CE artists participate in Creative Growth’s Visiting Artist Program

Creative Growth invited Isaac Haney-Owens and Melody Lima to share their art for their Visiting Artist Program.

CG’s Visiting Artist Program, organized by teaching artist Kathleen Henderson, connects Creative Growth artists with artists practicing in other centers or practices, to exchange perspectives and share their work. While studios remain closed, the program has provided a platform for our community of artists to meet each other and share their art virtually.

CE artist Issac Haney-Owens was the first CE artist to participate in August of 2020. He discussed his wide range of work, including digital artwork, photography, and his ongoing practice of creating miniature dioramas of vintage signs. Haney-Owens shared details about his artistic and curatorial journey, his advocacy work as a board member of Golden Gate Regional Center, and even offered some words of wisdom. Haney-Owens stated, “We all experience doing art in a different way. We just need to give everyone the chance to show what they can do.”

CE’s first artist, Melody Lima, gave a talk to a growing group of CG artists and staff in January of 2021. Lima told the story of the first piece she ever made at CE over 30 years ago – a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge. Lima also told the story behind one of her most widely-loved pieces, an epic collage of hand-drawn cutout portraits of CE artists and teachers arranged in concentric circles. Lima explained, “I went to each student and drew every single one of their faces and what they were wearing. That took me a long time to do!”

Special thanks to our sister organization Creative Growth for including CE artists in your program. What a great way to connect artists across the Bay!

Issac Haney-Owens answers questions from CG artists

Melody Lima talking about the first piece she ever made, a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge

Melody Lima with her epic collage featured at Art Changes Lives 2018