Kahlil Hudson on horseback in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado – photo by Tyler Hughen
I first attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in 1988-89 when my youngest was a year old. Then I went back to pursue a BFA in 2009-2010. Little would it come to pass that 4 years since my classes there, my son Kahlil Hudson would be hired to teach film! Huh? Yep, he’s qualified. He completed his MFA in cinematography, photography and film directing from UCLA and he’s made several award-winning films. You can check out his partnership website with one of his best friends, Tyler Hughen at www.lowandclear.com No, Kahlil doesn’t have his own personal business website YET because he’s too doggone particular about how and what he exactly wants on the site! So in the meantime, we know he’ll make up his mind, we know he’ll get it together, we know he’ll be happy with it when it does get done!
Kahlil on a walk, West San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Kahlil has been teaching for a couple of months now; when I asked him how he liked his teaching job at IAIA, without hesitation with his big, relaxed smile he replied: “…I love it…! I had no idea I would love teaching what I love to do…the students are great to work with…! In fact, we are thinking of actually buying our home here in a year or two…!” (Hmmm….what does this mean for Grandma? Maybe I will have to position myself in my own new home between Santa Fe and Pagosa Springs — that would mean Geronimo country of Abiqui, New Mexico area. I love that country right up there in my heart next to the mouth of the Chilkat River on Mud Bay Road in Haines, Alaska!
Kahlil’s grandparents would have been proud of him reaching this point in his life, especially my Dad and Kahlil’s other Grandfather Bob Hudson. Bob was a school teacher his entire adult life and loved it. When video cameras first come on the market, my father bought one and took films of everything and anything wherever he went. Grandparents die way too soon; we could live to be in our 90s if we were taught how to take care of ourselves in many more ways than one. Why live that long? So we can see the fruits of our parenting/grand-parenting in the eyes and hearts of our grandchildren!