September 2020 by Austin Woman Magazine

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THE FACTS ABOUT WISDOM-TOOTH REMOVAL COVID-19 Measures: All visitors, patients and staff are required to wear protective face masks upon entering our practice. Because of the nature of our practice, all equipment that involves patient contact during clinical use is heat sterilized. Facility equipment such as X-ray machines, clinical chairs and room surfaces are thoroughly disinfected with hospital-grade disinfectants following every patient contact. Cleaning and disinfection procedures using EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant will be performed in clinical and non-clinical areas between each patient. High-touch surfaces or objects through the office such as door handles, chairs, desks, elevators and bathrooms will be disinfected throughout the day.

Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

At what age should wisdom teeth be removed?

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop. Eons ago, when our diets were much different and dental crowding was common, the third molars came in or “erupted” and provided another set of functional teeth. With today’s softer non-abrasive diet and the relative rarity of dental crowding, most often, there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt into place and be functional teeth that can be maintained by the patient. This is what is meant by “impacted,” simply that the tooth is not able to come into a functional position. There are patients who have the space for wisdom teeth, and in these cases, the teeth may be functional and beneficial. In cases in which the wisdom teeth came in appropriately, it is common later in life to develop decay or gum disease around these teeth first. They are difficult for some to maintain and your dentist may suggest removal rather than a filling or crown if this happens.

In general, younger patients are at a very low risk, as the teeth are typically less difficult to remove. For this reason, the recovery is commonly smoother and faster. The best approach is to image and consult a dentist or oral surgeon at a young age, typically during the teenage years, so an assessment can be made about whether the wisdom teeth will likely ever need to be removed. If it is likely removal will be necessary, earlier surgery is generally easier and more predictable. This assessment might happen with your family dentist, orthodontist or directly with an oral surgeon.

Who would remove my wisdom teeth?

What are the costs associated with wisdomtooth removal?

While your family dentist may remove erupted or exposed wisdom teeth, many regular dentists do not. Furthermore, impacted wisdom teeth, more complex teeth concerns or higher-risk teeth will likely result in a referral to an oral surgeon. A visit with your dentist or a look at your X-rays would likely answer that question best. Most patients having multiple wisdom teeth removed at the same time prefer sedation rather than being awake. Oral surgeons have extensive hospital-based training in anesthesia to make this procedure pleasant and astonishingly safe. The facility is almost as important as the surgeon, and offices that are board-certified in oral surgery are inspected and certified for anesthesia safety by both the State of Texas and a surgery certifying board. Certification ensures the monitoring and safety equipment mirrors that of a hospital environment.

Most insurance plans cover wisdom-tooth removal. At consultation, each wisdom tooth will be evaluated and coded depending on how it is positioned within the mouth and whether it is exposed or impacted. Likewise, anesthesia choices are usually discussed, and the level of sedation is agreed upon. The costs will vary depending on these factors, and your insurance coverage can generally be explored prior to the procedure. The best way to discover costs and insurance coverage, as well as discuss the procedure, is to set up a consultation visit with your provider.

Before you consider oral surgery for your family, call 512.591.9557 or visit austinoralsurgery.com.

A LEGACY OF EXCEPTIONAL CARE

*photo taken pre-pandemic

A CHAT WITH

SAJNI PATEL

AW: How much of your personal experience do you draw on when you write? How much of it is entirely fictional?

BY TRINADY JOSLIN

AW: How did it feel to release a book that mirrored a lot of your own experiences?

Fresh off the release of her debut novel, Sajni Patel talks representation in literature.

ajni Patel’s book The Trouble With Hating You is gaining a lot of attention. Released in May of this year, it landed on Mayor Adler’s 2020 reading list. But it wasn’t an easy road. The story switches between the perspectives of Liya and her love interest, Jay Shah. This not-so-typical romantic-comedy novel explores Liya’s struggle to fit into her Houston-based Indian community amidst gossip and the presence of her abuser. Patel spoke with Austin Woman about her growth as a writer, representation in literature and the inspiration behind The Trouble with Hating You.

SP: [The person who sexually assaulted Liya] was based on a real person. In real life, we don't clash as chaotically as [he] and Liya do. The way her parents treated it and the way the entire community shunned it, that's definitely fictionalized. But how Liya feels disconnected from her culture and from the community, that's based on how I feel a lot of the time. I didn't grow up really connected to the Indian community. I took some deep emotional scars and expanded this whole bubble around it. Like how it feels when someone doesn't open up to me or respond to me as kindly as they would with someone else who is ‘more religious’ or more involved in the community.

SP: When I wrote the book, I wrote Liya to be unapologetically herself. She's very outgoing and opinionated, and she's a lot of things that I wish I was more like. I let her write herself in the story. I didn't really have a pathway or a goal in mind. I wanted Liya to just be herself and then see where the story took both of us. As Indians were reading this, I felt very concerned. I didn't want to offend anyone. It's kind of a moot point because it's [my] personal experience ... There’s a stigma that goes on with writing a book that's based on your culture, when it’s non-white. Basically, people have the expectation that you're going to cover everything in that culture and that you're going to represent everything in a good light and not have any stereotypes. The reality is my life has a lot of stereotypes. That comes out in the book. I was very nervous with other Indian readers reading the book, but I believe I, for the most part, have received a lot of good reviews. It was nice to hear. AW: When you write, how much do you think about people expecting you to tackle everything within your culture? SP: Actually, initially, I started writing stories that were white-centric, because growing up, that's what I read. Then as I was creating stories, that's just how the characters would come out. ‘Oh they're white, because that's the default; that's considered normal.’ Then I made the decision to write about Indian main characters with this particular story. There has to be a lot [about] the community just because of the [novel’s] topic itself with arranged marriage and sexual assault. It just ended up being that way. I didn't want to have, of course, a negative view of everything that's Indian. But as I write more stories, some of them will have some cultural aspects to it and hit upon different themes and different viewpoints. I don't believe all of my stories will be cultural. It isn't my job as an Indian author to try to explain my entire culture to a reader. If a reader wants to know more, they can do their own research, but it is nice to have some cultural facets. You know, as you're writing a story, you also want readers to see themselves in the books.

SP: You really shouldn't judge a person from rumors or gossip. Liya is harsh and she has a lot of gossip around her, and some of it is true. But when you get to know... Liya, you can see that she has a big heart. When she is connected to someone, she's very loyal to them, like her friend group. One thing I wanted people to take away from [the novel] was yes, you can relate to an Indian character. Chances are if you are Indian, you may not connect to her. The other thing is, of course, the sexual assault. I wanted people to consider their own thoughts and actions if they've heard of someone who's been sexually assaulted. Are they automatically accusing that victim to have brought it upon themselves? Or are they siding with the perpetrator? Are they holding anyone accountable? Or are they in a society that shuns victims and makes it harder for victims to speak up about the truth? That was one of the other things that I want readers to take away. 26 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

Photo courtesy of Sajni Patel.

AW: What do you want people to take away from The Trouble With Hating You?

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WOMEN to WATCH Our pages are full of stories of Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most engaging, empowering and successful women, and this section is specially designed to provide you access to even more incredible role models and success stories. Be part of this amazing group and share your story with thousands of women. Contact us at sales@awmediainc.com or call 512.328.2421 for more information. PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON

SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM |

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WOMAN to WATCH

K I M PAU L S O N

FOUNDER AND CEO OF UNBOUND LIFE COACHING

ative Austinite and founder of Unbound Life Coaching, Kim Paulson, has a big heart to match her incredible mission of empowering women in Austin to exchange hopelessness, depression and loneliness for a brighter future of hope and belonging! During her dynamic six-week private sessions, women can expect to focus on restoring their spirit, soul and body to experience a more abundant life of significance, joy and faith! Paulson's unique coaching style was developed from her own journey through deep darkness, depression and shame. She teaches women how to love themselves through thoughtful prayers, supportive texts, weekly sessions, tailored action steps and guided journaling. "My deepest desire is for women to feel heard, understood and loved for the rest of their lives." unboundlifecoaching.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

LINDSEY CONNER

DIRECTOR OF BROKER AGE, TMV BUSINESS GROUP

indsey Conner is the director of brokerage at TMV Business Group, a full-service business brokerage and business advisory firm specializing in small-to-midsize businesses and well-established lower middle-market private entities. Originally from Chicago, Conner has dedicated more than a decade of her career to wealth management for large financial firms like J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where she managed books of business exceeding $1 billion in assets. Conner first took an interest in finance to help individuals and families achieve their goals and provide them with financial security. Now Conner continues her mission in Austin with TMV Business Group. “I chose to work for a local business broker to work hand in hand with women business owners, [and] to help women understand the financial value of their companies and realize their goals through growth or with an exit.” In her free time, she is a proud cat mom and enjoys golfing with her husband. tmvbusinessgroup.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

BRIDGET KARAM PHOTOGR APHER

ridget Karam is a portrait photographer who primarily photographs pets and children—especially tweens! Her portrait style is both emotional and artistic. Karam has volunteered for The Adoption Coalition and The Heart Gallery for 15 years, creating photos for children in foster care seeking forever homes. She also works with the Meals on Wheels PALS program taking photos of clients and their adored pets. Karam has even had the pleasure of photographing Athia, the first therapy pig in Austin! Karam maintains a second website that includes stunning travel art pieces and reproductions of her late mother's abstract art, scanned and printed on acrylic or metal for a contemporary presentation. When her home studio in Northwest Hills safely reopens, she will offer her dog portraits and “school pics” for homeschoolers and distance-learning families. Until then, she has fun with her daughters, Jena and Alex, and their mighty little Yorkie, Rocky. bridgetkaram.com, shop.bridgetkaram.com

32 | | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020 32 SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

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WOMAN to WATCH

CARRIE KNAPP

F O U N D E R , D U M B. A P PA R E L

s her feet touched the soil of the hill country over a decade ago, Carrie Knapp knew that Austin had captured her heart. This very inspired and artistic entrepreneur united her passion for fashion and her love for bringing people together. She founded dumb., an apparel-based brand designed for everyone, on the key principle to include and celebrate all people’s uniqueness. It is an acronym which stands for diversity, unity, morality and beauty. With a mission of “Inspiring mankind to act locally and think globally in ways to impact our world for the better,” the brand uses youth ambassadors as volunteers to serve in their local communities. Get ready for the first National Actdumb. Day on September 5! All are invited to head to their nearest park and bring along some fun outdoor activities to play. You’re there to show your support and acceptance for all. dumbapparel.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

T YA N N O S B O R N

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, OSBORN CONSULTING GROUP LLC

yAnn Osborn, founder and principal consultant of Osborn Consulting Group LLC, is a success guide and Strengths guru. Since 2012, she has helped thousands of people discover the value of their unique abilities to become more engaged, build stronger relationships and authentically show up in their daily lives. As one of the first Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches in Texas, Osborn delivers coaching and innovative solutions in the areas of Strengths-based performance, leadership development and organizational effectiveness, and she thrives when working with leaders who are ready for positive change. Pre-pandemic you could find her traveling the globe empowering people through speaking, coaching and training. Now Osborn shares her magic via virtual coaching sessions and training on topics such as discovering your strengths, navigating change using your strengths, expanding your strategic influence and more. These topics are designed to give employees, managers and leaders the tools to emerge from this historic time stronger than ever. Her mission in life is to help others “win at work and life.” tyannosborn.com

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WOMAN to WATCH

JA N M A C WAT T E R S

CHARTER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN

an MacWattersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mission to redefine the role of a teacher-librarian is the result of 28 years of teaching and library experience as a military wife. She is focused on helping students learn to ask the right questions and find the best answers with ease and accuracy. MacWatters is aware that learning to understand the increasing role of information in the 21st century goes hand in hand with learning to express their own perspective creatively. As such, she also teaches how to use a variety of readily available technologies. Her students learn to plan and manage a research project while honing their time-management skills. She also guides students through the process of developing a digital web-based portfolio that showcases their strengths. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re homeschooling, part of a professional teaching team or an individual student, time spent with MacWatters will lead you toward developing the life-long research and tech skills necessary for success in the 21st century. thecharterschoollibrarian.com

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L I N D S AY N E U R E N

R E A LTO R , T H E L I N D S AY N EU R EN G R O U P, C O M PA S S R E A L ESTAT E

third-generation Austinite, Lindsay Neuren brings a unique perspective to clients looking to buy and sell in her beloved hometown. Neurenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast knowledge of the city's diverse neighborhoods helps her clients find the area in Austin that best fits their lifestyle. She takes immense pride in providing her clients with the best service. Neuren started her career in nonprofit fundraising in New York City. With a true passion for helping people, she has found her calling in real estate. Thanks to her optimism and warm personality, she goes above and beyond helping her clients buy and sell homes across the greater-Austin area. She loves to be involved in every aspect of the buying and selling experience. Neuren adores spending her free time with her husband, Jordan, her two kids, Hudson and Blake, and her dog, Kal. A lover of the outdoors, an avid runner and a food and wine lover, Lindsay will help you find a home that fits all of your lifestyle needs in her hometown. lindsayneurengroup.com

36 |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; AUSTIN | SEPTEMBER 2020 36 SPECIAL WOMAN PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM

Photo courtesy of Matthew Yarnell Photography.

WOMAN to WATCH

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BEAUTY

SUPERNATURAL BEAUTY

One camera-ready Austinite shares her beauty routine. BY NIKI JONES

enevieve Padalecki may play a demon on the hit TV show Supernatural, but in reality this Californian-turned-Austinite mom of three is about as nice as they come. Austin Woman asked Padalecki to share some of her secrets to looking flawless. Austin Woman: Describe your daily beauty routine. Genevieve Padalecki: The first thing I do is drink water, followed by a shot of apple cider vinegar. Then I brush my teeth and wash my face. Because I have young kiddos, my routine is usually pretty quick; I usually go for convenience. I’ll grab a cloth and use Indie Lee Purifying Face Wash, then follow with Kari Gran Essential Hydrating Tonic or Versed Set the Tone toner, depending on how dry my skin is. I follow with a jade roller and use Olive + M Nourish + Energize Eye Serum. I finish with a Suntegrity sunscreen. AW: What is your favorite physical feature about yourself? GP: My favorite feature is probably my lips. They are crooked and used to make me feel self-conscious, but as I’ve gotten older I have embraced them, and I think they make me different. Oh, and I do have pretty great eyebrows.

AW: What is a current beauty trend you hate? GP: The beauty trend I hate would be the amount of makeup [it takes] to look camera- or social-media-ready. It seems there are a lot of steps involved, from primer to concealer, to highlighting and bronzing and shading and contouring. I love the art and precision that beauty bloggers produce. It’s certainly an art and skill set. Unfortunately I don’t have the time nor the patience. I like to do my makeup within five minutes. AW: What local beauty brand or company do you think is awesome? GP: I really love Olive + M. AW: What makes Austin women beautiful? GP: Austin women are amazing because they are down-to-earth mixed with Southern charm and grit. A little tough girl “I can do it myself” attitude…but still allowing room for chivalry!

Photo courtesy of Genevieve Padalecki.

AW: What is a current beauty trend you love? GP: [It’s] probably highlighting. I’m terrible at makeup, so I lean heavily on my friends Billy Mercer and Campbell Ritchie to help give me instructions or advice. They’ve taught me how to highlight my cheekbones, which gives a nice glow, especially when using LUMA Beauty Illuminating Highlighter.

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SEE HER WORK

PAINTING AGAINST THE GRAIN

An upcoming Austin artist finds her style after leaving the corporate world.

The artistic style of Pratiksha Muir combines elegant with edgy, using brushstrokes against canvas to form portraits with a distinct look. Ranging from classically sized pop art paintings to toweringly tall abstract works, Muir’s pieces are impressive both in their scale and creative spirit. While Muir’s artwork gives the impression she has been into art her whole life, that’s not the case. Muir took a risk in 2017, when she decided to leave her job in sales and to pursue a full-time career in art. “I've always been a little bit of a hobby hopper,” Muir says. “I moved to Chicago for a job, and I didn't have any friends there besides work people. Chicago gets really dark and cold in the winter, and I was just so consumed with my work at that time that I needed some sort of outlet.” She started her journey into painting following along with art tutorials on YouTube, and quickly her initial interest became a full-time hobby outside of work. She eventually gained the courage to post her art online, where she received recognition and commissions for her work. Soon, painting started to feel like more than just a hobby to Muir. The importance of her emotional and mental well-being became clearer as she realized she needed to make a change and leave the security of a corporate job. “After having a good job in the corporate

40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

world I just got to a point where I was like, ‘Is this going to be my life forever? Is this it? Am I going to have to sit here and do the same shit I was doing five years ago forever?’” Muir recalls. “I decided if I'm ever going to pull the trigger on this art thing it would be now.” Muir’s inspiration for pursuing a passion also came from her dad, who had a day job and tried being an entrepreneur on the side. He invented a board game and even made an infomercial for it. But the game never took off, and after three years of battling ALS in the hospital, he passed away. “Him being able to come here from another country and be brave enough to take on a goal like that, whether it failed or not, that is the underlying reason, I think, where I'm just like, ‘Well, I'm gonna make this work,’” Muir says. “I'm gonna push for it.” Muir eventually left Chicago with her boyfriend for Austin and started expanding her business. She does both personal and business commissions, including a piece for local bar and kitchen Drop Kick. She hoped to be in some art festivals for 2020, but due to COVID-19 halting everything, she has been focusing on her clients and commissions more. However, she was a part of an online art exhibit called “Women by Women” earlier this year. The UK-based Hansford and Sons Fine Art Emerging

Artist Platform put on the exhibit in May. The virtual show opened up Muir’s world to other ways of showcasing her art and finding her personality in her style of portraits. “I started noticing that I really connected with a lot of [my] portraits.” Muir says “I believe in female empowerment, and women having a really strong spirit. Not only are they beautiful, but they're also pretty fucking badass.” Although she’s only been in Austin for two years, Muir does not plan on leaving anytime soon. “It's like one of those cities where you're just like, ‘How can you beat it?’ I really like it,” Muir says. “This is the place to be.” Looking to the future, Muir plans on expanding the ways she can share her art with clients, not only in Austin, but around the world. “I had no idea that my path would be this windy and crazy at all,” Muir says. “In my situation there can't be the safety net of, ‘Oh, well you could go back to a corporate job,’ because if I thought like that, then I would be setting myself up to go back to a corporate job. In my mind [the thought] has to be, ‘No, you need to make this work.’ And with that there comes highs and lows, but I'm still thankful and super grateful that I’m doing this.”

Photo by William Pepping.

BY DELILAH ALVARADO

ATXWOMAN.COM |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 41

Photos courtesy of Pratiksha Muir.

A NEW

DAWN

With a quiet persistence and a commitment to challenging stereotypes, artist Dawn Okoro exemplifies artistry for Black people, by Black people. BY REGINE MALIBIRAN | PHOTOS BY SHANE GORDON

42 | AUSTIN WOMAN | AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2020 2020

ATXWOMAN.COM |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 43

Dawn Okoro is a mixedmedia artist, journalist and lifelong tryer of new things. A thoughtful, intentional soul, Okoro’s observant nature presents itself in the way her art reflects some of her most hard-won life lessons. As a lover of fashion photography, Okoro’s body of work utilizes color, movement and texture to highlight the multidimensionality of Black people. Through Okoro’s practice of selfreflexivity, a reflection on “the circular relationship between cause and effect,” she believes that as an artist she is “impacted by what [she] takes in.” Okoro feels a strong responsibility to “impact her environment and spark change with what [she puts] out.” This is evident not only in her art, but also in the way her life challenges the idea of what Black is supposed to represent. Okoro’s relationship with Black identity has informed her perspective not only as an artist but also as a Black woman. Her mother’s family has lived in Texas for generations, while her father is from Nigeria. “My connection with Nigeria is complicated,” Okoro reflects. “My parents split up when I was a baby, so I was raised by my mom and my stepdad. I wasn’t raised around that culture; I was raised as fully immersed in American culture.” Okoro grew up in Lubbock, Texas. She remembers always being one of two or three Black kids in her classes. She admits to feeling lonely when she was young, often turning to fashion 44 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

magazines so she could see past her small town’s city limits. That loneliness only deepened when she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where she saw even fewer Black people in her classes despite attending such a large college. She chose psychology for her major without much thought other than “that sounds legit.” She also pursued a minor in fashion design. “I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but not how to be an artist,” Okoro admits. She laughingly recalls that she ended up taking many more fashion design classes than psychology courses during her years at UT Austin. There was little precedent for her artistic dreams in her family or her hometown. Okoro didn’t have access to the mentorship or capital needed to kick off her career when she wanted. Making a sustainable living from art is unavoidably difficult unless all the stars of talent, creativity, skill, timing and entrepreneurship align perfectly. And that’s just for people who might already have connections to the art world. Never mind a Black woman building herself up completely from scratch. For Black artists, getting into the industry is a particularly complex challenge. A 2019 study by Williams College found that only 1.2 percent of artists exhibited in major American museums are Black and only 12.6 percent are women. The study compares these artist demographics with data from both the American Community Survey and the United States Census. It shows that the majority of artists shown in major American museums are more white and male than the general population. Even the Detroit Institute of Arts, based in a city that is 78.6 percent Black, has an exhibit catalogue that is 94 percent white. The question then is, why? “Smaller or underfunded art institutions that were supporting these artists initially got into the practice of not paying,” says Carre Adams, lead curator and culture and arts education manager of the George Washington Carver Museum. “They decided that the pay was the opportunity to exhibit their work.” This is not a new problem for Black artists. In January of 1969, The Metropolitan Museum of Art published the transcript for “The Black Artist in America: A Symposium,” which included a handful of prolific Black artists at the time. One of the artists at the symposium was Tom Lloyd, the opening exhibit artist for The Studio Museum in Harlem in 1968, which featured his electronically programmed light works. “The real job still remains in the hands of the art institutions—galleries and museums—to provide the Black artist with that kind of professional and prestigious support he needs for his continued development on both the economic and aesthetic levels,” asserts Lloyd.

“”

Without the structural support Okoro needed to pursue art as a career right after graduating, she spent a few years trying to figure out what she wanted to do next. The lack of resources and support is endemic in the arts, especially in Texas, where the state legislature cut arts funding by 28 percent in 2017. Okoro moved back to Lubbock and entered social work to help people with the Medicaid eligibility process. Her path then took her to law school at Texas Southern University. “I went to law school because I didn’t know what to do with my life,” Okoro says candidly “It wasn’t until after I graduated that I knew that I had to pursue art full-on.” It took a few aha moments for Okoro, but she doesn’t speak about her twisting path with regret or impatience. Rather she weaves her journey together as parts of the whole that have made her into the woman and artist she is today. “I just finally realized that I had to live for myself and not just live to please my family. [It took] growth and maturity,” shares Okoro. After her post-law school epiphany, Okoro moved to New York City to pursue a career in art. But the reality of making a living from art hit hard for Okoro, especially combined with the unforgiving pace of the city and its art scene. “[After about a year] I just felt beat down from the hustle of that,” Okoro says. “I just enjoy creating, but trying to build art as a career was so stressful for me.” Individual and structural support for Black artists can be the determining factor in whether or not an artist continues to create. After Okoro left New York City to move back to Austin in 2012, she put her art career on standby to focus on journalism; she joined the team at Spectrum News, where she’s worked for eight years. Okoro didn’t return to pursuing art until a couple of major deaths in the family put things into perspective and inspired her to reflect on her own path. “It reminded me how short life is. You know, YOLO!” Okoro says. “[I realized] I need to really give [art] a try and live for myself.” Okoro’s first solo exhibit, Punk Noir, debuted in 2018 at the George Washington Carver Museum, 20 years after her first ever exhibition in New York City. She created the collection while still working full time as a journalist. After two decades of experimentation and patience with the process, Okoro had finally found the balance between creating and sustaining herself. Punk Noir is rooted in what she’s learned as someone living outside the norm, as someone who has been breaking stereotypes her whole life. The exhibit also strives to teach those same values to viewers. “Featuring portraits of Black musicians, filmmakers, photographers and other creatives—Punk Noir revels in the divine feminine and masculine energy of her subjects. Through color, pose and clothing Okoro conveys a sense of grit, glamor and grace. This is reinforced by her gestural use of copper to obscure the body and alludes to issues of erasure, self-agency and resistance. Indeed, Punk Noir offers an alternative to life

I always knew I wanted to be an artist, but not how to be an artist.

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“”

I just finally realized that I had to live for myself and not just live to please my family.

lived in a Black body on a stark white canvas. For Okoro, punk has always been Black,” writes Carre Adams in a curatorial statement for the exhibit. Okoro’s Punk Noir and its subsequent success goes to show the vitality of Black curators and Black art institutions and museums. Since leaving the George Washington Carver Museum, Punk Noir has traveled to Bremerton, Wash., San Antonio and Dallas. Truly, Black institutions like the George Washington Carver Museum can serve as launching pads for Black artists. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s their only entrance into exhibiting in galleries. The duty to not only exhibit diverse art but also pay and provide resources for Black artists should not lie singularly with Black institutions and curators. The recent revitalization of Black Lives Matter protests has jumpstarted conversations about Black issues and structural racism beyond police brutality. Major art institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art both participated in #BlackoutTuesday, a social media campaign meant to direct attention to actions that individuals and organizations can take to support the Black Lives Matter movement. However, Williams College’s study found that the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalog of artists are only 2 percent and 0.2 percent Black, respectively. As a Black artist, Okoro observes an art world that had structurally shut her out now release Black Lives Matter statements. Though she sees it as a step in the right direction, Okoro is interested to see if the art world’s timely statements hold any sort of longevity and if there will be any actions (not just from institutions but also individuals) behind the eloquent words, especially in the city she calls home. “A lot of Black people that are from here have been driven out. For me anecdotally, it seems like a lot of non-people of color like to think of themselves as just so open-minded,” says Okoro. She knows what it means to be someone who has spent their lives navigating spaces that weren’t built to accommodate them. “So many people live in a bubble and there hasn’t been enough support for [Black institutions] like Six Square and the Carver Museum and Black creatives in general. The enthusiasm we’re seeing now, I just want to see that continue and not just be for a month or so.” Right now, Okoro is in the process of piecing together the lessons 2020 has offered. She has had to adjust her original plans for the year, which included the next legs of Punk Noir’s touring exhibit in Grand Rapids, Mich. and Lagos, Nigeria. It would’ve been only the second time she got to visit her father’s hometown, and she was planning on leveraging the environment for inspiration to create new work. But of course, 2020 had other plans.

46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

“When the lockdown first started, my first concern was are my basic needs going to be met,” Okoro says. The pandemic’s unavoidable effects forced Okoro, along with millions of other Americans, to go into survival mode. Okoro had to divert her energy from creating, focusing instead on making ends meet for her and her family. “At first, I wasn’t feeling really inspired at all in a creative way. As all of these changes become our reality, that’s naturally going to seep into my art,” reflects Okoro. She’s slowly getting back into creating, starting with smaller drawings and prepping her canvases for when she feels inspired to produce larger scale work again. Okoro’s experience has taught her the invaluable lessons of flexibility and self-awareness; she knows eventually that her spark will return once the initial emotional shock of the pandemic settles. In the meantime, Okoro is trying yet another new thing. “I’ve been learning how to skateboard,” Okoro says. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do the past ten years. A month or two ago I finally decided I was going to buy one.” Okoro’s husband has been skateboarding since the ’90s and now acts as her instructor. Her new pursuit is not only an opportunity to break the monotony of quarantine and do something with a loved one. It’s allowed her to learn lessons she can apply to life and art. “I just want to hurry up and be good at skateboarding. I get frustrated, but it’s important to take your time learning it and being patient with yourself,” says Okoro. “Learning something new and challenging and physical has been really good for me. It helps inform my creativity as well when it comes to art.” Despite the obstacles she’s overcome and the new ones that this year has presented to her, Okoro maintains her spirit and her passion. The twisting path she took to get to this point in her career and in her life gave her a clear sense of purpose that drives her forward. Whatever her next projects look like, her commitment to refracting her experiences to make an important statement will shine through her work. “For a while I’ve been wanting to start something new. What’s going on now has been a really big catalyst for that. I’m not totally sure what this new direction will look like for me, but I’m letting it just flow naturally with how I feel and saying what I want to say.” To any artists who feel like they have to make a decision between their art or making a living, Okoro advises, “Be persistent. Don’t give up. One of the hangups I had being an artist was not feeling like an artist unless I was doing art full time. Do what you need to do to survive; that doesn’t take away from you being an artist.”

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Learning something new and challenging and physical has been really good for me. It helps inform my creativity as well when it comes to art.

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RECIPE REVEAL

LEMON AND LAVENDER

Oatmeal & Company’s lemon lavender cookies are this summer’s designated treat. BY JENNIFER XIA

arian Washington is everything. The headmaker. Accountant. Bagger. Delivery girl. Although Oatmeal & Company is her first venture running her own business, Washington comes from a lineage of entrepreneurs. As much as she grew up learning the taste of hard work and persistence, food was at the core of how her family showed affection. Every Saturday morning, her grandfather would cook a large meal for the entire family, a tradition that instilled in her that to nourish was to love. Washington continues that tradition with her son, Derek, an avid lover of oatmeal with an equally ambitious entrepreneurial spirit at age 13. After raiding the free samples in the merchandising department of the Whole Foods Market Global Offices where she used to work, Washington brought home a jar of overnight oats one Friday night. Unimpressed, her son decided they should make their own instead. With a few spices and dried fruit they had on hand, she and her son assembled the first of many jars of overnight oats.

“It’s been an amazing experience doing this together,” Washington says. “This is not just my journey. It’s his journey as well.” Before they started selling their oatmeal, Washington’s coworkers would leave empty pasta jars with money or filled with cookies or candy on her desk. They would become the people she tested her creative flavors out on in the beginning stages. From smoked peach bourbon and blueberry cardamom to bananas foster inspired by her sister’s trip to New Orleans, Washington’s bold flavors stand out against the blandness of regular oats. Although this is the first time Washington has ever been self-employed, she has never questioned whether she could be successful. “If I fail today, I wake up tomorrow and there’s my fighting chance once again,” Washington says. In moments of fear, she goes to the big mirror in her bedroom and gives herself her “bad bitch pep talk.” She pictures two versions of herself, with the strong one speaking to the part of her that is afraid. Turn your sour lemons into something sweet this summer with Washington’s Lemon Lavender Oatmeal Cookies using her very own oatmeal.

LEMON LAVENDER OATMEAL COOKIES WITH HONEY GLAZE Ingredients 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup butter, softened 2 eggs 1 tbsp lavender extract 1 tsp of vanilla extract 1 bag of Lemon Lavender Oatmeal 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt Honey Glaze 1/2 cup powdered sugar 4 tbsp honey

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. I n a large bowl, beat together the sugar and butter until combined. 3. A dd the eggs, lavender extract and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and combined. 4. Stir in the lemon lavender oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until the dough comes together. 5. Using your hands, roll the dough into 1/2” balls. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart and then flatten them slightly with your hand. 6. B ake the cookies in the preheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until set and lightly golden around the edges. 7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool off completely.

1 tbsp milk

8. T o make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, honey, vanilla, milk and melted butter in a small bowl.

1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

9. Drizzle the glaze on the cookies and enjoy!

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

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Photo courtesy of Oatmeal & Company.

HER ROUTINE

CANINE CONVERSATIONS

Dynamic trainer Christine Reisor fuses physical activity and passion. BY MARIAH C. HARPER

hristine Reisor, dog trainer extraordinaire, always knew the “desk-job life” wasn’t for her, but it took a stray puppy named Rex to show her the path she would follow for the rest of her life. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, 71-year-old Reisor left for Hawaii at the age of 18. After exploring the island of Oahu, Reisor made the city of Kauai her home. There she met her husband Larry and together they started a well-loved local diner. Though she grew up around dogs, Reisor ignited her passion for training on Kauai. This passion came in the form of Rex, whom she found hiding behind her dryer. Reisor promptly adopted Rex and dedicated hours to his training and socialization. The upbeat, involved process fascinated her, and Reisor continued to train dogs on the island. In 2003, after 36 years in Hawaii, Reisor and Larry sold their restaurant and moved to Texas. In Austin, Reisor pursued professional dog training talents at the Highland Lakes SPCA, making her way from volunteer to kennel manager. Next, she worked at the Bee Cave PetSmart and helped revitalize the location’s training program. She brought in unprecedented clients and revenue with her spunky personality, no-nonsense training style and quotable tips like, “your dog is only as good as you are.” Today, entrepreneur Reisor has trained more than 1000 dogs and certified 600-plus for the American Kennel Club’s Good Canine Citizen Certificate. After leaving PetSmart, she created an in-home dog-training program called Everybody and Their Dog, Training with Christine. She is wholly devoted to her furry patrons, teaching four to five 90-minute classes a day. Constantly on the go, she races from one session to the next and walks 17 to 20 miles a week with her canine clientele. It’s a lot of work, but Reisor enjoys the high energy and active nature of her job. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s how this dog communicator gets in her daily steps. THE A.M.:

“I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and walk about a mile and a half with my dog Dusty. I make sure everyone gets fed, including our three rescue kittens and Dusty. Later, I prepare for my classes. I cut treats, organize paperwork and stuff packets for new clients. I shower and leave for my first class around 11:30!” 52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

THE WORKOUT:

“It’s a lot of work moving from house to house all day! I carry my office with me: files, handouts, my luggage carrier filled with leashes and treats, and my shoulder bag. In the actual sessions I’m constantly moving with lures [for the dog], walking around the room or getting down on my knees and back up again. I try to get as much done as possible in each session and I don’t think I’m still for the entire hour and a half! It also takes a lot of mental strength; I have to focus so the dog can focus.” THE DIET:

“I drink green smoothies with kale, spinach, fruit and apple cider vinegar. I’m paleo and allergic to dairy, so I watch for that. I also try to avoid too many carbs, which is hard because I grew up Italian with lots of bread and pasta! During the day I don’t have much time to stop for lunch; Larry typically packs me a protein shake, grilled chicken or pork tenderloin and fruit. Maybe also some cassava chips and cherry tomatoes.” THE GEAR:

“My favorite harness is Walk Your Dog with Love! It’s easy to put on and buckles under the dog’s legs. My go-to leash is Sadie’s 8-in-1 Adjustable Security Leash. It has loops all the way down so you can easily hold the lead from any spot. It was a birthday gift from a former student!” THE MOTIVATION:

“I love seeing the communication finally click between a dog and their human. Of course, it’s fun to train the dog, but the excitement humans show when their [canine] does what they want is priceless!” THE MINDSET:

“I have the best job in the world…it doesn’t feel like work. I love a challenge and I’m constantly provided that. Dogs are the most amazing [thing]. When Larry had colon cancer a few years back, I told the hospital if you let me bring Dusty, he will get better. They allowed it and, although Larry wasn’t fully conscious during Dusty’s visits, Dusty’s energy helped him. He got better.” THE P.M.:

“I usually have two classes at night. After, I come home, Larry cooks dinner, and then I drop!”

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Photo by Larry Reisor..

ON THE MONEY

BUILDING FINANCIAL RESILIENCE

Utilize these tips to survive times of uncertainty. BY JENNY HOFF

If there is one ability that is worth building in 2020, it may well be resilience. A global pandemic that led to an economic shutdown, millions of lost jobs and a very divisive upcoming election has induced financial, physical or emotional stress in many people. While there is no magic formula to find a stable, high-paying job in this climate or an assurance that the economy will become robust again anytime soon, there are steps you can take to make sure you can withstand what may come next. Building financial resilience is more than just putting away money for retirement—it’s about clearing your mind and building a strong plan to get you through any eventuality. “Get to the point where you don’t check out,” says Whitney Morrison, certified financial planner and founder of Holistic Money. “Don’t freak out about what’s going on, but become aware of what you have financially and start building your backup plan. That alone will help you reduce stress—focusing on what you can control when there are a lot of things out of control.”

SELL WHAT YOU DON’T NEED.

In today’s marketplace you don’t need to have a garage sale, or even meet people face-to-face, to make a deal. Using resources like Facebook Marketplace and Venmo, you can safely sell items sitting in storage or in your garage for more money than you think. Not only will you build up some money for reserves, but it will also free your space of clutter. BUILD A NEW INCOME STREAM.

Starting your own side business, whether currently employed or not, isn’t just a great way to save extra money, but also a way to plan for the future. If you think strategically about what you’re good at and how you can apply that online, you’ll be setting yourself up to survive other upsets in the economy. You can set up a profile with Upwork or take on some extra hours as a virtual assistant. Whatever you do doesn’t have to be huge at first; it’s just paving the way for an additional source of income that could also allow you to pivot your career in the future. “Just like you diversify your portfolio, you also need to diversify your income stream,” Morrison suggests.

“” You also need

to diversify your income stream.

SHED UNNECESSARY EXPENSES.

The more you can reduce your dependency on your current form of income, whether it’s a paycheck or unemployment check, the more powerful you’ll feel in controlling your financial fate. Subscriptions, gym memberships, lawn and/or house cleaning services, expensive car payments and eating out are some of the areas you can look at reducing or eliminating to increase your reserves. “Try to get your life as financially efficient as possible,” says Morrison. 54 | AUSTIN WOMAN | SEPTEMBER 2020

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET AROUND RETIREMENT.

“Many people think of their careers as a linear path toward retirement, but in today’s world it’s more of a jagged line,” Morrison points out. You may not work your whole life and retire at 65 years old, but rather go through spurts of work and non-work until you are much older. If you build financial resilience, the periods of non-work can be an opportunity to build new skills, try out a new hobby and spend more time with your family instead of coping with financial anxiety. There isn’t much you can control in the world, but you can control how you respond to events. Staying home doesn’t mean sitting still. By taking action now you can build the kind of financial resilience you need to weather any economic storm.