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MEET FAITH KOHLER

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ABOUT

Faith Kohler (aka TruGlue Artist) is a self-taught artist whose medium varies to fit each of the stories her work tells. Originally from New York, Faith is a former federal agent who graduated from Wellesley College and Marquette University Law School. Her art career began as she worked in law enforcement, giving a voice to seven chronically homeless men over a period of six years in the documentary film 30 Seconds Away: Breaking the Cycle, which premiered in the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2015. Her work as an attorney and in law enforcement offered Faith a unique lens through which she tells stories of both human suffering and hope.

About

Following the release of her documentary, Faith was fueled by the seemingly endless horrific injustices that have become daily front page news. Struggling with symptoms of her chronic illness while watching the plight of so many others worsen, she wanted to raise awareness and advocate against the abuses and injustices the news was bringing to light. Rearranging words taken from the headlines into new messages and truths helped Faith share her perspective about the type of world she wished to help create. The resulting mixed-media collages earned her the moniker "TruGlue" as, with the support of her friends and family, she continued on her artistic journey. Her mixed-media and digital collages are intended to connect audiences with critical social issues using colors, language and images to spark ideas, evoke emotions and start conversations about community and societal improvements. As someone who lives with chronic disease and as a result, has become a staunch self-advocate, Faith has seen firsthand the value of art as healing. To help heal people and communities as she advocates for those who are marginalized, Faith balances contemporary stories of darkness and struggle with activism for a better future, one filled with hope. She hopes her artwork challenges others to lend their own voices and skills, to improve both individual and global outcomes for all.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I used to believe that living in a democratic nation meant liberty was guaranteed. I believed that a country known for its global leadership would see the beauty of its own diversity and place value on human life. My experiences, both personal and professional, taught me just how precious- and fragile- life has become. As a visual artist and filmmaker, I tell the stories of people, politics and social issues in the greater context and meaning of outcomes. I see beauty and despair, and my work tells stories of hope and human impact. I use mixed-media and digital collage, painting, sculpture and film to create works intended to shock the conscience and spark positive social change. I engage even those who disagree with my values in constructive discourse about people...because when we take off our masks, underneath it all, aren't we all human beings? I use art to connect people, to show the human element of social issues and political and societal failures as I lend my voice to support those who are marginalized. I want my art to be a call to action, reminding audiences that in today’s United States, our own well-being is something we can no longer take for granted.

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CV

Faith Kohler

Born in New York

Lives and works in Milwaukee WI and Bal Harbour FL

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

We Are All Contagious, University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, Juror: Nato Thompson, 2020

https://www.umassd.edu/cvpa/universityartgallery/exhibitions/2020/we-are-all-contagious.html

Material Studios Open Studio & Gallery Night, Milwaukee WI, Summer & Fall, 2019

Resilience, Material Studios + Gallery, Milwaukee WI, October 16-26, 2020

SALVAGED, No Studios Milwaukee, October 16-30, 2020

Social Justice Summit: Art Activated, No Studios Milwaukee WI, October 16-18, 2020

FILM SCREENINGS

USPS

Milwaukee Film Festival 2013

Beloit Film Festival 2013

30 Seconds Away: Breaking The Cycle

Milwaukee Film Festival, Milwaukee WI, 2015 (Premiere)

Green Bay Film Festival, Green Bay WI, 2016 (Opening night film)

Marquette University, Milwaukee WI, 2016

Johnson Controls Inc. Milwaukee WI, 2016

Despensa De La Paz, Milwaukee WI, 2016

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI, 2016

University of Wisconsin School of Social Work, Whitewater WI, 2017

Concordia University, Mequon WI, 2017

First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee WI, 2017

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee WI, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Carroll University (Schools of Social Work & Nursing) Waukesha WI, 2017

Medical College of Wisconsin (Medical, Nursing & Pharmacy Schools) Milwaukee WI, 2018

Waukesha Technical College, Waukesha WI 2019

Meyer Theater, Green Bay WI 2019

No Studios Social Justice Summit, Milwaukee WI 2019

SELECTED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, LECTURES & TRAINING

Milwaukee County Downtown Business Improvement District Housing First Conference, speaker, Milwaukee WI, 2015
Milwaukee Film Festival, Panelist, Police-Community Relations, Milwaukee WI, 2015
Milwaukee Public Schools, guest lecturer, Milwaukee WI, 2015
International Crisis Intervention Team Conference, guest lecturer, Chicago IL 2016, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2017
Milwaukee Municipal Court, inservice training guest lecturer, Milwaukee WI, 2017
Milwaukee Area Technical College guest lecturer, Milwaukee WI, 2017
Mercy Housing Annual Conference, keynote & panelist, Supportive Housing, Milwaukee WI 2017
Milwaukee Police Department Homeless Outreach Team training, guest lecturer, Milwaukee WI 2017, 2018
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Annual Conference, speaker, Madison WI 2018
Medical College of Wisconsin Family & Community Health, HOME Project, guest lecturer, Milwaukee WI, 2018
Jewish Family Services of Greater Milwaukee Annual Meeting, keynote, Milwaukee WI 2018
Newcap, Inc. Annual Meeting, keynote, Green Bay WI, 2019