Ep.44: Intersection of Creativity & Healing w/ Entrepreneur & Artist Vanesa Simon
Vanesa's Bio:I am a visual artist, specializing in pattern drawing in ink.I am the founder and owner of Mariposa Arts; whose objective is to make creativity accessible to all communities as a healing tool.Being a cancer survivor, I found refuge in writing, drawing and photography during and after treatment. I became painfully aware at the lack of creative resources offered post cancer treatment. This began a passion project and in 2017 I piloted a program called Healing Through the Arts, to offer creativity for healing to cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers.One of my goals was to offer it at no cost to participants, because during a time when the sole focus should be on getting well, cost should not be an impediment. This type of healing, using creativity, should be accessible to all of us.I presently continue to grow and coordinate this program through a partnership with the Delaware Art Museum, local organizations and with the help of a generous grant. Our workshops offer participants ceramics, grief drumming, watercolor journaling, Zentangle© and painting classes. In March 2019, I became certified to instruct in the Zentangle Method. I love to share the ease and joy of this art method, especially when it is focused in learning a meditative drawing practice for wellness.I am proud to be involved in my local artist community through working as the Director of Lumina Arts Incubator and cofacilitating an Artist’s Way Creative Cluster.I serve on the Delaware Shakespeare Board of Directors, and I am an active member of the Development Committee for their organization.I hold a Creative Catalyst Certificate, a program from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This program equipped me as an Artist Leader, Innovator and Entrepreneur. (May 2021)I am so pleased that the virtual nature of our world in 2020 afforded me the opportunity to work with Carla Rey and the international artist collective Instantes Graficos, based out of my home country, Argentina. I have learned techniques working with Artist’s Books using many different mediums and book making methods. I explore themes of social justice, issues relating to immigrants and my healing journey. My books contain elements of writing, pattern drawing done in ink and photography. In January 2021, the collection Yo Creo, Todxs Somos Unxs made with this artist collective was exhibited at 1/1 Caja de Arte in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three of my artist’s books were presented and sold at this year’s Printed Matter Virtual Art Book Fair in NYC.Contact: vanesa@mariposaarts.comFollow Vanesa Simon on Instagram @vanesamariposaarts. There you can see all that she is up to with Healing Through the Arts program with the Delaware Art Museum, Lumina Arts Incubator art shows and virtual programming and see her artwork.The next Artist’s Way Creative Cluster will start in September. It is free, will be held virtually and open to all!Visit https://artistsforjoy.org/theartistsway to register.We are also looking for potential partners in the US & internationally to train to facilitate their own local Artist’s Way creative clusters.