Tessa Foundation and Lightning Boy Foundation Present TESSA "Eyes on the World"

Tessa Foundation and Lightning Boy Foundation Present Tessa "Eyes on the World"

In honor of Tessa M. Horan, Valentino Rivera, Xavier Prater Horan

Introduction by Kristina Prater and Felicia Rivera 

Performances by:

Madi Sato, Japanese Inu and Irish singer, actress and dancer

Paloma Rivera, Pojoaque Hoop Dancer 

Michael Meade and Janella Marsh, mother and son artist musicians delivering uplifting messages through performance

Michael Meade and Daniela Chacon, book reading of TESSA "Eyes on the World"

Daniela Chacon, singer songwriter, musician straight up Mexican

The Cellist 

and more...

All Proceeds benefit the Tessa Foundation and Lightning Boy Foundation 

TESSA “Eyes on the World”

Tessa M. Horan 

March 20 1981 – February 1 2006

During Tessa’s brief life she felt and understood so much. Her studies and pursuits were focused on raising her own awareness for the benefit of others.

Tessa began drawing portraits of her three younger siblings at an early age. This grew into a diverse portfolio. Later, she discovered that photography could demonstrate and communicate her passion for environmental and social justice. 

Being physically strong, she excelled at soccer, river guiding, ski patrolling, and helping others as an EMT and NOLS instructor. Her spiritual side worked in tandem with her many quests, wherein she developed her practice of service to others as a Buddhist.  

As a devoted sister, daughter, friend, and advocate—especially to the many dispossessed and underserved she encountered in her world travels—she weaved together athleticism, activism, scholarship, and art in a spirit of service. 

This path brought her to the Kingdom of Tonga at the age of 24 as a volunteer for the Peace Corps Agency. There she taught school and befriended the Tongan people, before dying abruptly from a shark attack while swimming with her new friends.

Please enjoy this most recent exhibition of Tessa’s varied artistic work, which shows her evolution from young idealist to devoted humanitarian. Many of the pieces in the exhibition are from photos found on her camera after she died. As a tribute to her, artist Tom Emerson and the schoolchildren of Tonga created phantasmal, enigmatic figures made from detritus found in Tu’anuku, Va’vau, where Tessa lived and worked as a teacher and activist for positive change. 

TESSA "Eyes on the World" holds space for an inclusive community honoring all people, cultures and identities.