. I've applied for a residency in Scotland and am considering moving to England where one of my children lives.