We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle “Mimi” Rossi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mimi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Am I happy as a creative? I can say that I am at by best when I am creating. To me, happiness is not constant; it is moments in time, moments in the day, moments in life. Creating brings joy and purpose to my life, and that makes me happy.
Having a regular 9-5 job brings a sense of stability. You know that as long as you put in your time and do your job, you will have a paycheck. It’s trading time for money. And that’s ok, I have done it before and I might have to do it again. The difference is the work I do now doesn’t always result in a paycheck, but it does reward me. Sometimes it’s with money, but always with a warm feeling in my soul. I do what I do because I want to, not because I have to. Sometimes the financial instability is also what drives me to make sure my vision continues to grow and flourish.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have created art as far back as I can remember. Growing up as an only child I was surrounded by adults. Fortunately, my mother and father were artistic and shared their talents with me. My mom would sit and draw with me, and my father painted in oils, so I learned that as well. I found that art was something I loved to do, and I could also entertain myself.
As I stated previously, I feel I am at my best when I am creating. I actually believe that we all are. What that looks like is different for each of us, and I want to help others in any way I can to bring that out. I love this quote,
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I founded California Creative Arts (CCA) while I was with another art organization. As the president, I came in with a lot of ideas and was shot down on almost every one of them. I discovered that some organizations are happy to stay as they are, with value, but stagnant. I decided I wanted to create an organization that would bring more opportunities to artists, and that’s just what I did. Within the two years since I founded CCA, we have grown to over 150 active members with continuous exhibits and opportunities to showcase and sell their art.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of what I do is the ability to uplift others; to give artists opportunities they wouldn’t normally have. It is my vision to help artists have more income opportunities, and it is our Director of Development, Stefanie Girard’s vision to place art in public spaces – make it more seen and accessible to everyone. It’s the perfect combination to bring both of our visions into reality. The team at CCA is continuously finding new and unique places for our members to display and sell their art. This includes banks, theatres and office buildings. I am not aware of any other art organization that does this.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
2020 was a challenging year for many. A lot of people suffered. I empathize with those that suffered but am grateful to be able to say I wasn’t one of them. That year, when everything was shut down and you couldn’t go anywhere or do anything, I never felt so free. I had the freedom to wake up every morning and do what I loved to do. I didn’t have to go anywhere – no 9-5 job, no social obligations, there was nowhere I had to be, but present. I was able to shift my priorities and start something new. That year I really was able to explore my creativity and think about what I wanted the rest of my life to look like.
I took every opportunity to take classes, read and develop two things – my voice actor career and my art. As an artist I became a member of an organization and saw what that meant to an artist, to have that sense of community and support. It was from there that I felt the need to expand on the traditional and start something new. That something new is California Creative Arts, a place #WhereArtistsThrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://californiacreativearts.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/californiacreativearts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCreativeArts.org
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-creative-arts/