We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jac Alva. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jac below.

Jac , appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

As both an artist and art teacher, I always create artworks and design classes that I find both meaningful and authentic to my creative voice. This past summer, I led a teen cohort at The Muckenthaler Cultural Center’s Teen Intensive Program where my students engaged in a series of art lessons involving food imagery. Having an M.A. in Modern Art History with an emphasis in modern/contemporary food artworks, I designed a weeklong program integrating the global politics of food and beverage into various artistic methods including painting, drawing, sculpting, and collaging. The program focused on various parts of our current food system, including the agriculture & global supply chain as well as the media representation of food. My students painted portraits of farm laborers, designed zines about our diet culture, and built decorative items that expressed their food preferences. These projects helped students take deeper look how our food supply chain functions. What initially started as an academic passion project evolved into a week long curriculum with fantastic results. I’m so proud of what my students accomplished and I look forward to creating more lessons integrating food and art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My involvement in the arts began at a young age, channeling my creative spirit through drawing and painting. However, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I revisited my passion for art and eventually built a career creating, curating, and teaching art. As my involvement grew in the Orange County arts scene, I realized that my multi-passionate pursuits aligned with a greater purpose: to educate and lead others to their own healing journeys through the arts. These intentions manifested into my teaching brand Healing He(art) with Jac Alva Art, a trauma-informed arts education platform integrating social-emotional learning, art history, and open-ended artmaking tailored for children and adults.

Aside from teaching at The Muckenthaler Cultural Arts Center and other recreational centers, Healing He(art) with Jac Alva Art offers classes in a variety of mediums and styles. Prospective clients can book classes through my website https://www.jacalvaart.com/about-healing-heart.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist, curator, and arts instructor is engaging with the community. Whether it’s exhibiting my art at galleries, teaching at after-school programs, or helping other emerging artists network in the art world, my creative journey has brought me so much fulfillment and satisfaction.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As the founder of Healing He(art) with Jac Alva Art, I have made it my mission to create art lessons that encourage critical thinking and diverse project outcomes. I knew that I wanted to provide students with a different approach to artmaking, one that didn’t pressure them to generate the exact same outcome as the instructor. There’s so much beauty and wisdom when there’s diverse creative results. Moreover, I want to show my students that artists can live and thrive producing unique artworks and following their passions. Thus, by removing the shroud of mystery, students see tangible results among those who have careers in the arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacalvaart.com/
• Instagram: @jacalvaart @healingheartwithjacalvaart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@healingheartwithjacalvaart
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jacalvaart