Brita Vija Brookes

I’ve just returned from the 2026 Latvian Song and Dance Festival, held July 1–5 in Grand Rapids, Michigan — an extraordinary gathering that brings together up to 4,000 Latvians from across North America and Europe. This beloved celebration of Latvian heritage, held every two years, rotates locations much like the Olympics, with each festival awarding hosting rights to the next city. When Michigan was selected for 2026, I knew I had to be part of it. Being half‑Latvian comes w

I was happy to have 2 watercolors in the Sanibel-Captiva Arts League's winter exhibition at the Bailey Homestead gallery. I submitted a watercolor study of a Roseate Spoonbill and a Great Egret.

2025 was the high reunion year for me and also my school's 80th anniversary. I have to say the reunion was amazing and I got to see so many of my classmates. I also reunited with my fellow swim team and we took a group photo. The best part of the weekend was re-igniting friendships and seeing how well everybody was doing. Here's a few highlights! Mercy High School was where I was able to explore and start a good foundation for my arts and design career. With amazing faculty -

I continue to work on my health in body, mind, and spirit. 2025 was filled with US Masters Swimming meets, Florida family visits and Northern Michigan outdoor adventures - all embracing nature and wellness.

I applied for a small projects grant from the Latvian Foundation to create a book I have been working on in my mind about a Crow. The application was intense, but I got it done and I am happy to say I am one of 13 people to receive a grant to complete my project! I have until April 2027 to complete the writing, translation and around 25 watercolors by me for the book. It's a work of love and I have set milestones to stay on track. I set up a small watercolor studio area on my

My 2026 goal to embrace my foundation in fine arts continues and it's been one of the best things to happen. I have a new painting studio space set up in my basement and its a huge mental health mood booster - even when I get frustrated painting, it still gets my mind into a tactile non-AI world and I can envision a scene and work on it to capture a place I love or a creature I adore. Here are some scenes I painted of the Port Oneida Farm in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region of

As I set some new resolutions for 2026, I started early and decided to revive my fine arts roots and love for watercolors. I joined a few arts leagues and have already had works accepted into local art exhibitions. The camaraderie of being in an arts group has been inspiring and energizing. Here's a few samples of the new nature and landscape inspired artworks by me lately!

Well 2022 was a good year for re-connecting with family for me. I was able to see my family in both Florida and Michigan. With new...

As an Ally and member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), I had the opportunity to be accepted as a...

I started this project during the end of the Pandemic as a coping mechanism. It kept me busy and I spent a lot of that time writing the...