* Buddha Babes

The sculpture you see here is the original hand-painted clay figure I made for a series called "Buddha-Babes." She embodies the sassy-sacred nature I have come to know so profoundly through working as a therapist with high-risk, adolescent girls. She's a true-Vancouverite: an East-meets-West, urbanized, teenaged Kuan Yin who tests us with her naive-bravado yet inspires us with her staggering compassion and depth.

After creating her I found myself entranced by her image; she immediately became my own meditation-piece. I hired a professional caster to make a mold from the original (thanks Rod!) and then I cast her over and over and over. It was fun to arrange the B-Babes in different positions on my studio table; facing each other; facing away from each other; in a circle; in rows. They looked like a concrete-but-nubile army ready to be deployed on a mission. And off they went.


So now there are many little Buddha-Babes all around Vancouver, on the islands, down the coast, and across the continent. I like that. I like to imagine her sitting in someone's garden or looking down from a highrise balcony working her quiet magic. I want to anchor one onto a big rock down at beach here in Vancouver so that she can collect barnacles throughout the year. In fact, it would be great to place her in magical stumbled-upon locations all over the world...






Concrete Ideas















Concrete Ideas are just that: Ideas which have been solidified into actual concrete. You can't imagine how heavy my studio-garbage became during the experimental phase of my cement-craze!














The pieces posted here are candle holders from a series I made by pouring cement into retro-style cake-molds then 'icing' them with exotic bits of stones, metals, gems and jewels from my last incarnation as a jeweler. Most of this series was sold privately and through the Museum Shop at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Another creative spin off which developed from experimenting with concrete was the exploration of furniture and tile setting. Thanks to my father's happy and handy cooperation (thanks daddy-o!) we re-made several coffee tables using the same basic design ideas that came from my candle holders.

Using his carpentry expertise combined with my design skills, we turned several old tables into beautiful new ones. The tables were sanded down and then covered with broken tiles, pieces of my old jewelry and other fun little treasures I found hunting in thrift stores.

Above are two images showing one of our tables in my living room, as well as a zoom-image of a detail from that same table.

If you have an old table you would like 're-played,' I can give you pointers on how to do it. It's a lot of work, but it's a fantastic way to consciously and creatively re-cycle things. If you would like more hints and tips from the super-stars of the craft-world, check out the Super Naturale craft site. It's amazing and fantastic!

To return to the main menu and see other art work and creative links, click on 'Home' below.

* Cosmetic Brain Surgery

"Cosmetic Brain Surgery: A Book Designed To Change Your Mind--Not Your Body."

This is a book I have been working on for the past 6 years. The underpinnings of this work stem from my Master's Thesis, which was called "Body Of Evidence; Using Art Therapy To Uncover The Underlying Issues Of Anorexia and Bulimia." After writing my thesis and developing my private practice as a creative therapist and coach, I realized that women everywhere (not just those afflicted with eating disorders) were having trouble accessing their creativity and living happily ever after in their bodies. Therefore, I decided to write Cosmetic Brain Surgery as a remedy to the current body-altering-craziness that is happening to women everywhere. It's kind of like "The Artist's Way" meets "Bust Magazine."

To learn more about the book project or to read excerpts, go to A Blog Designed To Change Your Mind, Not Your Body!


To read another excerpt from my book as well as interesting articles written by, for, and about creative people, you can also visit Doug Eby's original and inspiring Talent Development site.

* Most Wanted? Most Needed!

The images here are of post cards I made under my alter-ego name of "Kay Sera".

Since 9/11 I have been sending them out online and have brought them to various conferences and workshops I have been involved with.

Right after 9/11, I felt compelled to add a counter image to the 'Most Wanted' image of Bin Laden that was popping up in newspapers and televisions all over the world. I wanted us to have another metaphoric image and phrase to contemplate. I wanted us to think beyond what and who was being tagged as "Most Wanted" and enter into an awareness of who and what was "Most Needed." I also wanted to address the rescue fantasy that was emerging in the collective consciousness of the West. But I needed to do this all with a sense of humor and playfulness.

With this said, the first postcard I made was a juxtaposition of Bin Laden with Wonder Woman. Under the image of Bin Laden it says "Most Wanted?" Under the image of Wonder Woman it says "Most Needed!" Then it says, in small print, "So sorry, but Wonder Woman is all tied up and unable to come to the rescue. However, you have your own super powers and your own truth lasso, so get out there and use them! xox Kay Sera"

The second postcard was a plea to show our humanity, our similarity, and our need to relate rather than divide. So, here Bin Laden is juxtaposed with a beautifully rendered model of DNA molecules.

Below the images and the corresponding text, it says, "We need a deeper realization of what connects us--not what tears us apart. .. xox Kay Sera "

The third post card shown here shows the "Most Wanted" image juxtaposed with a "Most Needed" brain. I wanted an image that would help people to use their power of reasoning, to see the hypocrisy in what was (and still is) happening. We need to do what our first ancestors did when they came down from the trees and stood for the first time on two feet. We need to stand tall and stay cool.

So, under the "Most Needed!" side of the post card, it says..."It's called your brain--specifically your neo-cortex. It's what gives you the ability to use higher reasoning. It's what separates you from the lower forms of life, such as fanatics, fear mongers, racists... xox Kay Sera"

There are 13 postcards in total--but I am only posting 3 here. If you would like to see more, let me know. And, don't be afraid to put your own whimsical thoughts and sassy-actions out there! The world needs your creativity more than ever.


For another creative project I did about human communication and creativity in times of upheaval, click on the Grief Works Website . If you don't know about it, it was a huge public art project called 'Creative Response' which I launched a few days after 9/11 in front of the art gallery here in Vancouver. I again thank everyone who was involved on that day... it was an amazing event.

Remain Fiercely Loving.

If you enjoy hand made postcards (in general) go to the Post Secret Site. Here you will find all sorts of human secrets and unearthed taboos put forth in post card form. A must see!

* At Home

For years I tried to keep all my various 'selves' and pursuits separate, but since making this site, I have come to see my life in a more gestalt-like way. I feel whole. I am all these people, all these abilities, and all these ways of being.

It's a gift to love drawing, designing, painting, sculpting, and creating visual works. It's a blessing to be able to play the drums, the keyboards, the guitar, and to be graced with the urge to sing and songwrite (and it's a thrill being super-sassy on stage)!

It's intellectually rewarding to have many years of education and to have earned degrees. It's stimulating writing articles and finishing up my book. It's soul-stirring to work with people of all ages as a therapist and life-coach. And lately, I love playing my new role of 'art dealer-slash-gallery-girl' at Winsor Gallery.

Although the jury is still out on whether I am blatantly unfocused or just really creative, I now see that it doesn't really matter. As much as I've tried, I cannot cut any of these artistic-expressions from my life. Nor do I want to. It's who I am, and therefore sharing it with others is what I must do. Hence the site.

Yet the boundaries of identity in modern life are blurring for everyone. Who are we really? What do we really 'do'. What do we want others to know (and not know) about our lives? What are we compelled to bare and hide? Are we 'too much' or 'not enough.' I am all for expression. But meaningful expression has to be done from a place of honesty and vulnerabitlity, not from an exhibitionist stance. It's about sharing our 'real' selves so that others may find comfort and liberation in doing the same.

With this said, at the top is an image of me 'at home' -- at home with myself; at home with my kitchen; at home with my talents and complexities, and at home with my age, my experience, and my place in the world. I hope you find inspiration here.

To go back to the full menu, click on 'Home' below. Then click on the postings under "MORE."