Yen Azzaro

Yen Azzaro is a working artist living in Ypsilanti with her husband and son. She is involved in various forms of art and communication, including performance art, illustration, and writing in various genres. View Yen’s feature poster [PDF].

What do you write?

“I write to stay connected to people. Daily, I write emails, brainstorm with peers, come up with proposals for client projects. I apply for grants, fellowships, and residencies as a means to make a vision I have come to fruition. I write introductions to bring people together. I write blog posts about my work when I feel an artist's statement is helpful. Sometimes I do some marketing work and write social media posts for myself and others.”

Why do you write?”

To collaborate with others to “make bigger things happen.”

Why does writing matter to you?

“Writing and reading comprehension are the foundations of our society. Writing is imperative for giving instructions, storytelling, sharing a recipe, moving people. These can be vital practices in enriching the way we live, extending culture to others, and creating universal understanding. In our community, there is an opportunity and resource gap for some. Writing is a first-impression skill, one that can change trajectory of paths and open minds, leading to further opportunities."