Welcome!
I am a cartoonist and illustrator, primarily based in Vermont and Pennsylvania. My practice as a visual artist, media maker, and advocate has evolved tremendously in the last few years.
In 2010 I started volunteering with Berks Gas Truth to fight the fracking boom taking over my home state of Pennsylvania. Now I use my artwork to fight natural gas infrastructure projects, advocate for affordable housing, and elevate stories of farm workers demanding dignified working conditions. I have created and orchestrated large-scale educational projects to bring light to the Palestinian fight for human rights and an end to the illegal occupation. As I’ve laid roots in new places, I have intentionally committed my support to numerous small-scale projects and grassroots initiatives to educate and inspire community activism. I often interweave my projects with community-based engagement, and this sense of grounding has helped me to hone my artistic approach over time.
I’m excited for you to check out my projects and portfolio, and encourage you to explore my work. I’ll let the pieces speak for themselves!
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Projects
Najawa: A Story of Palestine
Najawa: A Story of Palestine is a 45’ long street comic created by artist Michelle Sayles in the summer of 2015. The comic tells the story of a Palestinian woman’s life in decade snapshots as she navigates her country under occupation, ending with a vision of future liberation. The story synthesizes together oral history, documentary, … Continue reading Najawa: A Story of Palestine
El Viaje Más Caro
As part of The Most Costly Journey project, this piece shares the story of Ponciano* (name changed for anonymity) and his involvement with Migrant Justice/Justicia Migrante in Vermont. Produced with support from the Open Door Clinic, Vermont Folklife Center, UVM Extension Bridges to Health, UVM Anthropology, and Marek Bennett’s Comics Workshop. To see … Continue reading El Viaje Más Caro
Think of Others
Teaming up with Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine & Israel, this collaboration features the work of 7 New England artists that interprets a notable Mahmoud Darwish poem. Much thanks to our participating artists who contributed to bringing this poem to life: Delia Robinson, Jen Berger, Betsy Kelly, Marita Canedo, Robert W. Brunell, Michelle … Continue reading Think of Others
Know Your Rights Manual
These illustrations were produced in collaboration with Vermont Law School and Migrant Justice in 2017 as part of a guidebook on housing and employment law for agricultural workers in Vermont. Bringing illustrations to the manual was aimed at improving the accessibility of important legal information while also demonstrating best practices for farmworkers to use in … Continue reading Know Your Rights Manual
Accessibility Comic
Open Accessibility came together over 2018 from the weaving together of research and interviews with students, faculty, and staff engaged with accessibility work at McMaster University. This is an introduction to a much longer story of the ongoing dialogue between advocacy and policy change, and how those elements impact actual teaching practices and student experiences … Continue reading Accessibility Comic
How to Talk to Kids About Racism
These illustrations were produced in 2018 as part of a collaborative book project called “Power Means Who the Police Believe: Talking with Three Year Olds about Race and Racial Violence” written by Emma Redden. Along with six other artists, I helped to create infographics, character drawings, and scenery images that are scattered throughout this nearly … Continue reading How to Talk to Kids About Racism
