By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Kimberly Ann Phillip’s talents are well documented. If you are not aware she was a prolific track and field star at Garfield High School and the University of Washington as well as an award-winning artist and a fashion entrepreneur. At every turn in her life Phillips has strived, endured and most importantly thrived with achievement.
At an early age Phillips knew her gift was art. With her ability to express how she views the universe through pencil to paper, brush to canvas, Phillip’s happiness is driven through her art.
Born and raised in Seattle, Phillips discovered early on in life that she had a knack for achieving. As a young girl, with the encouragement of her father, she became a track and field sensation holding multiple track and field records both nationally and statewide.
Being an athletic phenom himself, Phillip’s father urged and encouraged her to participate in sports.
By the age of thirteen, Phillips had solidified her legacy in track and field holding a national record in the 100 meter dash.
A standout athlete at Garfield High School from 1981 to 1984, Phillips would do all that she could to never disappoint her father.
During her high school tenure, she was a part of one the states most dominate and formidable track programs in its history. A state champion and record holder in the 100 and 200 meter dash as well as a member of the 4×100 state champion team her future was cemented and possibly the Olympics were well in her reach.
As Phillips ponders on a career long ago, she remembers, “I had some individual successes yes, but the relay teams were my most memorable hands down.”
From a young age her passion has always been art. She would find herself drawing and painting as much as she possibly could. At age sixteen, Phillips was commissioned by a local business to do art for their marketing campaigns, but her family wanted her to pursue a career in sports which became her occupation from second grade all the way to college.
The love of family and the importance it is for children not to disappoint their parents, was a driving force, so she diligently set out to be successful in track and field.
“Many times I have struggled or experienced adversity, just in life, even in track I felt like giving it up,” says Phillips. “I didn’t like running track, my dad was so successful in his career I did it for him but I stopped running in college as he (my father) expected me to go to the Olympics, yet my heart just was not in it, but I had the talent for it.”
After graduating from high school, Phillip attended the University of Washington on a track scholarship and looked to see where it would take her, but her struggle between athletics and art would continue.
“That’s when I said you know what I wanna do is draw and paint, I wanna paint and that’s when I stopped [running track],” Phillips recalls.
At the beginning of her college career, coming into a large four-year institution of learning, admittedly, was overwhelming for Phillips.
”You know as a freshman I was very intimidated by the whole process,” says Phillips. “I had a really horrible experience at the University of Washington. I had doors slammed in my face as scholarship recipient and I didn’t understand why.”
Phillips confesses that school was always difficult. She didn’t know why but she couldn’t understand that no matter how hard she worked she did not see an “A” or a “B” on her report cards for years.
From Phillips perspective, “In class I’ve never, ever, A’s and B’s where never on my report card.”
It wasn’t until a professor took notice and discovered that Phillips suffered from Dyslexia that academics and her educational journey began to change and her role as not only an artist but as a responsible member of her community and her leadership took on a new cause.
According to the International Dyslexia Association, “Dyslexia refers to a number of symptoms that result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia often experience difficulties with both oral and written skills.”
“Once I got tested and I had to relearn how to read and everything differently, the whole thing was all different and I started getting 4.0s and so you learn that you’re not failing or struggling in vain, your brain is just wired differently,” says Phillips
“By the time I discovered my Dyslexia I had lost the passion for track and field, so I transferred to Bellevue Community College to pursue my artistic passion,” continues Phillips.
After sports Phillips zeroed in on her art. Her art was a very personal and private affair although it can be seen in her works through her company KimberlyGems, where she produces jewelry and is the director of her modeling agency. Phillips is also the Art Director and a board member of the Festival Sandiata, but her canvas work is where she and God connected.
“I consider my work abstract, mixed with vibrant deep colors and textures such as gems”, explains Phillips.
“Piccaso-ish as I like to call it, but my work has always been a private endeavor,” she continued. “I do not do galleries and I have not sold any of my private work although I have done select pieces for private clients across the country.”
Phillips describes how art affects her and her way of life as she strives to perfect her craft.
“Art is dear to me because it is spiritual and when I paint if I’m spiritually connected to the piece, I can kick it out, but if I’m not it’s a struggle and it could take a long time,” says Phillips. “But art just relieves everything in me and I’m committed to it.”
Her son, Richard Phillips, finds inspiration and encouragement as he has witnessed the growth and commitment his mother exudes in regards to her work.
“It is astounding how she inspires me with her commitment and determination when she puts her mind to something,” says Richard. “Whether her art or community events, there is no telling her no when she puts her mind to it, she can be that determined and it inspires me.”
After all she has accomplished from holding national records in track and field, struggling with and overcoming Dyslexia, Phillips sets out at this stage in life to give whatever voice she can to the cause in educating people, parents and teachers about Dyslexia and the plight of children born with it.
“There are so many kids in school that are pushed aside because there is only one way of learning,” Phillips says. “It would be for the school system to do something to open up the learning process to kids who don’t learn just one way.”
As she prepares for 2019 Phillips reflects on her personal journey and what she can do to make the road better for up and coming artist and those who aspire to become artist as she continues to advocate for that balance and connection in and between art and learning.
“Pay attention to the children and don’t just put them in one box there’s whole creative side of people and not everybody is analytical, not everybody is a bookworm,” says Phillips. “The art world, I am going to speak for the art world they learn differently, their brains are wired completely different, not right or wrong just different, it’s just what is.”
