ABOUT THE CREATOR

I am Kimberly Ann Hawes, the creator of The Maplings.

I see something in them that I see in myself. Even when I cannot fully see inside myself, I know exactly how they feel. They are an extension of me: a little quirky, a little weird, a little beautifully off-center, and a little “I don’t give a fuck.”

They are imperfectly perfect.

I like different clothes. I like strange sunglasses. I like things that look like they came from somewhere else, but still know exactly who they are. That is part of The Maplings. They are dressed for the journey, but the journey is not just about where they are going. It is about who they are becoming.

I am a two-time award-winning artist for the Art for August Wilson, and my artwork has appeared in international galleries including Dubai, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Madrid. There is an interesting story behind how all of that happened, but I am not getting into that here.

What I will say is this: no matter who you are, where you are, or what you are doing, you can do whatever the hell you want to do.

Close your eyes. Grab a beverage of your choice. Watch South Park. Then keep repeating to yourself:

I don’t give a fuck.

That is who the author, artist, and creator of The Maplings is.