Greetings!

My name is Emiland Elias Kray (he/they) and I am a contributing visionary for the Gothe Residency of the Arts. 

Community building and organizing are core elements of what I seek and value within the arts. It is a firm belief of mine that within a compassionate and inclusive community we can all be supported to truly be ourselves. My time is split between working for numerous nonprofits to help youth gain access to the arts and between working as a book binder. Maintaining and cultivating healthy artistic communities is truly my labor of love, and I am lucky to be working so closely with GROTA to make this vision a reality. I have received my BFA from the University of Nevada, Reno and have graduated with my MFA from the University of Arizona by making books and designing games. These art forms have easily woven their way into my efforts to cultivate loving communities around traditional crafts, fine art, and the gaming world. It's through these meaningful connections that gives my practice meaning and life.

Within GROTA, I am able to be generous and experience generosity, I am able to welcome others and to feel welcome myself. This community overflows with positive reciprocity and the deep love for the dark arts that I feel fortunate to participate within. 

Our team of diverse artists, makers, and writers are striving to make this project into a reality that can truly be a haven for the dark arts. To make this project a reality, we are collecting donations and pledges through patreon, organizing both online and in-person community events, and constantly moving towards our ultimate goal of being able to host an artist residency catered towards the dark arts. Ultimately, this space will not only support the careers of working artists, but also be a space where artists can learn and grow alongside one another. All support is welcome, and you can learn more on our Patreon.

With Love and Devotion,

Emiland Kray

Instagram/Discord: @troctopus