Michelle Bauer Interview
WOMXN | NATURE Stories of Rematriation
Wayne and Margaret Bauer welcomed Michelle Desiree Bauer into the world on August 24, 1964. According to their story, she burst onto the scene, literally. They both liked to share the story of the day of her birth because it was both very eventful and nerve rattling! A strong indication of what was to come in her life, her spirit and soul. Her household was a wonderful culture clash of Native American perspective and Middle Eastern vibrance, with a dash of European spice for good measure.
At a very early age, Michelle became very aware spiritually. Feeling extremely connected to animals, butterflies and the natural environment surrounding her, these were the liaisons to assist her with her blossoming spirituality. They still are the basis for what feeds her soul and inspires her spirituality. The power of the Universe guides her, while the Ground and Sea stabilize her. One of her favorite hobbies is landscape, architectural, and nature photography, here in the states and where she has travelled in the world, throughout the years.
As a two year old, Michelle developed a passion for music and dance. It hit her like a thunderbolt! Her parents realized she may have a gift for these two forms of art, and started her training in dance a year later. She has been a performer since the age of five. Michelle's background in the performing arts includes tap, ballet, jazz, funk, flamenco and Argentine tango dance. Drums and percussion are her musical outlets and along with acting, they have allowed her to perform in film and numerous stage productions. An all-around performing artist! She has worked with such directors as Francis Ford Coppola and James L. Brooks as well as performing alongside Gregory Hines and working with choreographer Twyla Tharpe (to name just a few of her accomplishments).
Michelle now works on her own productions and projects as Creative Director, Producer, Choreographer and Voice-Over Actor. She also enjoys planting seeds to watch them grow and to be joyfully rewarded by the results, just as she did, when Michelle was a child.
OUR INTERVIEW
Stories Of Rematriation Art
With the Butterflies
21X27" (Ink, Watercolor on Paper)
This piece captures Michelle as a young girl and a young woman, based on the story she shared with me of connecting with the natural world through the butterflies. The gold and black of the frame are there to evoke the colors of Monarch butterflies. The blue line of the matting, the story she shared of being born with a blue streak, and the symbolic meaning of that within her Indigenous worldview and culture.
"As a child, my mom would catch me outside, and I remember this, I would go into a kind of trance and I would go places when I’d see the butterflies. I would go along with the butterflies. And I would have this out of body experience and I would go fly with the butterflies. And I got to see overhead how the world looks from above. My father saw at a young age that my spirituality came from nature and being able to become a part of nature, in planting, with animals, the butterflies, with everything.”
"The one thing the younger generations need to tweak, so to speak, is to let go of some of the technology and get back to the natural surroundings. The natural world that not only helps us and protects us, but you have to respect it and you have to give back to your natural surroundings and environment. I don’t see a lot of that happening. The young people have to get in there and feel the connection with the natural environment around them. Technology can assist us but don’t let it ruin your natural environment."
“To me any human that thinks they are far superior to the universe, and planet Earth, has got big problems." ~ Michelle