2025 creative art
​National Hmong Disability Virtual Conference

“Building for Tomorrow at the Intersection of Hmong Culture & Disability”

| preview of creative art piece 

| Title: A humble journey begun: Sojourning Life
Click the link below to access video with Closed Captions: ​
​a humble journey begun on Vimeo
Description:
I am loved and free.
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Together, we love and create life. We flow as one, whispering to each other.
Our daughter and sister, Eisha, was the canvas filled with life-giving water. We, her family and loved ones, were the painters, helping to color her world as she, in turn, gave us vibrancy and meaning. Eisha’s love overflowed abundantly, bringing substance to everything it touched. Despite her own life struggles and limitations, the way she chose to see and embrace life was unique—one that made everyone around her reflect on their own perspective.

Where others might see tears, she saw joy and laughter. She literally laughed in the face of hardships—needles, nurses, procedures, medical interventions, 100% dependence on others, being non-mobile, non-verbal, partially blind, partially deaf, profound developmental delays, an inability to eat by mouth, and so much more. Though tears flowed from her eyes because of the pain and difficulties she endured, she still fought to find joy in life. She laughed and would say, “You think that is pain? You think that’s hardship? Okay… but you do not know what hardship truly is. Yet, life is worth living and fighting for.”

Where some might have seen she had little to offer, she gave freely, like a river that nurtures everything in its path. She gave her Make-A-Wish to build an accessible playground for her peers with special needs at her school. She shared what she had, always.

Eisha was born with Trisomy 13, Patau Syndrome—a chromosome condition that leads to severe intellectual disability and physical abnormalities throughout the body. Most babies with Trisomy 13 are lost before birth, and it occurs in about 1 in 10,000 newborns. Due to life-threatening medical problems, many infants with Trisomy 13 do not survive their first few days. Only 5 to 10 percent of children with this condition live past their first year. Eisha defied the odds and lived to be 15 years old! She was our miracle—an unexplained phenomenon that medical professionals could only support as she lived her best life possible.

Much like the Mississippi River, which starts humbly yet becomes a powerful force that mystifies all who see it, Eisha’s life was the same. She fought to live. She fought to enjoy life. The way she fought made everyone around her want to fight with her. How could anyone not? Our family fought alongside her, for her, for all of us, because she too was worthy of life.

Her medical team and family gave her the nickname "Trixy160" because she was such a trickster, living life fully with 160% of herself—like the future of humanized androids.

​It was, and is, our honor to be part of her journey towards being loved and free.
Artistic Intent: Simply like the Mississippi River that came from a humble beginning where it makes anyone wonder how it was possible. Eisha’s life was as such. She fought to live. She fought to enjoy. The way she fought it made anyone want to fight with her. How could anyone not? Our family fought with her, for her, for us because she is compatible with life too! 

The Mississippi River’s winding waterways and confluences serve as a powerful metaphor for Eisha’s spirit—one that stretched far and wide, reaching countless lives, nurturing growth, and leaving ripples of love in her wake. Like a hidden, mystical upstream that begins as a quiet trickle, she flowed with purpose, carving her own path, and eventually merging into the vast embrace of the ocean—where freshwater meets salt, and all things become one. The unseen undercurrents, ever-moving and ever-present, mirror the essence of Eisha—an unyielding force of life, touching everything in its path, shaping the world around it, and continuing on, even beyond what the eye can see.
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Symbolism & Themes: 
Themes:
  • Resilience & Strength – Eisha’s life is depicted as a journey of perseverance, much like the Mississippi River, overcoming challenges and continuing forward.
  • Connection & Impact – Her life, like the river’s confluences, touches and nurtures others, leaving a lasting influence.
  • Transformation & Legacy – The river’s journey from a small beginning to a vast ocean symbolizes Eisha’s enduring spirit, even beyond her physical presence.
Symbols:
  • Mississippi River – Represents Eisha’s journey, resilience, and far-reaching impact.
  • Waterways & Confluences – Symbolize the connections she formed and the love she shared.
  • Undercurrents – Represent the unseen but ever-present influence of her spirit.
  • Freshwater Meeting Saltwater – A metaphor for transition, unity, and the blending of different elements, much like her presence in the lives of those who loved her.

About Artist: A Journey of Creativity and Advocacy

Link: PaNyia Vang / Rain Watcher Artist — in progress
Website: Home | Atelier Paaj
Social Media: Atelier Páaj | Artist & Artisan BiPoc Craftswomen (@atelierpaaj) • Instagram photos and videos
The image features Asian Hmong woman PaNyia Vang smiling joyfully by a serene body of water, wearing a bright yellow dress with a playful pattern and cut-out sleeves. Her long dark hair is adorned with a light brown headband, and she holds a rolled-up photograph or artwork, reflecting her creative spirit. The peaceful backdrop of lush greenery and a calm river under a cloudy sky celebrates happiness and life's simple pleasures.
The image features Asian Hmong woman PaNyia Vang smiling joyfully by a serene body of water, wearing a bright yellow dress with a playful pattern and cut-out sleeves. Her long dark hair is adorned with a light brown headband, and she holds a rolled-up photograph or artwork, reflecting her creative spirit. The peaceful backdrop of lush greenery and a calm river under a cloudy sky celebrates happiness and life's simple pleasures.
Pa Nyia Vang – Disabled Hmong American Artist, Community Advocate, and Advocate for Sustainable Creative Healing Practices

​Pa Nyia is a disabled Hmong American from the Twin Cities, MN, and a dedicated parent to six children, three of whom have special healthcare needs and disabilities.

​With over 25 years of experience, Pa Nyia is a multidisciplinary artist and writer, focusing on sustainable mixed media visual arts (2D & 3D). She is also a community advocate, freelance contractor, and amateur filmmaker and photographer.
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During her childhood, Pa Nyia explored creative ideas through experiments and learning from educators, finding solace in her imagination. In 2022, she founded her studio shop, Atelier Páaj, with her family, using her creative skills as a means of coping and healing.
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Pa Nyia aims to create impactful artistic pieces that reflect her life experiences, fostering growth and development in others. She is committed to delivering quality work in an artistic environment with the support of mentors.
Video Credits
The Rain Watcher Project
The Rain Watcher Artists & Exhibit: rain watcher — in progress
Hosted by In Progress
Writing, Production & Concept by Pa Nyia Vang & Family
Supported by her husband and children
Video & Editing Support by Sai Thao & Kris Sorensen
Photographed by Lee Elee Vue

The Rain Watcher Project is supported in part by Capitol Region Watershed District, the FR Bigelow Foundation, the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support Fund, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Flexible Support Fund, the Minnesota State Arts Board American Rescue Plan Award
​© United Hmong with Disabilities. All rights reserved.
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