An Abundant Life - Art And Wellness

For a number of years now I've been developing community based projects and programs that bring Art and Health and Wellness together. It was something that just seemed to flow naturally together in so many ways, and over the years even when I didn't quite understand how it was going to work, I felt that God would keep opening doors and introducing me to people to keep me going in that direction.

When I received information a few months ago about and Arts and Well-Being Convening in Newark, New Jersey, it was so exciting to see that there were actually people around the country and on very high levels in their fields who saw the value in bringing these topics together. The cost of the three day convening and events and workshops, though well worth it, was higher than I could afford, though, and when I saw that there were scholarships that were being made available through partnering organizations, I decided to apply and see what might be possible.

I was so very greatly blessed to be awarded a scholarship to attend, and it made me feel so affirmed in my own professional life. It was so exciting to receive the news and it felt like a beautiful gift was being bestowed on me. I knew it would be an experience that would be a beautiful and inspiring one.

From the moment I arrived at NJPAC where it was being held, wonderful things began happening. I met someone as I was walking in the door who recognized me from YES Gallery, and she and I began speaking immediately about a project that I am just in the beginning stages of developing around this topic. Over the next days and hours so many wonderful people spoke on panels and shared inspiration in conversations, and the meetings that I had were filled with wonderful people sharing knowledge and resources and insights. Bringing people together in this way brought so many ideas and so much exciting inspiration all together, helping each one of us to share and expand our own vision of what healthy communities filled with art and design and beauty, healthy food, well being and sustainability can look like, and how we can come together to share our own journeys of creating spaces and places and projects overflowing with wellness and art.

At Nico At NJPAC

For The Opening Night Celebration

Of The Arts And Well-Being Convening

https://www.njpac.org/nico-kitchen-bar

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Neighborhood Makers

A number of years ago when I lived in New York City's SoHo, I met a beautiful creative woman, Danielle Nazinitsky, who put together fun community events in the area, in a similar but different way than I was at the time. I had been creating collaborative events with Artists, Designers, small business owners, restaurants, galleries, performers, Filmmakers, Writers and Actors, and she was bringing people around to different events on tours and meetings at galleries and in creative spaces. We connected on so many creative levels and one of the ways that I remember her the most was the fun and joy and generosity of spirit that she brought into every place she was.

A few weeks ago I received an email from her that she was hosting a luncheon and panel for creatives at what was described as a Design-rich loft in Dumbo, featuring women in a variety of different fields who were all juggling families and careers, motherhood and their creative lives. She titled it along the lines of having it all, and when I saw the description and name of this event and that she was hosting it, I knew I had to go. With everything that's been happening and so many things going on, an afternoon like this seemed like just the kind of joy filled time of inspiration and togetherness that I needed.

When wonderful spirits like Danielle bring people together, the combination of beautiful environments, creative inspiration, fun, and very heart felt, meaningful conversation make what could be just a nice time together into something memorable and life affirming. I'm so grateful to have known Danielle all these years and to have the opportunity to attend an event like this one that brought us together in community and reminded us that our neighborhoods are special because of the people around us who create and make times like this possible for all of us to enjoy.

A Gorgeous Afternoon

Lunch And Panel

Hosted By The Gorgeous

Danielle Nazinitsky

https://decodenyc.com/danielle-nazinitsky

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Encouraging Design

This past week I was blessed to attend an event at Lixil Water Experience Center in Manhattan celebrating the group of Designers who had been invited to join the ICFF Launch Pad. As described on the ICFF website, Launch Pad is "Where emerging designers shape their future, spark meaningful connections, and set the foundation for lasting careers". I had known the evening would be a lovely and inspiring one, but it was even more than that. The environment of the Lixil Water Experience Center is gorgeous and inspiring all on its own, filled with wonderful design and ideas from a variety of manufacturers, and the focus of the evening being on these wonderful emerging Designers and this wonderful program brought a feeling into the room of the promise of so much possibility and joy.

There was a baby in the room, a very young child who was with one of the attendees, and in at least one of the videos I created that evening in that beautiful space, the child's laughter and calls can be heard in playful sounds that somehow fit into this exuberant and fun filled evening. As I walked around within the space and later listened to the panelists as they discussed their work and the program, I found myself feeling congratulatory towards everyone in the room. It seemed as if we were all their together celebrating something so special, the history of creativity and design and innovation that leads each one of us forward in our own projects to create and learn and share and collaborate as we envision the way that we want to make things that are beautiful and inspiring for others and to share inspiring art and design in collaborations and individual works that illuminate and uplift and grow each one of us into a healthy and holistic community, knitting together our shared history, vision and inspiration for the future.

It's with so much gratitude to Lixil Water Experience Center, ICFF and Dwell Magazine that I thank you for including me in this truly special event, and I extend that gratitude to everyone who gave their time and gifts to us all that evening. Bravo to all of the emerging Designers and to all of the wonderful people involved in this beautiful program and heart felt thanks for this beautiful event that brought so much encouragement to the design world on every level.

ICFF Launch Pad

A Celebration

At Lixil Water Experience Center

155 Fifth Avenue

New York City

https://lixilwaterxnyc.com

https://icff.com/launch-pad

Blessings,

Jannie Susan