In;Between Artistry

Aim

Creating healing-rooted arts spaces for identity, connection, and creativity for those navigating the in-between spaces.

Hello! I’m Kayla Kim Votapek 김난주 (she/her/hers).

I created In;Between Artistry, LLC for individuals who are constantly living in this in-between space of identity, artistry, and community. 

As a Korean American Adoptee raised in the U.S., I’ve spent my whole life navigating the complexity of the in-between:

• Between names—Kayla Kim and  Nan Joo.
• Between countries and cultures.
• Between different artistic mediums: Theatre, education, festivals, community building, dance, writing, visual art, etc.  
• Between who I was told I was and who I’m still becoming.

In;Between Artistry is a soft place to land for people like me who never fully fit into one specific identity, one type of artistry, one culture, and/or one story. It is for those of us who are constantly living in contradictions. For those who carry both grief and celebration, as well as for those individuals who are still healing and still creating.

This campaign aims to raise $15,000 to support the next phase of In;Between Artistry, LLC ’s growth, which is rooted in healing, identity, and art.

Who We Are

In;Between Artistry, LLC is a creative and healing community for artists, those who live in the in-between, their supportive community members, and individuals who are exploring their own personal analysis of their relationships between self, art, and connection.

We root our work in a framework I like to call the Art of Being Human. 

Sometimes the work begins in the In (인 /人) — the quiet ground of knowing yourself, reclaiming your identity, and standing in your own being. The hanja 人 means “person” and the Korean 인 means “people.” This is the place of return where you reclaim your truth, root yourself into belonging, and build the inner ground from which your voice, leadership, and artistry can grow.

Sometimes it blooms in Yun (연/緣) — the harmony between life and art. Inspired by BTS RM’s words, “I want to be a human before I do some art”, and the philosophy of painter Yun Hyong-Keun, Yun reminds us that art is an extension of our humanity. In hanja, 緣 can mean edge, reason, or along something, which is a reminder that every act of creation has both a reason and a lived edge. Here, art is not separate from life; it emerges from the fullness of living, and it is our responsibility to find the harmony between life and art. 

Sometimes it moves through In-Yun (인연 / 因緣) — the unseen threads that tie us to one another over a lifetime. In hanja, 因緣 means cause, and 인연 means a brief or long-term fateful connection or relation that occurs naturally between people. Together, they speak to the fleeting and enduring ties that shape us. This is where relationships, communities, and encounters leave their mark on us, where our work becomes a container for connection, education, healing, and mentorship.

At times, the path we walk stretches between two of these points:

• From In to In-Yun, when self-awareness meets human connection, and we gather to heal, teach, and witness each other.
• From In to Yun, when identity meets artistry, and creation becomes the way we find our voice.
• From Yun to In-Yun, when art and community transform one another, leaving both changed.

And then there are moments when all three meet in the center — when who we are, what we create, and how we connect are inseparable. These are the moments when In;Between Artistry comes fully alive: living, creating, and connecting as a practice of the art of being human.

The work often lives in these in-between spaces: Where self-awareness meets human connection, where identity meets artistry, where art meets community, and where all three converge that holds identity, artistry, and connection in one breath.

In;Between Artistry is more than a framework. It is a way of being. It asks: Who are you? What is your art? How do you move through the web of human connection?

It is about living artfully rooted in self, shaped by connection, and moved by the harmony between life and art. Here, in the meeting place of self, art, and relationship, we practice the art of being human.

What We’re Raising Money For

Your donations will directly support our core offerings:

📝 1. Adoptee Writing Gatherings- Free monthly spaces for adoptees to write, reflect, and be seen. Many participants are sharing their story for the first time. Funds will go toward facilitation, guest teachers, and access support.

🎙️ 2. Scene | Unseen Podcast - A community-rooted podcast and creative platform that uplifts artists who are breaking molds, reclaiming their stories, and reshaping the culture of art on their own terms. Scene | Unseen is a space of radical love, creative freedom, and collective imagination where artists across disciplines can be seen, supported, and celebrated in their full expression. Funds will support podcast production, guest honorariums, artist features, and building inclusive platforms for connection and collaboration.

🎓 3. Mentorship & Workshops- Spaces that bring artistry and identity together, Anti-Racism Workshops through the Lens of the Art of Being Human Methodology, Identity Exploration Courses, Latin Dance Safety Training, to Creative Justice Programs, and Cultural Storytelling offerings.

• Examples: Conflict and Problem Solving, EDI for the Artist, Belonging in the Arts, Anti-Racism with the Arts Learning Lab, A Conversation on Mixed Fluency and Transracial Adoptee Identity, 

📖 4. In;Between Creative Planner & Journal Deck- A healing and reflection tool designed for those navigating identity, ancestry, and self-discovery. Funds will support design, printing, and making this tool accessible to more people.

🌿 5. Sustainability & Infrastructure- Funding also supports admin time, web hosting, materials, and the unseen labor that makes all this work possible.Why It Matters

This work is deeply personal to me. I spent decades thinking I had to choose between my Korean and American identities, between different art forms, between different locations, and between healing and creating. In;Between Artistry is the offering I wish I had growing up. It’s a space where we are whole. A place where we don’t have to earn our belonging. Where identity, art, and community meet in one community. 

How You Can Help

✅ Donate – Every contribution matters, no matter the size.

📢 Share – Spread this campaign with your networks and communities.

🧡 Connect – If you’ve ever lived in the in-between, or know someone who has, you are already part of this story. Please feel free to reach out. I love to find more opportunities for co-creation and collaboration. Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Let’s create a world where identity is not something to figure out alone but something to explore, express, and embody in community. Let’s honor the art of being human in all its complexity, tenderness, and truth.

Thank you for being here and for your support! 

With gratitude,

Kayla Kim Votapek 김난주

This project successfully funded on 8th November 2025