Aisla
Aisla (Aila) is a female given name found in several different languages, normally pronounced as "eye-luh" but sometimes as "ay-luh" depending on origin. It is the Finnish equivalent of Helga or Olga, meaning "bringer of light". In Scottish Gaelic, it means "from the strong place". It is also a variant spelling of the Turkish name Ayla (meaning "halo") and the Hebrew name Eilah (meaning "oak tree"). In Arabic Aila means noble
Aisla's artistic creations illustrate the alchemy of science, engineering, nature, culture, language, music, literature and the expressive arts.
Born in London, Aisla's artwork has been featured at National Trust Sites in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Aisla was raised in the American Southwest, in a city with the natural border of the Rio Grande. She was raised in a city which has a varied and rich cultural history which included Mexican, American West, Native American, Middle Eastern, European, Asian and French and Spanish Colonial influences. Aisla later moved to the East Coast for a decade, and eventually settled in San Francisco. Aisla has participated in individual and community mural projects throughout the United States, including New York City, Cambridge and Boston MA, Las Cruces NM, El Paso, TX, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Aisla is a silversmith and cabochon cutter, and she apprenticed under Navajo, Pueblo and Tigua Native American jewelers, Her beadwork and wire tooling incorporate the techniques handed down generations by her artisan mentors . Aisla learned foundry and metal casting techniques, and created Keys to the City for visiting dignitaries to her former hometown. Aisla is a violinist, and has performed with Rensselaer Orchestra, Carnegie Hall National Youth Symphony and San Francisco Civic Symphony with performances at Carnegie Hall as a youth and as an adult. Her music, art and jewelry creations have been featured at the DeYoung, SF MOMA, and SOMArts Galleries, as well as public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe.
Aisla is a 2020 NADC Grants Recipient. The Mission of the NADC is to promote the inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community
