((Wait... what's that say?))

Age: 32

Hails from: Bloomington, Minnesota

Artistic Mission: I believe in opening people up to the untapped potential of their creativity through working on community arts projects.

Background in performance art: I've always been a multi-disciplinarian when it comes to art, but I studied performance art formally at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The gist of her Fringe Festival show: It's called "The Survival Pages." It's a 45-minute solo performance art piece that addresses the intense environmental crisis we're facing as a planet.

Background in puppetry: I learned to build puppets at In the Heart of the Beast [Puppet and Mask Theater] when I was a volunteer there.

Favorite puppet she's created: I found this coyote skin through this person I worked with and created a puppet out of it. The best way to honor this coyote, who had been shot by a sheep farmer, was to turn it into something that can inspire others.

Favorite puppet from popular culture: I'm rather fond of Slimy, Oscar the Grouch's little buddy.

Plans for the RNC week: I may just draw a circle in chalk, stand on my stilts and hold a one-woman circus outside the Xcel Center.

Note from Malia: Actually, my RNC plans grew to also host community puppet-making workshops throughout August, at In the Heart of the Beast Theater's studio, for Code Pink's "Pink Parade" on September 1.

Click to see the Star Tribune video interview below:

http://www.startribune.com/video/27669519.html?elr=KArksUUUU