HealingInColor
MariaTavarez
Maria Tavarez was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Grew up as an only child of both parents in the South Bronx and attended Monroe College for her undergraduate in Hospitality Management. After moving to North Carolina in 2015, she pursued her MA in Health Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.
Maria Tavarez is a self-taught abstract expressionist artist, drawing inspiration from renowned figures such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Paul Cézanne. She has refined her technique and skills through workshops with Eric McRay at Raleigh's C-MAC and Peter Marin at the Diamante Cultural Center. Maria's preferred mediums are acrylic, spray paint, coarse texture paints, and charcoal.
Maria is the business manager for The Resume Fix and serves on the planning committee of two nonprofit organizations, Griot and Grey Owl the Black Southern Writers Conference and Art for All-NC. She has contributed to the recent group exhibition, “The Weight On My Shoulders” mental health exhibition at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner and the Oberlin Library in Raleigh, NC. Maria is currently completing a fellowship with Diamante Arts & Cultural Center in Raleigh, NC and will complete the fellowship with a group exhibition in November of this year.
As the Lead Outreach Liaison for Art for All-NC, Maria focuses on making art accessible to all communities regardless of their means. Her artwork centers on mental health awareness, utilizing cubistic, impressionist, and expressionist styles to convey powerful messages. Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Maria V. Howard Art Center’s Juried Art Competition 2023, the Art Gallery of Moore County 2023 Fine Arts Festival, VAE Arts Organization Raleigh, Casa Azul of Greensboro’s Latitudes of Afro Latinx Art 2023, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, and Drinking Gourd Gallery
Continued
My work is deeply rooted in the journey of selfdiscovery. Through my art, I aim to unpack and translate the complex emotions, feelings, and traumas that have often gone unresolved. Each piece serves as a cathartic exploration, allowing me to confront and express the depths of my inner experiences. My goal is to create a visual language that not only communicates my personal struggles but also resonates with and inspires others to reflect on their own emotional landscapes Through abstract forms and vibrant compositions, I seek to transform hidden pain into visible beauty, inviting viewers to join me on a path of healing and understanding.
Tipsforhealing&innerpeace
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Dig deep into Your Why: Reflect on your current situation and what led to it
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Forgive yourself first and foremost for decisions made at the time you made them.
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Be unconventional with how you seek help, try something new. Find resources that you personally have never used before: books, podcasts, counselors, friends, or family.
"The Art of Self-Therapy" by Nick Trenton: Don't Be Fooled by Everyth
Break the cycle of not talking. Talk about your feelings as opposed to the problem. For example, Money. "I feel stressed, anxious and sad about not being able to participate in an upcoming event because I can't afford it". In this statement, I have expressed my feelings not just the problem. This is an ongoing process for me, expressing my feelings has never been easy. By writing it, I am reiterating what I am still working on in hopes of helping you do the same
A quote from a group discussion on art, “The diving inspiration of the arts is the source of reflection touching the heart. We all create on and from our own levels, from different talents and from different abilities”.
Artist Spotlight: Kirsten Moore
