Name: Nate Ashley
Occupation: Musician
Location: Portland, OR

Nate Ashley

Q: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A: I was born in New Bedford, Mass. and grew up on Martha

- Name:
Veronique Vanblaere
- Occupation:
Gallery Owner/Manager, Artist
- Location:
Birmingham, AL

Veronique Vanblaere
Q: You were born in Belgium, right. When did you move to the U.S. and why did you choose Birmingham as your home?
A: I did not really choose Birmingham, it sort of chose me. When I was 18, I applied to be an exchange student. I picked all the big cities in the US and ended up in Trussville, Alabama. Friendship brought me back here at 25 after winning my greencard with the lottery. It was a start up point, but I started getting comfortable considering how easy life was here: cost of living, climate, people, the job market, etc. It was like living in a movie, compared to Belgium. I can easily travel anywhere and come back to my little paradise.
Q: Have you always been interested in making art? Do you remember your first work of art?
A:Definitely yes, I was always the one to sketch for the other kids in school, I remember being 4 years old and getting attention to my drawings. I painted this mural on my bedroom walls when I was a teen and showed it to some friends. They hated it because it was so weird. I jokingly told them that one day people will understand my art