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Guest Occupation: Artist and Community Organizer
Guest Biography:

Selected from a national pool of artists to lead a guided walk in Washington, D.C. Feb. 6, Mary Clare Rietz — a fine arts student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture Arts and Planning — will address the issue of D.C. statehood. 

The College Art Association (CAA) selected Rietz and one other artist to put together a guided walk that will take place during the College Art Associational Annual Conference.

Rietz plans to showcase the movement for statehood in D.C. by breaking it down at federal, local advocacy and eventually individual impact levels. Areas and local guides along the route will represent these levels of engagement.

Mary Clare Rietz - Who Is She?

My background in community organizing combines with my art practice to fuel a strong interest in engaging with people and materials in what I term aesthetic action. At the core of my work is an aesthetic of relationship.  I am most interested in creating opportunities for people to connect who otherwise would not, or I use materials to show connections among people – and dis-connections – that might otherwise go unobserved.

My work begs the question, “How is ‘connection’ defined?” I address this in my art in two ways – first, with my own understanding of “connection,” and second by including in the design of my works ways for participants to define connection for themselves. As I see it, connection among people exists along a spectrum: from simply being together in person, in body, in the same place at the same time; to having a casual conversation; to having a more in-depth, intellectually, emotionally, politically, or spiritually engaging conversation; to approaching and breaching perceived barriers to understanding and sharing experience, even if that means risking conflict; to sharing an experience of being in active, perhaps even seemingly un-resolvable conflict. And in all of these there are scenarios where the connection is short or longer term. My work addresses various points on the continuum.

I work at honing the craft in the people processes that I design and facilitate. This calls for as much aesthetic attention as the object making I do – there is a careful assemblage, sculpting and shaping that is required for artful, effective human engagement. Questions I ask at the start of any work: To what performance of cooperation or interaction am I inviting people? Whom will I invite, and why them? What will most allure participants? What does the work offer to non-participant viewers? Scoring an interaction in the Fluxus tradition is something I have recently added to my practice – simple text that invites and gives guidance but also leaves room for participant improvisation, even fulfillment of the work completely independent of me as the initiating artist.

And I ask: What materials will I use? I do not work in any one specific medium; the envisioned interaction drives decisions about what needs to be made, of what, and how, and often the making is collaborative. My goal for the objects I design and make and the digital media I use is that they support, and conceptualize, the associated social participation. In this way, I hope that they can both be useful, and stand alone as conceptual pieces.

Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Fine Arts Degree at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning (DAAP), University of Cincinnati. A lifelong Ohioan, I have lived in Cincinnati for twelve years, with my husband Mike and our teenage daughter.

Guest Category: Arts, History, Politics & Government, Spiritual, Variety
Guest Occupation: Mural Painter, Creative Artists
Guest Biography:

ALEX COOK

Since 1997 Alex Cook has created over 110 murals in 15 states and 4 countries (USA, Kenya, Nigeria, Guatemala). Alex’s work focuses on community and spiritual themes expressed through nature imagery and storytelling.

In 2004 Cook founded Art Builds Community, a mural painting program for teenagers in his hometown of Boston, MA. ABC hired teens during summers, teaching them the skills of mural painting and creating many murals in the neighborhoods of Boston and surrounding areas.

Over many years Cook has taught art and creativity to children and adults in many different situations ranging from alternative high schools and court-ordered community reintegration programs, to after school programs and summer camps.

His work in education and the powerful experiences of creating art in public have caused Cook’s artwork to become deeply social. Many of his mural projects include community participation during which community members are invited to make their contribution to a larger artwork within a structure. For Cook, painting is only half of the art – the other half is creating environments in which community members feel the love of connection and creation. Past collaborations have been with community groups, schools, churches, prisons, youth organizations and many more.

Cook is also an inspired musician. Between 2008-2013 he wrote and recorded 5 albums of original Bible-based music and performed over 200 concerts in the US and abroad. Cook has brought his music ministry to churches, community centers, prisons, homeless shelters and street festivals.

Between 2007-2014 Cook served as a chaplain at the Nashua Street Jail in Boston, MA. There he led groups and individuals in Bible study, prayer, and gave pastoral care to detainees.

One of Cook’s current endeavors, the YOU ARE LOVED mural project, makes murals whose image is simply the words “YOU ARE LOVED”. It began as a mural message to students in an elementary school in New Orleans, LA, and has grown into a project working with communities all over the US to influence public conversation about self-worth and value.

Learn More About Our Guest Alex Cook at: www.stonebalancer.com and www.youarelovedmurals.com

Guest Category: Arts, Beauty, Visual Arts, Philosophy
Guest Occupation: songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist
Guest Biography:

ALEX PAINTER

From the banks of the Mississippi to the streets of Los Angeles, songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist Alex Painter reflects his multicultural background by creating a collection of storytelling songs bathed in the flavors of soul, funk, dub and electronic sounds.

Alex Painter paid his dues on the road and in the studio with the bands Sinister Dane, Section 8, Vehicle, Famboey, The Peak Show and Onostatic. Following this run he released his solo debut The Joyful Process. Currently he continues to write and perform his own material as well as collaborate with other artists.

Guest Category: Arts, Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Vocalist
Guest Biography:

MARISA RONSTADT

Marisa Ronstadt, from Phoenix Arizona and a performer since the age of seven, has musical tastes that are rooted in mariachi, R&B/soul, and rock, but like many Mexican-American’s raised in the U.S., her influences range from Lola Beltran and Pedro Infante, to The Beatles and Marvin Gaye. Now Marisa calls Los Angeles her home.

In Los Angeles she has developed ties with major local talent such as GRAMMY® award winners Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez of the band Quetzal, Los Lobos, David Gomez and Jeremy Keller of the band Monte Carlo 76, R&B/Soul sensation Aloe Blacc (“Wake Me Up” and “I Need a Dollar”), and the singer-songwriter/rapper Maya Jupiter. In 2009, Marisa recorded and released an album as the lead vocalist for the band Monte Carlo 76 titled Marisela, produced by Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez. After touring with Monte Carlo 76, she began songwriting with band member Jeremy Keller.

Guest Category: Arts, Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: American pop songwriter and composer
Guest Biography:

CHASE BELL

Chase Bell is an American pop songwriter/composer who performs his original cinematically driven pop music in LA with his sister Emma Bell and virtuosic violinist/film composer Darius Campo. Chase has also performed in Europe and Africa with his Rock/Pop band in Italy Chase Bell & White Licorish, as the Lead Singer.

In 2015/2016 Chase released a 3 song cinematically inspired pop EP called “Whatever Love Means.”

Currently Chase and Darius are performing in LA and finishing another cinematically driven EP featuring female pop singers.

Learn More About Chase Bell at:

https://chasebell.bandcamp.com/releases

Chase Bell & White Licorish website:

https://www.facebook.com/Chasebellandwhitelicorish

https://twitter.com/chasebellmusic

https://www.youtube.com/user/cbellandwlicorish

Guest Category: Arts, Performing Arts, Music
Guest Occupation: Author, Speaker, Theorist, and Professor of Mathematics
Guest Biography:

Jay Hall is Assistant Mathematics Professor at Howard College in Big Spring, Texas. He has a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Oklahoma. Hall has 53 credit hours of Science courses in various disciplines. He has taught at the High School, Technical School and Community College levels. He also has experience in the actuarial field for a number of insurance and consulting organizations.

Hall has previously published Calculus is Easy: https://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Easy-Jay-Hall-ebook/dp/B00B3YWYNI/182-5965211-3145837?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 and has a paper on MathWorld:

He is also a proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

You may contact Jay Hall at YoungEarthScience@yahoo.com

Guest Category: Earth & Space, Education, History, Physics & Metaphysics, Politics & Government, Science, Self Help, Spiritual, Technology
Guest Occupation: Healer, Master Craftsman
Guest Biography:

In 1983, Jeff began an active search for more spiritual connections to life, and was introduced to Reiki trainings. The following year began a two decade immersion into a Bhakti Yoga meditation path, profoundly transforming his inner landscape. In 1997, Jeff learned the Merlin based lineage of VortexHealing, and mastered those skills quickly.

By now his own innate power to heal began to evolve, along with a developing awareness of galactic presence. A deep longing pulled him daily into this great expanse, further pushing the boundaries of his awareness. An inner dialog had begun, from which Jeff came to intuit his own healing discipline, and multi-dimensional understanding of reality. This conversation continues, as the ongoing work of our universe unfolds and each of us plays our part.

It is Jeff's wish to share his gifts of transformation and healing at the fundamental levels of our human experience through the Heart of Oneness. It is time.

A creative master craftsman, Jeff lives in southern Arizona. With 3 decades working in both custom furniture and cabinet shops, Jeff is accomplished at most phases of kitchen remodeling. His work has included full kitchen/bath design, cabinetry installation, fabrication and installation of solid surface countertops. Currently, Jeff works a kitchen/bath field measurer. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the California College of Arts and Crafts, Jeff went on to expand his talents into welding kinetic sculpture and nature drawing.

 

Guest Category: Arts, Design, Earth & Space, Energy Healing, Yoga, Spiritual, Meditation, Psychic & Intuitive, Theory & Conspiracy
Guest Occupation: Soul Doctor: healer, teacher speaker and intuitive coach
Guest Biography:

Hi! Welcome! My name is Juleann Bukovchik Boyce and I work as a Soul Doctor, and dedicate my life to be in service to humanity as a healer, teacher, speaker and intuitive coach. I am an instrument of the Divine, who it is really about, who has blessed me with abilities that allow me to channel the power to heal anything as well as help people discover, increase and expand their innate abilities to the highest and best possible levels.

I give and teach alternative medicine through the science of supernatural soul healing. Healings can be given in person or long distance to anywhere on the globe for any problems including ones that even medical science cannot diagnose or heal. I also teach how anyone can self heal and help others heal too through the power of truth and love in action utilizing the empowering ancient tools passed down through a lineage of the highest eastern masters over thousands of years including Sri Sai Kaleshwar, Shirdi Sai Baba, Venkusa, Ramana Maharshi, Paramahamsa Ramakrishna in this last century along with others, through two millenniums ago and beyond with Jesus, Buddha, Babaji and many more.

In addition to giving healings and teaching this supernatural science, I am an intuitive coach and speaker and share privately and publically about my direct transformational experiences in witnessing to the impossible made possible. I help inspire others to uncover, discover, and grow the power and abilities seeded in each person. For the power of one contains the power to change the universe.

I do not take any credit for the miracles that flow through me. Countless people have and continue to experience supernatural healing that some people call medical miracles. My mom was healed of cancer because of these techniques through a distance healing Kaleshwar did with her, inspiring me to study the science of the soul and earn the equivalent of a Ph.D. as a Soul Doctor in India and then give healings, teach, and coach and empower others with these tools to transform one’s life and the lives others.

I have more than 20 years of training and experience. I earned my certification and learned how to transmit divine energy as a Soul Doctor under the tutelage of my friend, brother and guru, saint Swamiji Sri Sai Kaleshwar from Penukonda, India over 7 years. He always gave credit to his master, saint Shirdi Sai Baba who he said is a grandfather to all people. My education in the Soul University with Swamiji in India and the USA was preceded by some years with Isis in an Egyptian Mystery School, and 12 years of intuitive coaching training in the healing arts by working for and with master Mona Miller. I also consider my decade of time working primarily as an auditor for the Big 4 Accounting firms and traveling the globe serving Fortune 5 and 100 company accounts as part of my education. Above all, I am blessed with my first teachers, my loving and faithful parents who taught me through their actions. My father and mother are high priests to me and I love them deeply – my dad literally is a married priest and my mom was a nun and I have happily been raised with the belief that the highest calling is to serve others. I am blessed and ever grateful to all the bright angels in my life who have helped mold me and continue to teach me through infinite love.

One of my dreams that is coming into fruition now is the establishment and building of an international community meditation + healing center and gardens in Los Angeles, California that feeds the hungry and honors the highest heroes and masters who had and have the courage to stand for truth, love, right action, peace and the unity of all religions. If you would like to join me in the co-creation of this center, I invite you to contact me and share what you would like to contribute to further expand the co-creation of this center.

Namaste

Guest Category: Health & Lifestyle, Alternative Health, Kids & Family, Philosophy, Psychology, Mental Health, Personal Development, Spiritual, Psychic & Intuitive