A Tribute to Artstarkelly

There are individuals that leave an indelible mark on your life, whether they are shifting its very trajectory or are fully present and supportive at the beginning of a new understanding of yourself and the world. Kelly, our dear, beautiful friend, is both of these things for us. And her doctors think she has about a year.

Kelly Bigelow Becerra is more than sum of her roles—daughter, student, artist, designer, teacher, mentor, filmmaker, producer, director, roller skater, colleague, neighbor, volunteer, shaker & mover, cancer patient, partner, and friend.

She is a luminary—the brightest light in any room, bringing wit, charm, keen observations and insights to every conversation. Her moniker is Artstarkelly, and it is so fitting because she is truly a star that shines so very brightly inspiring those around her and raising the quality of everything that she engages in.

She is well-respected for her artistic vision, skill, and achievements, including award-winning films that were shown at Cannes & Sundance, her advocacy of the arts, arts education, and good design, and her bold ideas. Her candor, her fierce belief in curiosity and possibility, her truth and empathy, her humor and pluck, her deep, unwavering friendship, and her extraordinary grace in coping with life's hardships and challenges make her easy to love and adore.

Where to begin... I first heard her—her delightful laugh and mile-a-minute enthusiasm of finally being in art school emanating from her corner room on the fourth floor of our Taplin House dorm. It was Move-In Day. I was a bit reserved, taking everything in as I got my bearings. If only I had known that that there'd be this spunky, bubbly, teen dressed head-to-toe in black, to take the lot of us under her wing, my worries would have melted away.

Kelly would just point at you from across the room and exclaim, "Your shirt is cool! I'm Kelly Bigelow! What's your name?" And then before you knew it, her arm was linked in yours and you were in her dorm room learning that her hand was Michigan, and right there is Kalamazoo and more specifically, Jonesville, where she had lived with her mom and had an awesome high school art teacher. Not a couple minutes later she'd whisk you off to your dorm room where she'd look at and comment on the things you had put on the walls. Then suddenly you'd find yourself in other people's dorm rooms, collecting people as you went, and she'd introduce herself and you to everyone, and them to each other. That's how I had met her, and how most in our circle of friends had met each other, too.

She gathered us all and led the way to our first meals in the Leutner cafeteria, making immediate friends with the ID checkers and line cooks. Everywhere she went, she made friends. Then she got us all together to explore the CIA buildings, the CWRU campus, and the greater University Circle. By the time the weekend was over, we all knew the campus and felt right at home.

As soon as Kelly knew there was an Arabica coffeehouse across from our dorms, she started organizing drink & draws, which we did multiple nights a week during our foundation years. It was there with sketchbooks, cocoas, coffees, and deep conversations where much of the foundation of our friendships was laid.

Kelly always knew about whatever cool movie related thing was happening. Whether it was the Cleveland Cinematequé that showed art house films and animation, or the Strosacker Auditorium at CWRU that ran current and second-run movies, or the Cleveland Film Festival downtown at Tower City that presented films from around the world, or that Disney animators were going to be at The Factory... whatever it was, Kelly had two things to communicate: 1) Do you know about it because here is what I know about it; and, 2) We have to see it!!!

Along those same lines, did we know who Alan Rickman was? Because he is the very best! You haven't see Truly, Madly, Deeply??! And then she made sure we all, plus the entire dorm, did.

I sat behind her in Art History class. She would twirl her pen and swing her leg as she took in slide after slide. You could feel the energy coming off of her as if she were powering up on art facts.

It was way past midnight, but she knew of a Rally's that was open all night where we could get burgers & fries. And she had a friend with a car.

It was mid-terms, and if we pulled together our points, we could stock up on snacks at the Leutner store, and then pile into her room to memorize art history slides. 4-5 of us across her bed, people on the floor, staying up all night, talking about art and design and movies and life and how cool everything was and how we all were going to create and see great things... if we could stay awake long enough to memorize the very specific year important works of art were created.

We loved everything about being in art school. We enjoyed dissecting the classes, shows, movies, and events afterwards, reinforcing and questioning what we had learned and seen that day, talking about the strengths and weaknesses of the art presented, sharing inspiration, brainstorming ideas...

In classes that we didn't have in common, Kelly was so enthusiastic about what she was learning and gleaning, that she couldn't help but teach us as she shared. It was as if I had double-enrolled in that I was learning just as much through her experiences with other subjects, classes, students, and professors, especially in design where I had Stanczak, she had Jergens, as I was my own. Additionally, her critiques were among the best—so surgical in their multi-faceted approach, both affirming and challenging, that I still consider them some of the most constructive, valuable, and helpful in my artistic development.

She continually introduced us to new things and new people. She had met some Cuban and Puerto Rican students, and they were going to make us dinner and teach us all how to salsa dance and do the rumba. And just like that, we all met and made new friends. I met so many of my lifelong, college friends through Kelly. On one cold January morning, I walked into the Leutner to find Kelly sitting at a table with some guys I did not know, one of which my Dad and I had seen on campus walking in an army jacket and a keyboard whom we had dubbed "the Fuzzy Kid" because his hair stood straight up on end all over his head like a dandelion in seed.

That fateful morning was the first day of second semester of second year. I was starting a new elective, Ceramics with Bill Brouillard, and it was held in The Factory. The Factory was the nickname of a massive old Model T Ford Factory that housed many of the majors—Painting, Ceramics, Photography, Sculpture, Illustration, Graphic Design... It was to be my first class there, and my social anxiety had kicked in because I didn't know a single person in the class. Kelly did though. She shifted a seat over so I could join her and her friends for breakfast. I sat down between her and the Fuzzy Kid, and thought to myself, "Wait until I tell Dad who I sat next to at breakfast."

As soon as I sat down, "Katie, this is Ben. He's in ceramics with you." Turning to Ben, "You're going to walk Katie to class and sit with her. You two are going to be friends." Twinkle in her eyes, and a rather obvious wink, maybe for me, maybe for Ben, maybe for the both of us. And just like that, two socially awkward people met and became friends, and two years later, they began dating, and about 5 years after that, those two art nerds got married. Add matchmaker to the list.

Kelly and Roland left CIA to pursue their art ambitions at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I missed her terribly, so I saved up my money and bought my first solo airplane ticket to Chicago to visit them. It was my first trip to Chicago as well, and Kelly made an excellent tour guide. We went all over the city, but my favorite time with her was spent at the art museum listening to her talk about her favorite pieces of art, how she was learning so much, how they were going to move to CT and do amazing things. And I knew then that she would because whatever Kelly set her mind to do, she did.

Then our Fiber Department went to Chicago to meet and tour the studios of Joan Livingstone, Nick Cave, and other fiber artists. I asked my professors if Kelly could tagalong, and they said yes. Who asked these artists the most questions of anyone? Kelly, of course! She absorbed everything and had the pluck, curiosity, and thirst for knowledge to absorb much more.

Kelly and Roland visited us when we moved to RI, and it was as if no time at all had elapsed. I wish that we had taken more advantage of those years that we all lived in New England at the same time to visit, but life always seemed to get into the way. Thankfully through social media, we have been able to stay in touch all of these many years. I look forward to her posts everyday because of how Kelly they are: inspiring, beautiful, funny, and loaded with art goodness. And then I saw this one.

Since 2018, Kelly has privately been dealing with the knowledge, symptoms, treatments, and monthly surgeries and procedures of and for Stage 4 terminal cancer. It was a slow growing cancer, but now it has picked up speed.

The world needs Kelly Bigelow Becerra in it, shining and sparkling her beautiful light for all to see. I need Kelly Bigelow Becerra in this world. I am beyond heartbroken regarding her recent announcement.

Meanwhile, Kelly is being Kelly in all of her Kelly-ness and talking about a Zoom game night for us to all be together because that is what we need, to be together.

She is now on oxygen and is being confronted with the financial downside of having cancer in America. Living through multiple major surgeries and lengthy hospital stays has drained her savings.

“Brian Anderson recorded our practice session in the Reads Art Gallery before our performance at Park City Music Hall. Singing with oxygen is a tricky business but I’m so grateful that I can still sing at all. Brian and I are still working on some music and hope to have some holiday tunes out soon that will help support my gofundme.” —Kelly

Camp Kelly Benefit at Park City Music Hall
Cecilia
Look at Ms. Ohio
Never My Love
If I Stay Too Long
Lowlands

"This GoFundMe is to support her so that she can continue her fight, ease her mind and fulfill many of her goals.

The funds will be used to:

• Secure the costs of Kelly’s live/work studio in Bridgeport for the next year.

• Provide for any care and assistance she might need once she starts hospice.

• Aid in funeral and burial expenses.

• Assist in legal fees for end of life planning.

• Assure the cataloging, archiving, and protection of her artwork.

• Support travel expenses which would allow Kelly to visit her home in Michigan to see her family and friends, if medically permissible.

• Establish the Kelly Bigelow Becerra Art Scholarship at Jonesville High School."

If you visit the fundraising page (below and in Comments), you will read several beautiful testimonials to what an amazing and dynamic person Kelly is. I know that many of you don't know Kelly. But you know at least one of her creations in the form of Ben+Kate, and it would mean the world to us if you could help support her during this time. Each little bit adds up and will make a difference to someone we love so very much. Thank you!

https://gofund.me/3c8e5c8a