There are few things I love more than interviewing an inspired artist to explore his or her unique attitudes and identities. Recently, I sat down with Judith Essex, an Expressive Arts practitioner and Director of Expressive Arts Institute in San Diego, Ca. Judith applies art-making as a tool to help people create change, growth, and healing. Before getting into Expressive Arts over 40 years ago, Judith used to be a performance artist, and now she mainly considers herself a teacher and art maker at the institute. With a deep and dynamic presence, she is playfully attuned with the feelings and gestures that arise. During our conversation, we talked about the idea of to make art is to be human, commitment to an aesthetic life, and how art making creates a sense of sustenance…
