Bernie Siegel

Dr. Bernie Siegel is the author of The Art of Healing: Uncovering Your Inner Wisdom and Potential for Self-Healing. Bernie retired from general and pediatric surgical practice in 1989, and has since dedicated himself to humanizing the medical establishment's approach to patients, and to empowering patients to induce their own healing. After studying the use of crayon drawings by patients faceing life-threatening diseases, Bernie founded Exceptional Cancer Patients to facilitate self-induced healings. Bernie realized that we can aid our bodies' innate propensity to heal through what are currently seen as uncoventional practices, including drawing, visualization, dreams, love, and laughter. You can learn more about Bernie's work and his books at berniesiegelmd.com and follow him on Twitter at @BernieSiegelMD.

Dr. Bernie Siegel is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Healing-Uncovering-Self-Healing/dp/1608681858" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Art of Healing: Uncovering Your Inner Wisdom and Potential for Self-Healing</a>. Bernie retired from general and pediatric surgical practice in 1989, and has since dedicated himself to humanizing the medical establishment's approach to patients, and to empowering patients to induce their own healing. After studying the use of crayon drawings by patients faceing life-threatening diseases, Bernie founded Exceptional Cancer Patients to facilitate self-induced healings. Bernie realized that we can aid our bodies' innate propensity to heal through what are currently seen as uncoventional practices, including drawing, visualization, dreams, love, and laughter. You can learn more about Bernie's work and his books at <a href="http://berniesiegelmd.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">berniesiegelmd.com</a> and follow him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSiegelMD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@BernieSiegelMD</a>.

The Art of Healing with Dr. Bernie Siegel

Pat Schneider

Pat Schneider is the author of How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice. She is the author of ten books including five volumes of poems, Writing Alone &amp; With Others, and Wake Up Laughing: A Spiritual Autobiography. Her libretti have been performed and recorded at Tangelwood and in Carnegie Hall by Robert Shaw &amp; the Atlanta Symphony. Her work has been featured on NPR, National Public Television, and fourteen times on Garrison Keilor's "Writers Almanac." Pat is the founder and director emerita of Amherst Writers and Artists and AWA Press. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Pacific School of Religion in the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. You can learn more about Pat and her work at www.patschneider.com.

Pat Schneider is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Light-Gets-In-Spiritual/dp/0199933987" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice</a>. She is the author of ten books including five volumes of poems, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Alone-Others-Pat-Schneider/dp/019516573X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1381535507&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Writing+Alone+%26+With+Others" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Writing Alone &amp; With Others</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-Laughing-Spiritual-Autobiography/dp/094189519X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1381535528&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Wake+Up+Laughing%3A+A+Spiritual+Autobiography" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wake Up Laughing: A Spiritual Autobiography</a>. Her libretti have been performed and recorded at Tangelwood and in Carnegie Hall by Robert Shaw &amp; the Atlanta Symphony. Her work has been featured on NPR, National Public Television, and fourteen times on Garrison Keilor's "Writers Almanac." Pat is the founder and director emerita of <a href="http://www.amherstwriters.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amherst Writers and Artists</a> and AWA Press. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Pacific School of Religion in the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. You can learn more about Pat and her work at <a href="http://patschneider.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patschneider.com</a>.

Writing as a Spiritual Practice with Pat Schneider

Maggie Oman Shannon

Calm

Rev. Maggie Oman Shannon is an interfaith minister, spiritual director, workshop and retreat facilitator, and lifelong crafter whose passion is exploring the relationship between creativity and spirituality. Her newest book is Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation. A former magazine editor and creativity coach, she is the the author of five previous books, including Prayers for Healing. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and young daughter (who also loves to craft), and currently serves at the Spiritual Director of Unity Spritual Center of San Francisco. You can connect with Maggie on her website www.maggieomanshannon.com, Facebook and Pinterest.

Rev. Maggie Oman Shannon is an interfaith minister, spiritual director, workshop and retreat facilitator, and lifelong crafter whose passion is exploring the relationship between creativity and spirituality. Her newest book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Calm-Practices-Creativity-Contemplation/dp/1936740400" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation</a>. A former magazine editor and creativity coach, she is the the author of five previous books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prayers-Healing-Blessings-Meditations-Around/dp/1573245224/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375656354&amp;sr=1-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prayers for Healing</a>. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and young daughter (who also loves to craft), and currently serves at the Spiritual Director of Unity Spritual Center of San Francisco. You can connect with Maggie on her website <a href="http://www.maggieomanshannon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.maggieomanshannon.com</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maggie.oman.shannon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/revmaggie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest.</a>

Crafting Calm: Interview with Maggie Oman Shannon

Lisa Rasmussen

Lisa Rasmussen is a transformative artist, educator, curator, and art advocate who truly believes and embodies the notion that art can change and heal the world. Lisa is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Art is Moving, and the 3rd Annual Art Break Day. Art Break Day is a communty art-reach event that offers thousands of people the means and space to connect with their community via the art-making process. She is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Art 4 All People and AY Atelier Art, an international sanctuary for arts and consciousness in Malibu, and in virtual reality. In March 2013, Lisa was awarded Alumni of the Year from JFK University for her deep service to the Arts and Consciousness profession, and community. Additionally, Lisa pioneered an award-winning expressive art program for emotionally traumatized and abused youth, and developed a professional art gallery for the residents of Lincoln Child Center, a mental health faciity in Oakland, CA.  She has also taught intuitive and expressive art to elders, at-risk teens, and has been an art coach for adults. In 2008, she was awarded Graduate Student of the Year from JFK University's Holistic Studies Program for her transformative work with the children at Lincoln Child Center, and for her MFA graduate solo exhibition.  Lisa is a professional artist, and her paintings are her spiritual practice. Her current work is being exhibited in various galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. You can connect with Lisa at www.artismovingnow.com, www.art4allpeople.com, and www.ayatelierart.com.

Lisa Rasmussen is a transformative artist, educator, curator, and art advocate who truly believes and embodies the notion that art can change and heal the world. Lisa is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of <a href="http://www.artismovingnow.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art is Moving,</a> and the <a href="http://www.artismovingnow.com/artbreakday.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3rd Annual Art Break Day</a>. Art Break Day is a communty art-reach event that offers thousands of people the means and space to connect with their community via the art-making process. She is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of <a href="http://www.art4allpeople.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art 4 All People</a> and <a href="http://www.ayatelierart.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AY Atelier Art</a>, an international sanctuary for arts and consciousness in Malibu, and in virtual reality. In March 2013, Lisa was awarded Alumni of the Year from JFK University for her deep service to the Arts and Consciousness profession, and community. Additionally, Lisa pioneered an award-winning expressive art program for emotionally traumatized and abused youth, and developed a professional art gallery for the residents of Lincoln Child Center, a mental health faciity in Oakland, CA.  She has also taught intuitive and expressive art to elders, at-risk teens, and has been an art coach for adults. In 2008, she was awarded Graduate Student of the Year from JFK University's Holistic Studies Program for her transformative work with the children at Lincoln Child Center, and for her MFA graduate solo exhibition.  Lisa is a professional artist, and her paintings are her spiritual practice. Her current work is being exhibited in various galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. You can connect with Lisa at <a href="http://www.artismovingnow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.artismovingnow.com</a>, <a href="http://www.art4allpeople.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.art4allpeople.com,</a> and <a href="http://www.ayatelierart.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.ayatelierart.com</a>.

Art Break Day Co-Founder and Transformative Artist, Lisa Rasmussen

Timothy McLaughlin

Timothy McLaughlin is a poet, teacher and the founder of the Spoken Word Program at the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS). This program empowers students to create original poetry – which incorporates Native languages and philosophies – and then perform that poetry for diverse audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. He and his students have received numerous awards and have been featured on many radio and television programs. You can learn more about the SFIS Spoken Word Program at www.sfisspokenword.org.Originally from Washington DC, Timothy has been teaching in Native communities since 1997. He was named the University of Virginia Madison House Alumni of the Year in 2007 for his dedication to service work. Timothy has also produced the poetry CD, Moccasins and Microphones: Modern Native Storytelling Through Performance Poetry, and is the editor of the book Walking on the Earth and Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School (Abrams Books 2012). His writing has appeared in several publications, including The Declaration and Radical Grace. 

Timothy McLaughlin is a poet, teacher and the founder of the <a href="http://www.sfisspokenword.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spoken Word Program at the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS).</a> This program empowers students to create original poetry – which incorporates Native languages and philosophies – and then perform that poetry for diverse audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. He and his students have received numerous awards and have been featured on many radio and television programs. You can learn more about the SFIS Spoken Word Program at <a href="http://www.sfisspokenword.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.sfisspokenword.org.</a>Originally from Washington DC, Timothy has been teaching in Native communities since 1997. He was named the University of Virginia Madison House Alumni of the Year in 2007 for his dedication to service work. Timothy has also produced the poetry CD, Moccasins and Microphones: Modern Native Storytelling Through Performance Poetry, and is the editor of the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Earth-Touching-Sky-Poetry/dp/1419701797" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walking on the Earth and Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School </a>(Abrams Books 2012). His writing has appeared in several publications, including The Declaration and Radical Grace.

Moccasins and Microphones: Timothy McLaughlin, Santa Fe Indian School Spoken Word Program

Elana Haviv

Elana Haviv is the Founder and Executive Director of the Children's Movement for Creative Education (CMCE). Elana is an education and human rights specialist. Through her flagship organization, CMCE, she has created academic and artistic programs to guide childrena and youth to understand and overcome the effects of violent world events on themselves and their communities, and to become global citizens. She designed The Telling History Project: Understanding the Past to Create the Future, a curriculum to teach students about human rights. After 9/11, Elana spearheaded the development and implementation of the art-based CMCE 9/11 Trauma Relief Project in New York City schools. She also continued to create art-based healing programs in post-war Bosnia. More recently, in response to Hurricane Sandy, Elana founded the Hurricane Sandy Art Relief Caravan Project which was recently featured in The Huffington Post article, Art Heals Heartache for Sandy Kids. You can learn more about CMCE on their website, childrensmovement.org.

Elana Haviv is the Founder and Executive Director of the <a href="http://childrensmovement.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Children's Movement for Creative Education (CMCE).</a> Elana is an education and human rights specialist. Through her flagship organization, CMCE, she has created academic and artistic programs to guide childrena and youth to understand and overcome the effects of violent world events on themselves and their communities, and to become global citizens. She designed The Telling History Project: Understanding the Past to Create the Future, a curriculum to teach students about human rights. After 9/11, Elana spearheaded the development and implementation of the art-based CMCE 9/11 Trauma Relief Project in New York City schools. She also continued to create art-based healing programs in post-war Bosnia. More recently, in response to Hurricane Sandy, Elana founded the Hurricane Sandy Art Relief Caravan Project which was recently featured in The Huffington Post article, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hooplaha/art-heals-heartache-for-s_b_2332740.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art Heals Heartache for Sandy Kids</a>. You can learn more about CMCE on their website, <a href="http://childrensmovement.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">childrensmovement.org</a>.

Hurricane Sandy Art Relief Caravan Project: Interview with Elana Haviv

Tim Carpenter

Tim Carpenter is the founder of EngAGE, a nonprofit that changes aging, and the way people think about aging, by transforming senior apartment communities into vibrant centers of learning, wellness and creativity. EngAGE provides life-enhancing arts, wellness, lifelong learning, community building and intergenerational programs and events to thousands of seniors living in Southern California. Tim also catalyzed the creation of the Burbank Senior Artists Colony, a first-of-its-kind senior apartment community with high-end arts amenities and programs. The NOHO Senior Arts Colony and the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony will open in 2012. In 2008, Tim was elected an Ashoka Fellow for being one of the top social entrepreneurs in the world. In 2011, he received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.  He also serves on the board of the National Center for Creative Aging, and is the host and producer of the EXPERIENCE TALKS radio show.

Tim Carpenter is the founder of <a href="http://www.engagedaging.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EngAGE</a>, a nonprofit that changes aging, and the way people think about aging, by transforming senior apartment communities into vibrant centers of learning, wellness and creativity. EngAGE provides life-enhancing arts, wellness, lifelong learning, community building and intergenerational programs and events to thousands of seniors living in Southern California. Tim also catalyzed the creation of the <a href="http://www.seniorartistscolony.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Burbank Senior Artists Colony</a>, a first-of-its-kind senior apartment community with high-end arts amenities and programs. The <a href="http://www.nohoseniorartscolony.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NOHO Senior Arts Colony</a> and the <a href="http://www.lbseniorartscolony.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Long Beach Senior Arts Colony</a> will open in 2012. In 2008, Tim was elected an Ashoka Fellow for being one of the top social entrepreneurs in the world. In 2011, he received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.  He also serves on the board of the National Center for Creative Aging, and is the host and producer of the <a href="http://www.experiencetalks.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EXPERIENCE TALKS</a> radio show.

EngAGE and The Art of Aging: An Interview with Tim Carpenter

Marney Makridakis

Marney Makridakisis the author of Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life. She founded the Artella online community for creators of all kinds, and the print magazine Artella. A popular speaker and workshop leader, she created the ARTbundance approach for self-discovery through art. She lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit her online at artellaland.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/CreatingTime.

Marney Makridakisis the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Time-Creativity-Reinvent-Reclaim/dp/1608681114" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life</a>. She founded the Artella online community for creators of all kinds, and the print magazine <a href="http://www.artellaland.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&amp;cPath=3_79" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Artella</a>. A popular speaker and workshop leader, she created the ARTbundance approach for self-discovery through art. She lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit her online at <a href="http://www.artellaland.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">artellaland.com</a> and on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CreatingTime" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/CreatingTime</a>.

Creating Time with Marney Makridakis

Lori Portka

Lori Portka is an art creator and love radiator. Her artwork is made with an open heart carrying the intention to spread love and healing.  Lori's designs appear on greeting cards, prints, calendars and magazines internationally, and reach other sweet souls who connect with her genuine and compassionate spirit.  You can learn more about Lori and her A Hundred Thank Yous project on her website, loriportka.com, and follow her on Twitter at @loriportka. Reminder: The nomination deadline for the Arts and Healing Network Award is May 15th. For more information, go to:www.artheals.org/projects/ahn_award.html

Lori Portka is an art creator and love radiator. Her artwork is made with an open heart carrying the intention to spread love and healing.  Lori's designs appear on greeting cards, prints, calendars and magazines internationally, and reach other sweet souls who connect with her genuine and compassionate spirit.  You can learn more about Lori and her A Hundred Thank Yous project on her website, <a href="http://loriportka.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">loriportka.com</a>, and follow her on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/loriportka" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@loriportka.</a> Reminder: The nomination deadline for the Arts and Healing Network Award is May 15th. For more information, go to:<a href="http://www.artheals.org/projects/ahn_award.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.artheals.org/projects/ahn_award.html</a>

Lori Portka's 100 Thank Yous: A Gratitude Painting Project

Christine Mason

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica based writer and artist who has been creating, writing and exploring since she was a little girl.  Her mission to inspire has provided the foundation for all of her creative work.  The desire to encourage others to pursue their passions and create a meaningful life is the common thread throughout an expansive body of work that includes mixed media collage, commercial illustration, photography, writing, teaching and speaking.  Her latest book is Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World. You can learn more about Christine and her work on her website, christinemasonmiller.com, and connect with her on Twitter at @swirlygirl18.

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica based writer and artist who has been creating, writing and exploring since she was a little girl.  Her mission to inspire has provided the foundation for all of her creative work.  The desire to encourage others to pursue their passions and create a meaningful life is the common thread throughout an expansive body of work that includes mixed media collage, commercial illustration, photography, writing, teaching and speaking.  Her latest book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desire-Inspire-Creative-Passion-Transform/dp/1440310734" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World</a>. You can learn more about Christine and her work on her website, <a href="http://christinemasonmiller.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">christinemasonmiller.com</a>, and connect with her on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/swirlygirl18" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@swirlygirl18</a>.

Desire to Inspire: Interview with Christine Mason Miller

A podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about how creativity can be a catalyst for positive change. It features interviews with artists and organizations who are using art to heal themselves, their community, and the planet. This podcast is a project of the Arts and Healing Network, an online resource at www.artheals.org. It is hosted by Britt Bravo.

I subscribe to over 100 podcasts on a variety of topics, and this is by FAR my absolute FAVORITE.  Here are some of the reasons why it is #1:

- The interview skips small talk and commercials -- every minute is deep and meaty.
- The interviewer refrains from telling personal stories.  She is an effective interviewer, and she asks appropriate, on-topic, probing questions which get the interviewees to open up and talk.
- It isn&#39;t very long -- I can listen to a whole episode in a short run around town.
- It is incredibly INSPIRING -- oh my!  I have checked out from the library or purchase MANY of the books talked about on the podcast.  
- It is UPLIFTING -- these are artists who are making the world a better place, and hearing them tell their stories is inspiring, uplifting, and worthwhile

THANK YOU, Arts &amp; Healing Network!

BEST Podcast

Really enjoy listening to these podcasts!

Great information for aspiring artists

A podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about how creativity can be a catalyst for positive change. It features interviews with artists and organizations who are using art to heal themselves, their community, and the planet. This podcast is a project of the Arts and Healing Network, an online resource at <a href="http://www.artheals.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.artheals.org</a>. It is hosted by Britt Bravo.

Arts and Healing Podcast

SARK is an author, artist and teacher on the subject of creativity who was featured on the PBS series Women of Wisdom and Power.She practices whatshe teaches and lives in a Magic Cottage in San Francisco. She has written many books including Make Your Creative Dreams REAL, Prosperity Pie, Change Your Life Without Getting Out of Bed and A Creative Companion. You can visit her website at www.planetsark.com.

SARK is an author, artist and teacher on the subject of creativity who was featured on the PBS series Women of Wisdom and Power. She practices what she teaches and lives in a Magic Cottage in San Francisco. She has written many books including Make Your Creative Dreams REAL, Prosperity Pie, Change Your Life Without Getting Out of Bed and A Creative Companion. You can visit her website at <a href="http://www.planetsark.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.planetsark.com</a>.

Interview with SARK!

2007 marks the tenth anniversary of the Arts and Healing Network Award.  Each year the Arts and Healing Network honors a healing artist who is truly making a difference in the world with an award of $10,000. The Network offers this award as a surprise gift. There is no application. Our hope is that this award will offer the recipient inspiration and support to continue and expand their outstanding work.   To celebrate the award's anniversary, we asked each of the award winners to tell us a little bit about their work today, and why they think art is healing or a catalyst for positive change.  Some of their stories are short, some are long, but all of them are inspiring examples of the healing power of art:1998 Bill Witherspoon1999 Marilyn Wood2000 Betsy Damon2001 Bonnie Ora Sherk2002 Lily Yeh2003 Patricia Johanson2004 Bill Talen2005 Tim Lefens2006 Anna Halperin2007 Lynne HullThe Arts and Healing Podcast is a project of The Arts and HealingNetwork, an online resource for people interested in the healingpotential of art.  You can join the Arts and Healing Network communityat artheals.org and you can contact us anytime at ahn@artheals.org.

2007 marks the tenth anniversary of the Arts and Healing Network Award.  Each year the Arts and Healing Network honors a healing artist who is truly making a difference in the world with an award of $10,000. The Network offers this award as a surprise gift. There is no application. Our hope is that this award will offer the recipient inspiration and support to continue and expand their outstanding work.   To celebrate the award's anniversary, we asked each of the award winners to tell us a little bit about their work today, and why they think art is healing or a catalyst for positive change.  Some of their stories are short, some are long, but all of them are inspiring examples of the healing power of art:1998 <a href="http://www.theskyfactory.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bill Witherspoon</a>1999 <a href="http://www.artheals.org/ahn_award/1999ahn_award.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marilyn Wood</a>2000 <a href="http://www.keepersofthewaters.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Betsy Damon</a>2001 <a href="http://www.alivinglibrary.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bonnie Ora Sherk</a>2002 <a href="http://www.barefootartists.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lily Yeh</a>2003 <a href="http://www.patriciajohanson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patricia Johanson</a>2004 <a href="http://www.revbilly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bill Talen</a>2005 <a href="http://www.artrealization.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tim Lefens</a>2006 <a href="http://www.tamalpa.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anna Halperin</a>2007 <a href="http://www.image-world.net/eco-art/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lynne Hull</a>The Arts and Healing Podcast is a project of The Arts and Healing Network, an online resource for people interested in the healing potential of art.  You can join the Arts and Healing Network community at <a href="http://artheals.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">artheals.org</a> and you can contact us anytime at <a href="mailto:ahn@artheals.org">ahn@artheals.org</a>.

Interviews with 10 Arts and Healing Award Winners

Jenny Doh

Jenny Doh is the author of Art Saves: Stories, Inspiration and Prompts Sharing the Power of Art.  Jenny is the Founder and President of CRESCENDOh, a company that inspires creative passion, authentic community, and focused compassion.  CRESCENDOh also works with publishers to create books about art, crafting, and inspiration.  In addition to Art Saves, she also authored Creative Pilgrimage, Signature Styles, and co-authored Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration In the Studio and Behind the Scenes with Extraordinary Women.  Prior to CRESCENDOh, she worked for six years as Editor-in-Chief of Somerset Studio Magazine.  You can learn more about Jenny and her work at CRESCENDOh.com and follow her on Twitter at @crescendoh and @jennydoh.

Jenny Doh is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Saves-Stories-Inspiration-Prompts/dp/144030906X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art Saves: Stories, Inspiration and Prompts Sharing the Power of Art</a>.  Jenny is the Founder and President of <a href="http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendoh/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CRESCENDOh</a>, a company that inspires creative passion, authentic community, and focused compassion.  CRESCENDOh also works with publishers to create books about art, crafting, and inspiration.  In addition to Art Saves, she also authored <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Pilgrimage-Exploration-Gatherings-Innovative/dp/1592537537" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creative Pilgrimage</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Signature-Styles-Stitchers-Craft-Their/dp/1600597912/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1316133811&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Signature Styles</a>, and co-authored <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Women-Create-Inspiration-Extraordinary/dp/1600595642/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1316133839&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration In the Studio and Behind the Scenes with Extraordinary Women</a>.  Prior to CRESCENDOh, she worked for six years as Editor-in-Chief of <a href="http://www.somersetstudio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Somerset Studio Magazine</a>.  You can learn more about Jenny and her work at <a href="http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendoh/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CRESCENDOh.com</a> and follow her on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/crescendoh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@crescendoh</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/jennydoh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@jennydoh</a>.

Art Saves: Interview with Jenny Doh

Quinn McDonald

Quinn McDonald is the author of Raw Art Journaling: Making Meaning, Making Art.  Quinn is a business and creativity coach.  She writes the "Business of Art" column for Somerset Studio magazine, and "The Raw Edge" coaching column for Art Quilting Studio.  She's also a regular contributor to Create Mixed Media, F&amp;W Media's art blog.  Quinn uses coaching to help people find, or develop their careers, and to incorporate creativity in their lives.  She believes that communicating is also an art form.You can learn more about Quinn on her website, quinncreative.com, her blog, quinncreative.wordpress.com, Facebook, facebook.com/quinn.mcdonald, and Twitter @quinncreative.

Quinn McDonald is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Art-Journaling-Quinn-McDonald/dp/1440308551" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Raw Art Journaling: Making Meaning, Making Art</a>.  Quinn is a business and creativity coach.  She writes the "Business of Art" column for Somerset Studio magazine, and "The Raw Edge" coaching column for Art Quilting Studio.  She's also a regular contributor to <a href="http://www.createmixedmedia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Create Mixed Media</a>, F&amp;W Media's art blog.  Quinn uses coaching to help people find, or develop their careers, and to incorporate creativity in their lives.  She believes that communicating is also an art form.You can learn more about Quinn on her website, <a href="http://www.quinncreative.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">quinncreative.com</a>, her blog, <a href="http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">quinncreative.wordpress.com</a>, Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/quinn.mcdonald" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/quinn.mcdonald</a>, and Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/quinncreative" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@quinncreative</a>.

Raw Art Journaling with Quinn McDonald

Sharon Siskin

Sharon Siskin has an extensive national exhibition record, showing herwork in museums, galleries and public sites for more than 27 years. Sheis the recipient of awards and grants that include a Visual ArtsFellowship from the California Arts Council in 2003, the 2001 PotreroNuevo Prize, Noetic Arts Program Community Grant, San Francisco ArtsCommission Market Street Art in Transit Commission and 12 CaliforniaArts Council Artist in Residence Grants for community-based public artprojects in the San Francisco Bay Area AIDS support service communityand in the City of Berkeley homeless women and children servicescommunity. She was the Artist in Residence at San Francisco Recycling&amp; Disposal, Inc. in the summer of 2004. Her artwork has beenfeatured in numerous publications including Women Artists in theAmerican West, edited by Susan Ressler, Lure of the Local: Sense ofPlace in a Multicentered Society, by Lucy Lippard, ConnectingConversations: Interviews with 28 Bay Area Women Artists, edited byMoira Roth and Site to Sight, Mapping Bay Area Visual Culture, editedby Lydia Mathiews. She is currently Assistant Professor of Drawing at the University of San Francisco andco-directs with Professor Richard Kamler Arts Outreach: The Artist asCitizen, a year-long program which seeks to embed student artpractitioners into communities to collaboratively engage incommunity-based art. She has also taught as a member of the CoreFaculty as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Department of Arts andConsciousness at John F. Kennedy University and California College ofArts and Crafts, San Francisco Art Institute, California StateUniversity at Hayward and the University of New Mexico as well as atseveral California Community Colleges. She is a recognized leader inthe field of community-based public art and is the founder of PositiveArt in 1988, an art project in the Bay Area AIDS community continuingto provide a model for many communities internationally. She haslectured extensively in art colleges, universities, professionalconferences, galleries and museums throughout the United States.

Sharon Siskin has an extensive national exhibition record, showing her work in museums, galleries and public sites for more than 27 years. She is the recipient of awards and grants that include a Visual Arts Fellowship from the California Arts Council in 2003, the 2001 Potrero Nuevo Prize, Noetic Arts Program Community Grant, San Francisco Arts Commission Market Street Art in Transit Commission and 12 California Arts Council Artist in Residence Grants for community-based public art projects in the San Francisco Bay Area AIDS support service community and in the City of Berkeley homeless women and children services community. She was the Artist in Residence at San Francisco Recycling &amp; Disposal, Inc. in the summer of 2004. Her artwork has been featured in numerous publications including Women Artists in the American West, edited by Susan Ressler, Lure of the Local: Sense of Place in a Multicentered Society, by Lucy Lippard, Connecting Conversations: Interviews with 28 Bay Area Women Artists, edited by Moira Roth and Site to Sight, Mapping Bay Area Visual Culture, edited by Lydia Mathiews. She is currently Assistant Professor of Drawing at the University of San Francisco and co-directs with Professor Richard Kamler Arts Outreach: The Artist as Citizen, a year-long program which seeks to embed student art practitioners into communities to collaboratively engage in community-based art. She has also taught as a member of the Core Faculty as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Department of Arts and Consciousness at John F. Kennedy University and California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco Art Institute, California State University at Hayward and the University of New Mexico as well as at several California Community Colleges. She is a recognized leader in the field of community-based public art and is the founder of Positive Art in 1988, an art project in the Bay Area AIDS community continuing to provide a model for many communities internationally. She has lectured extensively in art colleges, universities, professional conferences, galleries and museums throughout the United States.

Interview with Sharon Siskin

"I believe color creates energy, and I believe energy creates inspiration, and then I think inspiration creates the change.  If you can create color, which murals do, then you're making a massive impact." ~ Ricky Lee Gordon Ricky Lee Gordon is a South African muralist and artist who goes by the name of Freddy Sam.  He is the founder of three initiatives.  The first is Write on Africa, a community art and inspiration project that creates murals and workshops in poor communities to uplift and inspire social change.  Their philosophy is, "Inspire ourselves to inspire others to inspire change."  The second project he founded and directs is A Word of Art, which includes an art space, art projects, and an international art residency program dedicated to celebrating new art and emerging young artists. The third is the Woodstock Industrial Center, a derelict industrial building in the heart of Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, where together with a willing landlord he has now brought in over 75 creative tenants. The building now has a coffee shop, skate park and bookshop, and hosts talks, exhibitions, movie nights, dinners and drawing evenings. Ricky Lee is one of three recipients of the 2011 AHN Awards.  The Arts and Healing Network is so impressed by his incredible creative vision and use of art to revitalize and transform his neighborhood of Woodstock. To learn more about Ricky Lee's work, please visit his websites at www.writeonafrica.org and www.freddysam.com. You can also read an interview by Arts and Healing Network Director, Mary Daniel Hobson, with Ricky Lee on the Arts and Healing Network.

"I believe color creates energy, and I believe energy creates inspiration, and then I think inspiration creates the change.  If you can create color, which murals do, then you're making a massive impact." ~ Ricky Lee Gordon Ricky Lee Gordon is a South African muralist and artist who goes by the name of Freddy Sam.  He is the founder of three initiatives.  The first is Write on Africa, a community art and inspiration project that creates murals and workshops in poor communities to uplift and inspire social change.  Their philosophy is, "Inspire ourselves to inspire others to inspire change."  The second project he founded and directs is A Word of Art, which includes an art space, art projects, and an international art residency program dedicated to celebrating new art and emerging young artists. The third is the Woodstock Industrial Center, a derelict industrial building in the heart of Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, where together with a willing landlord he has now brought in over 75 creative tenants. The building now has a coffee shop, skate park and bookshop, and hosts talks, exhibitions, movie nights, dinners and drawing evenings. Ricky Lee is one of three recipients of the <a href="http://www.artheals.org/projects/ahn_award.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2011 AHN Awards</a>.  The Arts and Healing Network is so impressed by his incredible creative vision and use of art to revitalize and transform his neighborhood of Woodstock. To learn more about Ricky Lee's work, please visit his websites at <a href="http://www.writeonafrica.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.writeonafrica.org</a> and <a href="http://www.freddysam.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.freddysam.com</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.artheals.org/ahn-awardee/ricky_lee_gordon.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">read an interview by Arts and Healing Network Director, Mary Daniel Hobson, with Ricky Lee</a> on the Arts and Healing Network.

South African Muralist and Artist, Ricky Lee Gordon

Susannah Conway

Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, she is currently editing her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unravelling the Heart, which will be available in spring of 2012. You can read more about Susannah and her shenanigans on her blog at www.susannahconway.com and connect with her on Twitter at @photobird

Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer and the creator of the <a href="http://www.susannahconway.com/e-courses/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unravelling e-courses</a>. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, she is currently editing her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unravelling the Heart, which will be available in spring of 2012. You can read more about Susannah and her shenanigans on her blog at <a href="http://www.susannahconway.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.susannahconway.com</a> and connect with her on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/photobird" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@photobird</a>

Healing with Photography: Interview with Susannah Conway

Kim Rosen

"When the inner and the outer are wedded, revelation occurs." - Hildegard of Bingen Kim Rosen is the author of Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words.  Combining her devotion to poetry with her background as a spiritual teacher and therapist, Kim has touched listeners around the world with poetry's power to awaken, inspire, and heal.  She gives poetry concerts, lectures, and workshops in the U.S. and abroad.  You can learn more about her work at kimrosen.net.  You can also connect with her on the Saved by a Poem Facebook Page, and on Twitter at @savedbyapoem. Some of the poems, poets, and books Kim mentions during the interview are:  Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman "Daddy" by Sylvia Plath David Whyte Mary Oliver Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God by Rainer Maria Rilke. Translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye

"When the inner and the outer are wedded, revelation occurs." - Hildegard of Bingen Kim Rosen is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saved-Poem-Transformative-Power-Words/dp/1401921469" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words</a>.  Combining her devotion to poetry with her background as a spiritual teacher and therapist, Kim has touched listeners around the world with poetry's power to awaken, inspire, and heal.  She gives poetry concerts, lectures, and workshops in the U.S. and abroad.  You can learn more about her work at <a href="http://kimrosen.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kimrosen.net</a>.  You can also connect with her on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saved-by-a-Poem-by-Kim-Rosen/129888213690273" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Saved by a Poem Facebook Page,</a> and on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/savedbyapoem" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@savedbyapoem</a>. Some of the poems, poets, and books Kim mentions during the interview are: <ul> <li>Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman</li> <li>"Daddy" by Sylvia Plath</li> <li>David Whyte</li> <li>Mary Oliver</li> <li>Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God by Rainer Maria Rilke. Translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy</li> <li>"Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou</li> <li>"Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye</li></ul>

Saved by a Poem: Interview with Kim Rosen

Liz Lamoreux

Liz Lamoreux believes in the importance of unearthing our stories so that we can see where we stand on our paths and where we want to go. She is currently sharing this inward journey through her new book, Inner Excavations: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media, the Be Present Retreats, and the stories she shares in her Etsy store, The Little Room. She lives in a little house in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, daughter Ellie Jane, and a golden retriever named Millie. In this interview by Britt Bravo, Liz speaks about the healing possibilities in art making, writing, group process and the importance of being present.  You can listen and subscribe to the Arts and Healing Podcast on iTunes.

<a href="http://www.lizlamoreux.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liz Lamoreux</a> believes in the importance of unearthing our stories so that we can see where we stand on our paths and where we want to go. She is currently sharing this inward journey through her new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Excavation-Exploring-Through-Photography/dp/1440303096" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inner Excavations: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media</a>, the <a href="http://www.bepresentretreats.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Be Present Retreats</a>, and the stories she shares in her Etsy store, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lizlamoreux" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Little Room</a>. She lives in a little house in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, daughter Ellie Jane, and a golden retriever named Millie. In this interview by Britt Bravo, Liz speaks about the healing possibilities in art making, writing, group process and the importance of being present.  You can <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arts-and-healing-podcast/id253197576" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">listen and subscribe to the Arts and Healing Podcast on iTunes</a>.

Inner Excavation with Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media: Interview with Liz Lamoreux

Jamie Ridler

Jamie Ridler is a professional creative self-development coach who is passionate about authentic living and creativity.  She is a certified coach who has a certificate in the Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy from ISIS in Toronto.  She also completed training in Body-Centered Coaching with Marlena Field, has a Blue Belt in Nia, and has an M.A. in Drama from the Drama Centre of the University of Toronto. You can found out more about Jamie at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca, and be sure to check out her fabulous podcast, Creative Living with Jamie. You can follow her on Twitter at @starshyne.You can listen and subscribe to the Arts and Healing Podcast on iTunes.

<a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jamie Ridler</a> is a professional creative self-development coach who is passionate about authentic living and creativity.  She is a certified coach who has a certificate in the Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy from ISIS in Toronto.  She also completed training in Body-Centered Coaching with Marlena Field, has a Blue Belt in Nia, and has an M.A. in Drama from the Drama Centre of the University of Toronto. You can found out more about Jamie at <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://jamieridlerstudios.ca</a>, and be sure to check out her fabulous podcast, <a href="http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creative Living with Jamie</a>. You can follow her on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/starshyne" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@starshyne</a>.You can <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arts-and-healing-podcast/id253197576" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">listen and subscribe to the Arts and Healing Podcast on iTunes</a>.

Be the Star You Are: Interview with Jamie Ridler

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