Interview with Valorie Creef of Arttoweardiva

Above: "Peace is Beautiful" by Arttoweardiva

What issues are important to you?

The heart space, keeping it open and clean and interconnected with body, mind, and the divine cosmos that swirls around us, flowing in and out of us with every breath.

How is the idea of activism apparent in your art?

My medium changes often, spontaneously and sometimes literally with the wind. Like grabbing a song floating by on a warm breeze or being inspired to write a short story about a face in a crowd. My organic vegetable garden was not only a labor of love but an opportunity to get connected in a very intimate way with the Great Holy Mother Gaia. It gave me a chance to sink my toes into her soft slippery mud and ground myself in the healing peace that is always there, the garden knows no other language. In a very practical sense it allowed me to share an unbelievable amount of fresh, wholesome food with my family, friends and neighbors, yes I am very popular in my neighborhood!

Above left: "The Everything Ecology Tote Bag" by Arttoweardiva

Out of the garden flowed a series of small "Earth Prayer" collages with themes of Peace, recycling and "one world" interconnectedness. Since having survived the "dark night of the soul" many years passed now, I have never taken the presence of Peace in my life for granted. It is singularly the most precious of things and I am grateful for every drop that finds it's way to me. About three years ago I originally asked myself “what can I do to encourage Peace in this dusty little high desert town?” “How do I put Peace in front of people?” The answer was to make Peace bags, and have everyone walking around with this sacred symbol draped about them. Symbols are so subliminal and speak to the unconscious taking it to that place deep within our souls which never lies and so Art to Wear Diva was born.

Do you think political and environmental issues can be effectively addressed in art?

Art has always been political! Even to the point of what has been allowed to be painted.

The great masters were very subliminal for this reason. Leonardo da Vinci for instance used symbols in his images with deep philosophical meaning, such as Masonic signs for the subconscious eye to consider.

Right: "The Organic Hemp Bag" by Arttoweardiva

Which artists do you admire who have an activist agenda?

Jakob Dylan's lyrics on his CD, "Women and Country" are stark, beautiful and fierce in it's renderings of the plight of the working class in this country and its humiliating rape and economic dismantling by the corporate greed mongers.

My son Ryan Williams aka Cosmic Blacksmith, Recording Artist, Screenwriter, Photographer and Psycholinguist.

Also, the Northwest Earth Institute.

Tell us something about your process of creating?

It always begins in the heart and usually blooms in full technocolor in some outlandish dream, then gradually winds itself through the body and out through the hands.

What is the name of your etsy shop?

arttoweardiva