CURRENT MISSION

be open to life and synchronicity, challenge myself, grow more gardens, be compassionate and help others along the way

ABOUT ME

I'm an artist, have been for as long as I can remember. I love working with and meeting creative individuals, making things happen with them. I love to collaborate on projects, have done some international art projects too. I work with kids doing public art,especially love working with teenagers, I teach some of the time, grow food when the Chicago weather allows it, and spend time in my studio making art. I am pretty high energy but also like time to just pause and be still. Chicago has been my home for a long time, also I lived in Italy. Have traveled some, love meeting people from other places, I hate racism of any kind.I love dance, music, culture, nature. Am starting to travel more again, want to push myself to learn new things in the world. am mildly outdoorsy, probably more urban, looking to re-balance that. I am open hearted and open minded.

PHILOSOPHY

I strive to be honest and clear and compassionate. I believe there is always more to learn in life, and I am humbled and filled with amazement at the grace that is available to me everyday. The smallest things are often the most profound. Be content with what I have, avoid grasping behaviors, really send loving energy out to the world. Try to be kind. And receptive. I do not take life for granted.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surfed in New Zealand and have been hosting for several months...love meeting all these great people from all over the world

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Heard about it from a friend who used CS in New Zealand, now I am going there. So it seems like a great option to meet folks and see life from a variety of perspectives. I am thoroughly digging it and have met some awesome people so far!

Interests

Arts of all kinds, music, eating foods from everywhere, travel, biking, walking, swimming, books, film, meeting new people. I'm interested in other people's stories, their lives, I love to listen. Making crazy connections between things. Good wine, warm weather, healthy ways, yoga, helping people, mentoring young artists

• cats
• arts
• culture
• books
• dancing
• dining
• wine
• yoga
• walking
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• cycling
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

Recently heard an explosion of new reggae, pushing the genre open. Love my local musician friends and their work, jazz, African and Brazilian music. Prefer non commercial films, documentaries, recent favorites I've seen are Malena, Central Station, Gomorrah. Just read The Book Thief, Potiki, and Just Kids, and read a lot of artist's biographies, short stories, history.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Seeing my cat give birth to eight kittens. Watching the moon rise over a mesa in the middle east, a huge red ball of light.

Teach, Learn, Share

I think exchange begins with listening, and asking questions with an open heart, being non-judgemental, having humility in life and gratitude and sharing that. I've learned from so many people how to be stronger, seeing what others have gone through. I have a lot of practical art knowledge about mosaics. I love to learn about other cultures and their arts and music and hope to do that on this next period of travel.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

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