Tien Banh

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Born in Vietnam on March 15 th , 1957, Tien Bahn lived a traditional lifestyle fully engaged in her culture and community. A freak accident occurred as Tien sat watching a vehicle being repaired, a large and heavy part fell from the vehicle and struck her head - she was forever changed. Despite traditional Chinese Medicines and teas, Tien's condition worsened over the next year. She was unable to get the medical help that she needed and unable to afford special treatments. Her family made a decision to move her to America in 1984.

She and her sister made the journey together and started a new life in America. Tien was able to stabilize her health with specialized treatments and medicine. She still suffers from daily pain - pain in both her head and her heart.

Once stabilized in America, Tien got a job at the Hyatt Hotel, where she worked for 5 years. Unable to maintain the job due to her health conditions, Tien changed positions and worked for Goodwill Industries hanging clothing on racks. This position was eventually phased out and Tien found herself without daily activity and purpose. She began to attend a facility for persons with mental illness, the Self Help Advocacy Center (The SHAC), where she read the Bible daily and practiced Tai Chi. The receptionist noticed her inactivity and encouraged her to try and draw, giving her pictures from calendars and magazines. Remarkable, Tien was able to capture the image realistically and with ease. Imagine Art, a local project serving artists with disabilities, later moved into the facility and Tien participated in classes and access professional art supplies. She went to an oil painting class a few time, but when she got paint in her eye it hurt for days. That led her to trying watercolor paints.

Today, Tien creates images of flowers, fruits, birds and the occasional landscape, using watercolor and gouache as her chosen media. She works both at home and at the studio of Imagine Art. Her ambition is to sell her works and make a little money. She recognizes that a job in the community is not where her future lies. Her vision allows her to create the art that she is passionate about using the gifts that God has given her. Her prayer is that God will bring money to her through the sale of her work.