About Me
My
Story
Hello! My name is Mara Staal Smith and I have enjoyed making things since I was young. My mom incorporated lots of crafts and opportunities for creativity throughout my childhood, and I developed my abilities through high school and college. Now, as a full-time nonprofit employee, doing art is my favorite extracurricular.
I have been justice-oriented from the start. When I was a child, this showed up in the form of rule-following. I was a stickler for things being done the right way and for rules to be fair. At the same time, I already had a heart for those with less. I was confused by the unfairness of the world and deeply saddened by the ways it affected people. As I grew, these things developed into a desire for Biblical, restorative justice in the world.
I am ecstatic to be combining my passions for art and for justice into this shop, with the mission that creativity can be an unstoppable force for good. I am still learning and growing, along with the rest of the world, but I am trying to make some changes along the way.
The name Mighty River Art Shop is derived from a Bible verse about turning words into action--putting away empty words and letting "justice flow like a mighty river, righteousness like a never-failing stream" (Amos 5:24). I'm committed to donating 10% of my proceeds to several key causes, different products being linked to different organizations.
Let's make [things, change] together!