A Talk with Creative Warrior: Amy Baca Lopez

I learned of local artist Amy Baca Lopez' work while having coffee at Lestat's on Park Boulevard in San Diego. I remember falling in love with the colors, the energy and the spirit of the many paintings that were all around the room.

Amy and I met today to discuss what I feel is a very exciting and liberating life of her design. I felt grateful to meet her and learn about her inspiration, motivation for painting and her commitment to authentic self-expression.

Amy appears to be inspired by many facets of life -- from the work of Spanish masters such as Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudi and Salvator Dali, as well as children's art, music and graffiti.

I was surprised to hear that Amy had only been painting since 2009. She ran a successful graphic design business for over ten years and started painting only after a trip to Spain. During her trip she trekked over 300 miles along the beautiful Camino De Santiago.

~ Appreciating Life's Rhythms.

As Amy took her time, exploring and appreciating the gifts of the journey, she found something magical in walking and the balancing that occurs when we walk. She described it as a balancing of the system. She covered 20 miles daily -- walking approximately 8 hours.

At times, she says she wanted to give up and take a bus because walking is so slow. However, she began to think about and appreciate the slowness of walking as opposed to the quickness of a bus ride. She compared this experience to her desire to paint versus time spent on the computer creating graphic designs.

Prior to the trip to Spain, Amy suffered from carpel tunnel syndrome in both arms. She credits her trip and the walking experience to her healing.

When Amy returned to her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she was motivated to paint and found that she had the courage to show her work to others. She "just went for it," creating art and submitting pictures of her work to cafes and galleries for consideration. Her work was quickly accepted for a show in a cafe where twelve of her pieces were displayed.

Amy eventually moved to San Diego where she has been a featured artist in numerous shows. She credits her transition from her graphic design career to a full-time painter to the book *The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron, which encourages creative expression through writing and various exercises toward a focused outcome. (*Interestingly, I've been working with this book for the past seven weeks and would agree that it definitely supports the process.)

Amy is also heavily inspired by music and receives shapes, colors and visions through songs. She also receives fresh ideas through exercising, her gym workouts and by consistently breaking routines and visiting new places -- things that are also encouraged in The Artist Way .

Check out Amy's work at numerous upcoming shows in San Diego including the South Park Walkabout on December 1st; The Mission on University Avenue; Lestat's (Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue locations) as well as Tazzo D'Oro in Little Italy.

"Every artist needs an audience." - Amy Baca Lopez

Local Nonprofits Use Food and Creativity while Addressing Sustainability

What a wonderful summer full of inspiration and positive changes we have had in San Diego. Here is an update on organizations that are doing amazing work with a health and sustainability-oriented focus.

I had the pleasure of attending the “A Taste of Summer,” the nonprofit Ecoffiency’s San Diego event and meeting with nonprofit co-founder Chrissy Gray to discuss the event, program mission and goals for the future. Ecofficiency, an Orange County-based organization runs a few projects and highlighted its program, “Positive Plate” which expanded to include Carlsbad at the beginning of the year. Its mission is “to inspire an ethic of responsible lifestyle choices and individual actions that result in positive impacts on society and the environment.” In preparation for its introduction to San Diego, Ecofficiency selected two San Diego-based nonprofits as benefactors for its collaboration: Olivewood Gardens and San Diego Hunger Coalition. Gray states that the goal was to continue to grow deeper relationships with both entities through involvement in this event.

The event was held at San Diego's Liberty Station on a Friday evening and was sustainability-themed including chefs from San Diego-based restaurants Alchemy, Café Chole, Carnitas, Casa de Luz, and Gabardine. Each restaurant created unique appetizers and small plates; all dishes were created using local and organic ingredients. Attendees enjoyed local wine and craft beers while enjoying local art and learning about other sustainability driven businesses and organizations. Ecofficiency focuses “on the demands and actions of individuals…yet only with the goal of contributing to a larger grassroots movement that demonstrates and demands change.” I felt that their San Diego event was a great way to introduce their concepts as well as encourage the local community’s support and participation.

Through the Positive Plate program, Ecofficiency works with restaurants in Orange County and San Diego to implement sustainability plans addressing areas such as product sourcing; energy and water efficiency; recycling and waste reduction; employee training and development as well as community engagement. The restaurants that are part of their programs are generally part of the community events that they create. I asked about the organizers’ observations, processes and challenges in the planning of an introductory event in a new community and new companies. Gray states she researched organizations to find out the best match for their mission and hopes to strengthen relationships with partnering organizations and businesses on the last event. Some of the challenges were a lack of volunteer assistance as well as funding and sponsorships. In their first San Diego event, Ecofficiency was able to generate $5,000 for their nonprofit, promote local businesses and donate ten percent of their proceeds to the participating nonprofits.

What’s Next for Ecofficiency: “Taste of Fall” is scheduled for Thursday, October 18, 2012 with more dynamic restaurants where attendees can experience unique small plates created by conscious Orange County chefs and using local and organic ingredients. Tickets are $65. For more information see www.ecofficiency.org. By Brigitte Taylor on Twitter @SuiteBrigitte

There Is Magic In Every Day!

The year is coming to an end and I am taking the time to bring closure to projects, reflect, pause and give thanks for all that has occurred and all that is occurring. It is a time of abundance as we create, expand and receive the blessings that are constantly available and pouring forth with this new year!

As Christmas and holidays quickly approach, I am in deep gratitude for the friendships that I have established as well as the individual empowerment and community efforts to which so many are committed across the globe. As we plant our seeds and trust, we often know that things are underway even when we do not see immediate results or a complete plan.

I have been working on a few writing projects this year. One of them is the book, There's Magic In Every Day which was co-written by Chase Steele Greye and me. This book honors the beauty of our power as creative manifestors on this planet and the willingness to go for a dream. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me to be able to work on a project like this with someone as creative, visionary and risk-taking as Chase.

The book is available and for sale online and I hope you will pick up a copy and share it with your friends and family. Completing this book has only given me more fuel that I will inject into other areas of my artistic life. I intend to use some of the proceeds to assist in the work that I intend to do in Africa with refugees communities.

What are you working on? What are you creating? Well, I am here with you, giving thanks for the vision that you are receiving, even before you may see it materialize.

What I have heard many say, really is true: anything is possible!

Best wishes to you always and Happy New Year.

Next Sweet Indulgence Happy Hour at Wine Cabana: November 18th!

Sweet Indulgence Happy Hour at the Wine Cabana

6:00 p.m. ~ 8:30 p.m.

Wine and Reflexology/Chair Massage Combinations

Intuitive Readings with Anya

Muscle testing and health information by Acupuncturist AMERICA!

Prizes!

Spa Packages

A perfect place to mingle, network and meet friends.

Indulge. Relax. Have Fun.

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Wine Cabana

2539 Congress Street

San Diego, 92110

In Old Town