a young artist Embracing Color, Love, and Light Villiard

by Andrea Busche

A Rocky Home Life

Moira grew up on the Fond Du Lac Reservation in Cloquet. She, her sister Aurora, and their parents lived deep in the woods. “We grew up very low income, and didn’t have many opportunities to travel outside of the reservation,” Moira says.

Moira was no stranger to the effects of mental illness growing up. “I think part of my draw to learning about surrealism in art might have been as a result of coming to the understanding that some individuals, even in my family, lived in realities that are different than my own. Some people exist in the same reality as us, but inhabit worlds in their mind, worlds we might never see or understand.”

When she was 11, Moira’s parents split up. After her dad moved out, there was a brief moment of relief, but the family was soon plunged even deeper into poverty. Anxiety and uncertainty were high in her life, and Moira found herself forced to exercise maturity beyond her years.

Art Therapy

As both a form of developing her self-awareness and a way to entertain herself, Moira started doodling. This led to learning about the works of Salvador Dali and the genre of surrealism. At first, her sketches were all done in black and white. Today, Moira’s art features all colors of the rainbow.

“I didn’t understand color at first,” she says. “Today, I think of color as a language you have to learn.”

After paging through a pile of old National Geographic magazines, Moira tried her hand at portraiture. Once again, she found success, and now had another medium to focus on. Over the years, she added graphic design, painting, film, editing, and writing to her artistic repertoire.

College Opens Doors

Moira had no intention of attending college. After all, no one else in her family had done so. Still, she felt pressured by high school counselors who didn’t quite grasp her financial concerns.

The months after high school were isolating, and Moira eventually made the decision to attend Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College for her generals. She eventually transferred to UWS, where she graduated with a degree in communicating arts and a minor in global studies.

While enrolled in college, Moira had the opportunity to get involved in plenty of organized activities, and made lots of new friends. She became a student ambassador, participated in work study, and landed her first job after a simple twist of fate.

“I was standing in the hallway at Fond du Lac, looking at a

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