CATHERINE HART – 2019

I had the privilege of being raised with a lot of creativity around me. My father is a wonderful artist and he approaches every situation with the mindset of what can we create? I also went to art camp for many summers as a young child and was exposed to every creative medium you can think of. I saw life as a creative collaboration. My upbringing and tendency to thrive in the arts brought me to art school at California College of the Arts and Crafts. From there I have spent my entire career in art fields from managing an art supply business, teaching art, leading community based art collaborations, large scale murals both nationally and internationally, all while continuing to develop my own voice as an artist with over a decade of work.
I honestly believe art makes people less alone. Art fills in the gaps we don’t know how to express. I remember my first experiences with art vividly: whether it be a painting that caused an emotional response or a song that hit me in the gut, or a dance I did that gave me a respite from constant anxiety. Art hits you in a place that expands your sense of the universe, of who you are, and of what is possible. Whether I am leading community projects getting others to find their voices through art, or working on my own personal pieces, the intention is the same. It’s to connect to the great creator within. Because we are co-creators of our universe, we must connect to how much power we truly have to shape reality. Art helps us tap into the vast resources available within us and can be the connective tissue for this vast web of life.