My name is J.W. Kraude, In 1987 I was born in Panorama City but I’m from Palmdale. In the 90s we moved and I was brought up in Montana where my family has ties. Graduating in 2005 out of Polson High School and after a brief stint at Salish Kootenai College with a focus on Forestry I joined the Marine Corps Infantry as a Mortarman. I married my wife in 2007 back home on leave and then deployed to Iraq soon after. Spending the end of 2007 in the city of Fallujah and beginning of 2008 south of the city in Amariyat al-Fallujah. In 2009 I was once again deployed but this time on the 31rst Marine Expeditionary Unit. Being assigned to the USS Essex and USS Denver I trained with multinational forces including the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the Philippine Marine Corps, and the Australian Defense Force. It was a nice float, much better than the tour in Mesopotamia.
After the Marine Corps we came home to Montana to start a family. I picked up where I left off and continued my study at Salish Kootenai College for Forestry. Before being able to complete my degree life took a different direction. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend several years being a stay at home parent while my wife had career opportunities open up for her. Those years at home with my youngest will always be some of my most cherished moments. As my last kid was going to start school the last of my degree was looking enticing.
I wasn’t sure I was physically capable to be a full time student. I am disabled and struggle physically in some situations. I wanted to use my G.I. bill benefits and my Spouse convinced me that I should try and that the state had a Voc Rehab program that would help me through some of the struggles that come with being disabled. I thought I would take half credits in art and culture classes to set a pace for myself and see if I could even keep up physically with the college crowd. It was a real struggle and I doubted I could sit through lectures and finish my forestry degree, but I fell into silversmith. Frank Finley allowed me access to the silver lab and really took me in, fueling my love for the craft.
I took Silver originally to feel a connection to my ancestors, touch the same kind of materials they touched. I wanted to learn how to make all the same kind of jewelry that I grew up watching my family hold dear. It made me want to make those things for my own kids to pass on to theirs one day. I wanted to stay in the art program to have access to the silver lab and learn what I could while I could. I had always done art but never really saw myself as an artist. Without the staff at SKC I would still think that way. Even through all of the challenges of Covid, Cameron Decker convinced me to continue my education at the Fine Arts and Design program. I graduated from Salish Kootenai College in 2022.
After college I try to keep an ear out for opportunities and apply for what I can. I also try my best to keep this blog current. My goals are to continue working and developing as an artist. Beyond that I am here for my family, making art helps them express themselves too and I am glad I can help facilitate their learning. I am so very grateful to have this opportunity.
Thank you for your time and looking at my work, lemlmts
Little Dog Silver 