I moved to Paducah with my Oma, Freda Fairchild, in 2001. I was in middle school.

She moved here as one of the first participants in the Artist Relocation Program.

She and my aunt Cricket bought and rehabbed Studio Miska on Madison to be their studio. They were both artists. Later, Freda moved into the efficiency apartment in the back so she could spend even more time in her studio making art. As a full-time artist, she faced her own struggles to keep up with everything financially.

First, we lost Cricket tragically, then Freda became terminally ill in 2017. At that time, I returned to Paducah permanently to help care for her at the end of her life. During that time, she made it clear that she wanted her creative space to remain a space for artists. When she passed, I bought the building from her estate. It has become my home.

While it has been my mission to keep Studio Miska and honor Freda’s wishes, creative places for artists of every generation must remain. I have hosted shows, practiced music, and created my own art here. I work hard to keep the building in good repair, but the expense often outpaces my ability to keep up. In the last 8 years, I had to replace my AC unit, water heater, deal with plumbing issues, and am still facing costly roof and window repairs.

As of last week, the Fire Marshal has assessed the stone facade of Studio Miska and has deemed it unsafe. The City of Paducah has given me 7 days to initiate repairs or they will condemn my home. If my home is condemned, I will not have a place to live.

I want to continue to fight for this space and this community of artists and provide a space for people to express themselves as there are very few places to do so here.

Thank you for helping me continue this legacy and save my home.