Historical Thanksgiving Gift representing 2M+ Veterans Women

This was a project unlike any other I have completed. Nefertiti and I began our four-hour preliminary planning meeting to discuss basic concepts; followed by couple of trips to shop for fabrics. We, then spent three hours applying design concepts and modifying them. Continued by three hours of cutting, lining up, and pinning the fabrics we chose. It took four hours to construct and finish sewing various pieces and parts of the final designs, by hand and by machine. I invested a total of fourteen active hours on this project.

We celebrated the culmination of all our hard work here at my home in New Hampshire with an autumn dinner which I had prepared:

A homegrown squash, apple, onion, and carrot cream bisque, followed by garden salad and roasted chicken, with coffee and homemade sugar cookies for dessert. After this brief respite, we then spent three hours in my dance studio compiling and dressing the set, filming and taking stills of displays and welcoming Hawaiian ceremonial chants and prayers by Nefertiti and myself, along with festive remarks by all three of us. This was a fantastic and gratifying way to wrap up the most memorable of projects! - Nancy Griftin

Nefertiti San Miguel is an international mixed-media artist, performer, cultural diversity advocate and trailblazer who has long been raising eyebrows in many different industries. With a reputation for rocking her eclectic style, she is the founder of Etnia Fusion, a Boston based small enterprise dedicated to promoting and cultivating multiculturalism through educational programs, functional art and dance. Nefertiti has been featured on radio and television programs, web series, YouTube Channels, newspapers and magazines across the nation, and over the last year has been garnering international attention from podcasts in New Zealand, Canada and Australia. She is currently pursuing new endeavors: teaching therapeutic arts, advocating for mental health, independently working on neuroscience research and sharing her talents with AmorUmbrella, a Veterans Organization serving military women transitioning into civil life.

Danigami is an award winning Origamist who has been practicing his craft for more than 15 years. He enjoys showing young and old alike that anything is possible through the Japanese art of paper-folding. He has been featured artist at several gallery exhibits but his real joy comes with selling his wares at local craft fairs and interacting with all walks of life.

He currently resides in Winthrop (MA) with his husband, holds a full time job as 911 dispatcher at the Boston Police Station and since 2015 has been sharing his talents intermittently with Nefertiti San Miguel & Etnia Fusion + Friends. Danigami and Nefertiti not only have in common a lifetime dedication to cultivating different Nipponese art forms but also they bond in a special way over the same fondness for Halloween Season and appreciation of Asian aesthetics.

Vincent Liu (also fondly known as Mr. Nutty in the Etnia Fusion world) is a vivid portraitist and videographer, pursuing a graduate degree in the field of Digital Media Design at Harvard University. Through his creativity and exploration of innovative concepts, he aims to transcend the artistic world with technological platforms. When not absorbed in the dynamics and intricacies of computer syntax Vincent enjoys conceptualizing ideas for short films and capturing the beauty of urban society in his sketchbook. He is the most recent addition to Etnia Fusion + Friends

As creative individuals Vincent and Nefertiti (Founder of Etnia Fusion + Friends) naturally connected immediately as a synergy of artistic energy flowed through them upon first encounter back in Spring of 2020. Ever since, the two have enjoyed their friendship immensely as they have shared some holidays together and frequently engage in exciting excursions throughout the city of Boston in search of decadent culinary experiences and spirit drinks. Those outings have been named: Destination Unknown…

Nancy Griffin is a consummate multimedia artist, a professional fashion and costume designer / creator and consultant for stage, screen, weddings, and special events. These talents grew out of her vocation as a performer and teacher of traditional Near / Middle Eastern and Hawaiian cultural dance. Since 2017 she has been a beloved member of Etnia Fusion + Friends. In 2022, she will be celebrating 40 years in the fashion and entertainment industry!

She is a choreographer, writer, producer, and director of professional performances, for both group and solo format. She is a repeat performer in Canada, the East and West Coasts of the continental US, The Big Island of Hawai'i, and Oahu.

Historical Gift sent to the White House representing

the 2M Veteran Women in the US.

AMOR umbrella is a Military-Veteran, & Women Empowerment Advocate and Support Agency

The Historical Thanksgiving Gift was sent to the White House for our Vice President. It was created and sent with the intention to represent our 2M+ women veterans in unity and with the collaboration of Civilian Minorities and Veteran Small Owned Businesses.

We can now say:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

The Historical Thanksgiving Gift was mailed roughly at 620 AM on Friday 19 Nov 2021.

Curious note: The post office were we mailed from is steps away from the original Boston Tea Party.

photo credit: TripSavvy / Violet Smirnova

What was the gift?
A very elaborated mixed media art creation that took almost a full year to complete.

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