Beyond the Medium: Teaching Artists Who Hold, Heal and Lead

Beyond The Medium: Teaching Artists Who Hold, Heal and Lead is a series of conversations and art pop-ups spotlighting teaching artists, practitioners, and artist mentors who incorporate CYD practices and values in their work as artists and educators. CYD values and practices include, but are not limited to: youth voice, social justice, racial equity, collective action, cultural responsiveness, spaces of bravery and belonging, and mentorship. Artists of all creative mediums are invited to share their work, teaching practice, projects related to CYD, and engage with attendees in an open discussion. We welcome anyone to join us for these conversations who is:

• A teaching artist, practitioner, mentor, artist, or educator who is interested in learning about CYD
• Interested in learning about the artist/educator perspective of those who serve and partner with youth through CYD practices

Upcoming Featured Artists:

Victor Castañeda H

Victor Castañeda H is a San Diego based artist that works in sound, video, coding, VR, installations, and performances. Focusing on themes of the mundane, and the fallacies of re-remembering to create new narratives and fantasies. Combining installations with performances of field recordings through live-coding or dj sets. Utilizing everyday materials in his installations from paper mache, fabric, and house paint. Victor has performed at The Brown Building, Two Rooms, Light Box Theater, MCASD, and California Center for the Arts Escondido. He has also shown at Harvest and Gather , ICA San Diego, Two Rooms, and Oolong Gallery.

Yvette Roman

Yvette Roman is a fronteriza artist, curator, and educator dedicated to making art accessible through community collaboration. Her practice and memory work explore collective memories, oral histories, and traditions, deeply influenced by the borderlands of San Diego and Tijuana. Yvette leads workshops and reflective circles to build community archives and uses a multimedia approach to preserve and share history. Yvette is the recipient of Far South/Border North; Cuentame, Park Social; Collective Memory, Art for Planetary Health; Letters to Mother Earth, and is the founder of Art Through the Glass, Residencia Ranchito Aurora and Cr34tive Gathering.

As a Teaching Artist, she developed curriculums and taught various mediums at A Reason to Survive, Outside the Lense, The San Diego Museum of Art, Sherman Heights Community Center, Museum of Photographic Arts, Arts Education Connection, Villa Merced, Las Colinas Detention Facility, East Mesa Detention Facility,  Space 4 Arts, and the San Ysidro School District.

Join us for the second conversation on Tuesday, November 11th starting at 6pm, in heARTSpace, 3619 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92104

Past Featured Artists:

Ellie Cruz

Ellie is an Artist Mentor at The David’s Harp Foundation. Starting as a student in 2022, she is now on staff mentoring youth at the DHF studio with a focus on digital arts. She uses her craft as both a creative outlet and a tool for mentorship, guiding students through the full creative process, often creating self-portrait stickers with them using software on iPads. An artist for as long as she can remember, Ellie harnesses the power of art to build meaningful relationships and inspire the young people she works with.

Jesús Villegas

Jesús Villegas is a creative entrepreneur, video producer, and co-founder of the BizPod program at The David’s Harp Foundation. Starting as a student in 2018, he went on to launch Warehouse Media Productions, growing it to over $60,000 in revenue by its second year. Today, as Lead Content Creator at DHF, Jesús mentors youth—many transitioning from juvenile hall—using video and photography as tools for empowerment and leadership. His portfolio includes work with Sony, SDG&E, the San Diego Foundation, and the City of San Diego, spanning corporate campaigns, nonprofit documentaries, and community initiatives. Deeply rooted in his community, Jesús is passionate about turning creativity into opportunity for the next generation.

Sheena Rae Dowling

Sheena Rae Dowling (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, sculpture, and installation. She holds an MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute and a BFA in Painting from San Diego State University. She has shown her work throughout the United States and in Mexico. With over 20 years of experience teaching art in classrooms, museums, non-profits, private studios, and galleries, Sheena is committed to using art as a tool for healing. She has done extensive work independently and through partnerships to provide art services as a means to process trauma, sharing tools that can be used for healing and emotional regulation. She is trained in healing centered engagement, trauma informed care, conflict resolution, and restorative justice. She currently teaches at A Reason to Survive, Arts Education Connection San Diego, women’s treatment facilities, and various other non-profits.

The first conversation was held on Tuesday, September 2nd at 6pm, in Cafeina Cafe, 4011 46th St., San Diego, CA 92105