Art Sisters Podcast

Join Valentine as she talks to Ilze Egle about how growing up with the shift from the Soviet Union to an Independent Latvia stirred something within. How that search for something more led her to a monastery in France on her way to carving out her path as an artist and arts educator, and much more. www.ilzeegle.com@ilzeegleart@artconnectwomenwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the Show.

In episode 6, Valentine interviews artist and educator Yvette L. Cummings.  Yvette opens up about her path, the process of leaning into her vulnerability, the layers of meaning and significance in her boldly patterned, colorful work, and much more.She received her BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design and completed her Masters of Fine Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati's School of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning in 2003. Cummings is currently Assistant Professor of Visual Arts in Painting/Drawing at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. Her work can be found in both public and private collections and has been exhibited in multiple group and solo exhibitions throughout the south and mid-west. Cummings has been featured in the 701 Center for Contemporary Art South Carolina Biennial 2015 and 2019 in Columbia, SC, winner of the 2016 701 CCA Prize for artist under 40 in South Carolina, as well as Contemporary South at Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, NC.  Most recently she was one of 65 artists chosen for The Mint Museum's Coined in the South Exhibition 2019. www.yvette-cummings.com/wpwww.instagram.com/yvettelcummingswww.artmumsunited.comwww.instagram.com/artmumsunitedwww.instagram.com/artmumseuropewww.facebook.com/artmumseu/www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MUYN33NSPUTB4Support the show

Community, collaboration, mentorship, grant writing, public art, inspiration and more! Listen in as Valentine interviews artist, arts educator, and friend Isadora Stowe as she shares how she doesn't just fit it all in, but maximizes every moment to fuel her creative practice!Isadora Stowe is a multi-media American visual artist whose artwork focuses on the narrative of environment translated and coded into complex psychological landscapes. Her strong interest is in visual narratives, created out of symbolic code, or personal syntax, that explore memory as it relates to the construction, negotiation and interpretation of the sense of self.Stowe grew up in the southwest border region, living and working in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. She credits these experiences with a heightened awareness of geographical and political boundaries; and a fascination with the exploration of identity of self in her work.www.isadorastowe.comwww.instagram.com/isadorastowewww.facebook.com/isadorastowewww.artmumsunited.comwww.instagram.com/artmumseuropewww.instagram.com/artmumsunitedwww.facebook.com/artmumseuhttps://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MUYN33NSPUTB4Support the show

In episode 14, Valentine asks Emily Moores about the way her art transforms lives through playful engagement. Can the presence of artwork decrease the amount of medication a patient requires during a hospital stay? Can a whimsical installation stir affect? Listen in as Emily shares her experience.Emily is a visual artist living and working in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her work consists of hand-cut and ornately layered materials, which create both wall works and large scale installations. Emily's work investigates the playful engagement of the body as essential to understanding and experiencing spaces or objects.Emily was selected as one of the Women to Watch 2020 by the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery in collaboration with the Ohio Advisory Group of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She created 'Let's Celebrate,' a large scale installation consisting of wood, paper and fabric. Emily earned her BFA from The Cleveland Institute of Art in 2008 and her MFA from The University of Cincinnati in 2014. She has shown her work regionally and nationally, including the Akron Art Museum (OH), the Contemporary Arts Center (OH), the Ruffin Gallery (VA), the Loudon House (KY), and the Dougherty Arts Center (TX). Emily Moores was a recipient of the Ohio Cultural Arts Individual Artist Award, the Summerfair Individual Artist Grant and the ArtPrize Seed Grant.   www.emilymoores.comwww.instagram.com/emilymoores_artwww.artmumseurope.orgwww.artmumsunited.comSupport the show

This is definitely our longest episode to date, but it's simply packed with wonderful conversation with the always inspiring Andrea Ehret! Andrea shared openly about the connection with her Slovak roots, family, and natural environment, collaborations with other artists in Prague and around the world, making artist residencies work, performance art that combines dance, music, poetry, and painting, even her energising experience working with a London gallery. Valentine and Andrea also share heartfelt, raw conversation about their experiences managing artistic life with international musician partners, charity work, and so much more!Andrea Ehret's ethereal paintings draw on her studies of Art and Art Therapy practice, using intuition, expression and gesture as tools for self-transformation. Each of Ehret's paintings follows the flow of energetic light and shade to create a balanced, harmonious, meditative whole. In this way Ehret considers the act of painting to be a healing process.Her intuitive approach is influenced by Eastern philosophy.  Ehret considers each painting an expression of an inner world – a meditative process in which the paint is layered with her own internal charges depicting her emotions and feelings. These conflicting emotions coalesce in painterly abstract creating cosmic dreamscapes. Each painting offering a dream-like experience.Andrea Ehret studied at Prešovská Univerzita in Slovakia and Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, in the Czech Republic. She has been included in numerous exhibitions in US, NYC,  UK, London, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Prague and Italy and collected heavily internationally. Ehret has also been the recipient of awards including The Red Dot Miami Award , GlobalArt Awards Tokyo, Caravaggio International Prize Master of Art, Milan , etc. Also in 2021 & 2022 she was selected as an artist-in-residence at Chateau d'Orquevaux, France as part of the Denis Diderot Grant Award. 19 solo shows, international exposure. Her art works are part of private collections all around the world; e.g. Netherlands, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Russia, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, USA, etc.www.instagram.com/andreacircleswww.instagram.com/artmumseuropewww.andreaehret.comwww.artmumseurope.orgwww.instagram.com/artmumsunitedwww.artmumsunited.comSupport the show

Join Valentine as she talks to Allison about how she found the confidence to push out of her comfort zone and start believing in her work. She unpacks the journey that took her from Pennsylvania to Seattle (soon California) and the ways that coaching and supportive community enabled her to let the joy back into her thriving art practice. Allison Rohland is an American painter whose work represents the integration and celebration of the fragmented parts of ourselves. Since 2014, she's instructed artists with intellectual disabilities and Autism, and been honing her own craft. Her body of work consists of emotive abstracts using bold texture and color through mixed media. Her work has shown internationally as well as on the East and West Coast of the US. She currently works out of her home studio in Seattle, WA. www.allisonrohlandart.com@allisonrohlandart@bellavalentinaartwww.artmumseurope.orgwww.artmumsunited.com@artmumseurope@artmumsunitedSupport the show

Stephanie Barbetta is a truly dynamic international artist from Geneva, Switzerland. Valentine and Stephanie discuss both philosophical and practical components of her work. Here's a little taste of the topics and experiences they discussed in episode 21.She always found a refuge in words. As she says, "writings take care of what bodies fear: caresses and blows. Words materialize my sensations and weave a skin that is put outside my mouth on pages. I've studied philosophy and literature in Arts Faculty at the University of Geneva to grasp myself through texts and to penetrate and analyze others' language, in their sinuous paths. I became more and more attached to styles of writing, as well as to individuals because I felt an authentic discourse that revealed rich inner lands. However, my studies lacked the body. Theatre made me realize that my body spoke more than my words in a language that no one could translate, including me. Dance and performance sketched inimitable movements. The scores can be reproduced indefinitely, but the embodiment changes each time and it's this uniqueness that animates me. During my professional training as an actress at the Geneva Conservatory and at the Ecole Supérieure des Teintureries de Lausanne, encounters with artists such as Frédéric Fonteyne, Gian Manuel Rau, Emilie Blaser, Marco Cantalupo, Olivier Dubois, Jean-Baptiste Roybon and Massimo Furlan have carved rich inner grooves. The body in space is essential to me. My visual influences converge as much with Sophie Calle, who transcends private space by immersing the public, as with Spencer Tunick, who saturates public space with a crowd of individuals, blurring the boundaries between private and public. The art in which I identify myself is an art that gives an equal importance to places, objects, lights and people, whether this art is performative, choreographic, cinematographic or theatrical. I created the substance brute project from what I call Traum-a, a place between dream (Traum) and trauma. The result is a raw, unaltered material, bringing together my creations in various artistic fields."@substancebrutewww.substancebrute.com@artmumseuropewww.artmumseurope.org@artmumsunitedwww.artmumsunited.comSupport the show

Join Valentine as she gets to know an incredibly inspirational mother of three who does it all while creating community and maintaining her own art practice. Shannon is such a talented, passionate, and experienced artist and arts educator. That passion led this New Yorker to found the Institute For Visual Arts Los Angeles a community based space to serve preschool through high school students, as well as adults. Be sure to check out this episode for a kick in the ARTist way! This one is packed with so many great tips and anecdotes about doing the work and being the hero of your own story!@shannonraefinckewww.shannonraefincke.com@bellavalentinaart@artmumseurope@artmumsunitedSupport the show

Join Valentine and Camille as they dive openly into the behind the scenes of building a cohesive practice as a multipassionate artist. Camille Myles is a French-Canadian multi-disciplinary contemporary artist and conservation activist exploring imagery that is grounded in our identity and reflects our impacts on the environment. Working in public art, painting, sculpture and installation, she creates art that tells a story linked to community connection, self-reflection and the restorative effects of nature. She received her BFA in Sculpture & Installation at Ottawa University and her MA in Heritage Conservation at Carleton University. Marrying her passion for conservation and art, she has worked as an archaeologist, in artist-run centres, the National Art Gallery in Ottawa, ICCROM in Rome, Canada's National Trust and was a Park Superintendent at Parks Canada. Myles has exhibited extensively including Quest Art Gallery, Ottawa Art Gallery, BHA Gallery, Arts Mums United, Visionary Art Collective, Arts to Hearts Project, PxP Contemporary, Ottawa Art Gallery, Gallery 115, among others. In 2022, she was invited in 2022 to join the International Broken Forests Art Collective. She has been awarded an art residency in June 2022 at Studio H Canada in Victoria BC where she developed her new painting collection of “Crying Landscapes” - a plea for change as well as “I Stand Alone” an interactive drawing installation which has being exhibited at Quest Art Gallery in August-Sept 2022. Being drawn to the power of public art as a social community conversation, the artist has been creating murals and large-scale public art sculptures in Midland and in Penetanguishene. Her work has been featured by the Art Seen Magazine, Jealous Curator, Toronto Star, Create! Magazine, Visionary Art Collective, Arts to Hearts Project, Women United in Art Magazine and podcasts including Arts Mums United, Hot Mess to Awesomeness & CFRH. She's won the Diamond Jubilee Medal and finalist of the Canadian RBC New Painting Competition. She's a founding artist member of the Art Queens and The Works by Erika B Hess from I like your Work. Originally from Gatineau, Quebec, she now lives along the shores of Georgian Bay, in Tiny Ontario with her husband and three young children.www.camillemylesart.comwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Join Valentine and Atlanta, Georgia based, Leslie Anne as they dig into the behind the scenes. Leslie shares about the benefits of staying open and seeking collaboration with other visual and performing artists, and trusting what feels good. Her intuition leading her into claiming her unique space as she creates her art world.Leslie Anne is a self-taught contemporary artist based in Atlanta, Georgia by way of East St. Louis, Illinois. Leslie describe's her work as emotionally expressive, colorful, conceptual, and Afrofuturistic. Her art is inspired by prominent themes in her own life, like motherhood, race, relationships, gender, and personal expression. She uses bold contrasting elements to create interesting mixed media works; usually featuring bold colors, glitter, and visions of the sky like clouds and stars. By looking at the art, her hope is that you will find a sense of interconnectedness with all. And ultimately explore more of yourself. Making art is like opening a portal and letting pure creation manifest. I am intentional about centering Black people and women in my pieces as a way to celebrate our culture and beauty with nuance. I want to show Black subjects as inherently valuable and worthy of being admired, which is often why my work incorporates crowns and gold elements. My art is as much about the process as it is the physical piece, as creating art opens the space for me to explore myself. I create self portraits as a way to honor my feelings and memorialize that specific time in my life. I'm inspired by the beauty and personal expression of Black people. My references are often individuals from my own life or intriguing images of Black subjects that inspire me in some way. My intention is to give the subject honor, express emotion, and showcase their humanity. In addition to painting, I create collage style digital artwork, incorporating photography, color, glitter, and lots of layers.  @myleslieanne@bellavalentinaart@artconnectwomen@artconnectsociety​Support the show

Valentine speaks with dear friend Marianna Jimenez Edwards. Marianna has developed a clear voice and vision for her work over the years. She shares about the hard work she's putting in and how being specific about how you share and where you show up can support you in your goals. Frequent trips to stay with family in Mexico exposed Marianna to the roots of her Mexican culture. Curiosity to investigate and create was nourished by her family. She studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, receiving a BFA in Painting.Further awareness of her indigenous heritage and Chicano culture blossomed during art school. Also, during that time, visiting her grandmother's village in Oaxaca and various archaeological sites in Central Mexico and Chiapas on separate occasions transformed that awareness into the passion and central ideas for her work.After art school, Marianna taught drawing and painting at two separate private studios. One of those studios belonged to classically trained, Venezuelan artist, Conchita Firgau, which led Marianna to want to explore a blend of Western realism and Pre-Columbian themes and subject matter. The drips, lines, and marks explore ideas of the fraying of time woven into a sense of existing within two different and distinct cultures. www.mariannajimenezedwards.artwww.artconnectsociety.com@nanachicanaart@bellavalentinaart@isadorastowe@ellenburginSupport the show

Valentine interviews talented San Francisco based painter and dear friend Ellen Burgin. Ellen talks about the impact of growing up in the South and how it has been woven into the fabric of her life, the importance of her daily practice- even in the so called quieter periods of her life, the role of community and tips for identifying and settling in to your creative sweet spot. Ellen Burgin is an abstract artist who works in a variety of mediums on paper and canvas.  Burgin's paintings can be found in the permanent collections of two museums: The Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama and the Alexandria Museum of Art in Louisiana. She exhibits her work nationwide–most recently in the 35th Annual Northern National competition in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and the Valdosta National in Valdosta, Georgia. Burgin's paintings are included in the publications Artists of the Bay Area and Wild Lands, curated by gallerist Jen Tough. Burgin is the recipient of several grants and awards for her work, including a Wake County Regional Artist grant and a Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency grant. She received a BFA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and attended graduate school at Louisiana State University on a teaching scholarship where she received her MFA. Born and raised in Marion, North Carolina, a small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Burgin has called San Francisco home since 2006.@ellenburgin@bellavalentinaart@artconnectsocietySupport the show

The Art Sisters dig into Valentine's husband Jan Svihaleks' path and how that led him to Hill Country Blues and finding his niche.Recently, Jan assisted in managing and producing Kristi's EP album, Becoming Memories, and continues to be a musical mentor for her.Brno guitarist, singer, composer, and lyricist, Jan Švihálek. In 1995, he founded Hoochie Coochie Band, which is still active today, based mainly on the legacy of urban blues of the '50s. In the 1990's he was firmly rooted in the Brno experimental underground, participating in the Anna Burešová project. From 2006-2011, he was the guitarist for Nuck Chorris Gang, combining blues, hip hop, and rock into an energetic and humorous mix. Since 2015, he has led Band of Heysek, focused on original work influenced by the rawest offshoots of American blues, especially contemporary electrified similar so-called hill country blues from the Mississippi region. The group debuted in 2017 with the album, Shovel & Mattock, followed two years later by I'm Glad I Met You. In the spring of 2020, the album, Juke My Joint, was released. It was recorded with the legendary guitarist and singer RL Boyce, who was nominated for a Grammy in 2018. The highly acclaimed album, Bad Ideas, was released in Spring 2020, on which Švihálek's songs with Band of Heysek are played by guitarist Kenny Brown. Recently, he's been involved in creating music for film, including for the award-winning indie film Zvik Je Zelezna Hul from FoxyMon Production. In his non-musical life, Jan Švihálek is the director of the prestigious private school International School of Brno. He guest lectures on the history and presence of blues music at the Philosophical Faculty at Masaryk University.Listen to Band Of Heysek Herewww.indies.euwww.fatpossum.comwww.tinyurl.com/ArtSistersPodcast@artsisterspodcast@kristilei@bellavalentinaartSupport the show

Curious about how a song is built? Is there a formula? Is it gradual process? How does journaling play in? Kristi unpacks and plays pieces from a new song she's working on as she and Valentine explore the meaning of "Home." Join them as they contemplate the symbolism behind Bedroom Set.www.tinyurl.com/ArtSistersPodcast@artsisterspodcast@bellavalentinaart@kristileimusicSupport the show

This special episode of the Art Sisters Podcast takes place at the Bella Valentina Artist Residency that took place this weekend in the Czech Republic. Valentine shares in conversation with Laura Hanganu, a talented and widely collected abstract artist who shares openly about her creative path. She describes the behind the scenes of her vulnerable journey and how she copes with the emotions surrounding creation, feedback, and criticism in order to develop a sustainable art practice. www.laura-hanganu.art@laura.in.art@bellavalentinaart@artsisterspodcastwww.tinyurl.com/artconnectsocietywww.tinyurl.com/artsisterspodcastSupport the show

Join Valentine and Kristi as they sit down with Andrea Ehret, a painter, art therapist, and mother based in Prague to share experiences in building a sense of security while navigating the art world. From finding financial stability to stealing moments in the day to breathe, paint, and create. Andrea and the Art Sisters try to figure out how to not overfill their cups. How does inner confidence and security affect your art practice and business? How do you give yourself and your family enough energy while still doing all of the things? Andrea's meditation process is deeply connected to her ethereal paintings and work as an art therapist.Find out more at www.andreaehret.com or @andreacircles.www.artconnectsociety.com@artsisterspodcast@artconnectsociety@kristileimusic@bellavalentinaartSupport the show

Take a listen to a quick conversation between Valentine and Kristi (plus two surprise guests) all about prepping for a show! The Art Sisters dive into what it is like to connect with a multilingual audience, how they mentally prepare for a show, publicize it, and so much more!@artsisterspodcast@kristileimusic@bellavalentinaartwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Camille Myles is an inspiring multi-disciplinary contemporary artist and creator of public art working and living in Tiny, Ontario. She's a conservation activist and brings this perspective to all her projects. Camille joins the Art Sisters to unpack what it looks like when we trust our value and acknowledge the importance of priorities in order to set healthy boundaries in our art practice and business. They share lots of practical tips as they dive through burn out, developing a gratitude practice, financial planning, and more!www.camillemylesart.comwww.artconnectsociety.com@artsisterspodcast@camillemylesart@bellavalentinaart@kristileimusic@artconnectsociety@artconnectwomenSupport the show

Join Kristi, Valentine, and Ecuadorian figurative painter, lawyer, founder of Female Artists Oslo and Female Artists Nordic, and mother of three, Paulina Ree. The women discuss and share deeply personal examples of doing the hard internal work in order to prioritize your art practice, family, and mental health. Join us in unpacking self-advocacy, boundary setting, and the role villages play as we dive into the messiness of life, creativity, and inspiration.Support the show

Take a listen to this special episode with inspiring Ukrainian artist and mother of two, Oleksandra! With some laughs and tears, we dive into her art journey following the start of the war and her new relationship with art in her temporary home in Sweden. She was awarded an artist residency through the SWAN residency network, specifically the Artists At Risk Network, who provide emergency residencies for artists displaced by war. Her strength is unrelenting as she seeks ways to seize her power, channel her anger, and support the war effort. We discuss the core emotions behind ones' art practice, especially in a time of desperation and change. Oleksandra unpacks the process of finding the power to fight through her work, and how that was made possible with the help of friends and community. www.instagram.com/yelnartwww.etsy.com/shop/yelnartwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Valentine and Kristi sit down with Jess Burchett, American singer-songwriter and mastering engineer. They talk through the process of building up your career around your passion. Jess walks us through the engineering side of music and how this aspect of music making has combined with her passion for writing songs. The three women discuss the importance of collaboration, criticism, and the boundary between work and self. You might even learn a thing or two about sound engineering spa treatments! Get inspired to accurately and honestly express your true artistic style. www.jessburchett.comwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Valentine, Kristi, and multidisciplinary visual artist Klara Siska sat down for a warm, connected conversation highlighting the critical need for each of us to trust and lean in to our gut, try new things, and cooperate openly within safe spaces. Klara, has been an instrumental founding member of the Art Connect Society community since its inception as the Mama Create Collective, co-organizing and taking part in many exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations over the years.In this episode, we unpack the dynamic and freeflowing creative journey Klara embarked on in the Czech Republic that includes a painting practice, a graphic design business, performance art, jewelry production, Shamanistic teachings, music, and so much more! She opens up about her time in the Fine Arts Academy and how it shaped her in unexpected ways. Join us for a behind the scenes conversation among friends. Klara studied Painting at SUPŠ in Uherské Hradiště and Performance Art at FaVU in Brno. Her collaborative project Brno Tiskne aims to create a space for experiments in graphic techniques and a place where we can lead others to their own creativity. She creates jewelry from brass, semi-precious stones at SHINEme minerals.www.klarasiska.czwww.artconnectsociety.com@artsisterspodcastSupport the show

What led these two hardworking striving artists, sisters in Nigeria to found an international art magazine? What was the best bit of advice given by a MOMA consultant during Matilda's artist residency? Let's dig into the raw behind the scenes. We battled a power outage during the recording, nevertheless persisted and are delighted to share this honest and open conversation with you all.www.artconnectsociety.comwww.thehutsmagazine.com@artconnectsociety@artconnectwomen@thehutsmagazineSupport the show

Join us for this incredibly fun and inspiring conversation with KAT FURTADO! Valentine connects with Kat, a dynamic multidimensional contemporary mixed-media artist from San Diego, California. Furtado is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with a Master's of Art in Communication Science and Disorders. Her background as an SLP informs her work as an artist. Storytelling, emotions, and recurrent themes of humanity are woven with care into her ethereal, abstract artwork. She shares about how community supported her in clarifying her work and vision. We discuss micro-adjustments that can help you connect with collectors, make a positive impact, and so much more!@katfurtado @bellavalentinaart@artsisterspodcast @artconnectwomen @artconnectsociety www.artconnectsociety.comwww.katfurtadoart.com#artsisterspodcast #arttalk #artpodcast #katfurtado #artconnectwomen #artconnectsociety #artconnect #bellavalentinaart #valentinesvihalek #womenartistsSupport the show

“You can plan out success, but you have to leave room for the magic.” What is it to facilitate community and connection? Dive in to some inspiring examples of real life superheroes? Or maybe just artists putting in the work? ;)  “Experiencing things is the most important thing and to learn and to know about yourself.”@artsisterspodcast @artconnectwomenwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Join Valentine and inspiring Dutch artist Ellen Holleman as they unpack small but mighty steps toward a more conscious practice and living.In their fun and inspiring conversation, they explore differences in environmental factors, some practical steps for making incremental sustainability shifts in the studio, the concept of doing the least harm, presenting visual narratives in a way that open dialogue from a non-judgemental wonder perspective, even the ways that how we move about the world foster different types of engagement and attitudes toward and with life and living. Take a deeper look at the mindful exploration of the urban landscape, its people, places, and moments @ellen_holleman.  www.ellenholleman.nlConnect with our platformwww.artconnectsociety.com @artconnectwomen @artsisterspodcastConnect with Valentine@bellavalentinaartSupport the show

Leila Angelina Freiburg put her longing in a tiny box, until she realised she could break the stereotype in herself that an artist was someone who only concentrated on his/herself. The belief that being an artist meant taking the art more seriously than the needs of ones family. Realizing that taking time for her art was an essential part of meeting her basic needs, she never looked back. “I thought, I decided to become a lawyer. And, my impression of a lawyer was someone who was straight and tough and clear. Well, I am, but I also can be emotional and intuitive and empathetic, which is something I am…. It makes me whole as a person.”For those who are on the edge of their journey, wearing many hats with all the responsibilities they bear, or just looking for an inspirational voice for building your world the way you feel whole, have a listen as Valentine and German artist Leila Angelina Freiburg discuss her journey toward becoming…“My pictures tell stories visually. Stories of vulnerability, strength, emotions and personal growth. Every picture is a journey and a very intense, personal process. For me, painting is like an intensive, loving conversation about the big topics in life.”#artsisterspodcast #arttalk #artconnectwomen #artconnectsociety #voicesofwomen #bellavalentinaart #leilaangelinafreiburg@artconnectwomen@artsisterspodcast@bellavalentinaart@leila.angelina.artwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Welcome to Safe Spaces, an initiative by Art Connect Society dedicated to fostering community engagement through contemporary art. Our mission is to facilitate meaningful dialogues within circles of women, mothers, and caregivers, shedding light on unseen scars while nurturing tolerance, understanding, and solidarity.A behind the scenes look, we've curated a diverse collection of voices from our community, offering insights into our shared experiences and journeys. Join us in this movement towards connectivity and empowerment.  Opportunities wait for you as well! Apply for our upcoming Prague exhibition on our website, www.artconnectsociety.com. Additionally, mark your calendars for our upcoming event, "HAPPENING," taking place on August 20, 2024, in Kumst, Brno. Stay tuned for the release of our new book and much more!Join us in shaping a world where art serves as a catalyst for positive change.@artconnectwomen@artconnectsociety@bellavalentinaart@artsisterspodcastEpisode Featuring@adiosalasfresas@isadorastowe@lenka_daviesova_art@leader_ista@lucie_svoboda_art@nicol.francis.drawings@helenalnenickova@kristileimusic@malenkaarankaSupport the show

The Safe Spaces Project continues to make strides in our mission to facilitate meaningful dialogues within circles of women, mothers, and caregivers. Our aim is to illuminate unseen scars while fostering tolerance, understanding, and solidarity. To further this cause, we've partnered with Rosa Centrum Pro Zeny to raise awareness about domestic violence and support their projects, including the Rosa women's shelter.In this episode, Valentine is joined by two remarkable activists, Branislava Vargova Marvanova and Martina Hronova from Rosa, Prague. They will share insights into their services, thoughts on the current state of women's rights, operational details, and the importance of their support network.Join us in our movement towards connectivity and empowerment. Apply for our community on our website, www.artconnectsociety.com.Additionally, mark your calendars for our upcoming event, "HAPPENING," taking place on August 20, 2024, in Kumst, Brno. @kumstbrno Stay tuned for the release of our new book and much more!Join us in shaping a world where art serves as a catalyst for positive change.@artconnectwomen@artconnectsociety@artsisterspodcastEpisode Featuring@bellavalentinaart@rosacentrumAnd a shoutout to our @kristileimusic for our inspiring jingle!Support the show

This special episode of our podcast was recorded during the Safe Spaces intensive week in Brno, where our first series of events took place. We invite you to listen in to the panel discussion held on August 21, 2024, exploring the "Roles and Responsibilities of Women within the Home and Work Environment."Moderated by Valentine Svihalek, contemporary artist and founder of the Art Connect Society, this discussion aimed to empower and support women in all aspects of their lives. We were honored to feature a distinguished panel of experts:PhDr. Branislava Marvánová Vargová, head of the professional social counseling service at Rosa Centrum Pro Ženy, who shared invaluable insights on women's rights and support services.Andrea Ehret, an artist and art therapist, who offered a unique perspective on the transformative power of creative expression.Andrea Tkačuková, CEO of Foreigners Group, who highlighted the challenges women face in the business setting and their roles within organizations in a globalized world.We kick off the episode with a brief reflection by Valentine and Kristi Lei. Then, join us as we reflect on the evolving roles of women, the challenges they encounter, and the strides being made toward greater freedom and empowerment in a raw and open conversation between women. As we look ahead, mark your calendars for the next step in the project: Safe Spaces International Prague, featuring artists from around the world, on November 7 at Gram Prague. Together, let's continue to elevate the voices of women in our community!www.artconnectsociety.com@artconnectwomen@artconnectsociety@artsisterspodcastSupport the show

Join Klara and Valentine as they take you behind the scenes of the groundbreaking Safe Spaces project. They'll share insights on the community's incredible progress, some challenges they've faced, and what exciting next steps lie ahead. Get ready for an inspiring conversation that highlights the power of collaboration and innovation. Stay tuned as we begin to unveil www.safespaces.art! @safespaces.art@bellavalentinaartKlara Siska & Valentine Svihalekwww.safespaces.artwww.artconnectsociety.comSupport the show

Join Valentine, Ivana, and Andrea as they dive into the evolution of SafeSpaces.Art. In this episode, they discuss its mission and introduce one of their latest projects, "Traces of The Unseen." Led by artist and art therapist Andrea Ehret and neuroscientist and photographer Ivana Dostalova, this initiative features ten women and uses body calligraphy and therapeutic photography to bring visibility to lived experiences. Join the conversation!A special shoutout to Kristi Lei for our mood-setting Art Sisters jingle.@safespaces.art www.safespaces.artFeaturing: Valentine Svihalek, Andrea Ehret, Ivana DostalovaSupport the show

Join Valentine and Klara for a networking invitation and as they unpack the topic for the upcoming Safe Spaces Exhibition! YOU HAVE TO BE A PRINCESS TO BE A QUEEN. How do you feel it? Join the conversation!@safespaces.art www.safespaces.artA special shoutout to Kristi Lei for our mood-setting Art Sisters jingle!Featuring: Valentine Svihalek, Klara Siska at Vitom BrnoSupport the show