Born November 10, 1955 Jelani K. Asantewa is a graduate of The Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors Degree in Retailing. She grew up on and now lives on her families non-working farm in rural upstate New York. Her childhood was spent sewing and playing. She made doll clothing and doll house furnishings as well as clothing for herself and an occational piece for her older sister. When she was not sewing or playing with her dolls she and neighborhood friends were busy riding bikes and playing games of make believe in the fields, woods and gullies which make up the farm. After school and days off the children spent countless hours pretending they were Native Americans and Settlers in early America having to survive off the land. Another favorite game was wild horses and wild dogs that roamed the open wilderness searching for food, shelter and recreation.

These games in which she and her friends saw the rural area as a resource for survival generated a respect and an aesthetic appreciation for the raw materials which grew abundantly and then changed with the seasons. There were glowing weeds baked and dried in the late fall sun, artistically twisted twigs and bark (fallen and live), field rocks cast off to make way for planting or haying, stones rubbed smooth by the rushing waters of a near by fishing stream and an occational bird feather laying wistfully on the ground. From an early age creating art using the beautiful artifacts she found on her walks was always an obsession.

Communing with nature on long walks through the woods and fields is a very relaxing activity which Jelani still enjoys. With each outing there are still many finds bought home. The inspiration of these beautiful treasures found on her walks has given birth to a growing variety of collections. Artistically some items stand alone, while others are incorporated with her lifelong love of sewing or with other forms of art. Creating art is a relaxing and joyful experience for Jelani, which is also the experience she hopes her art will bring to others.