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

Hi Macy , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful projects for me are the ones that bring multiple of my passions together, while creating a positive impact on my immediate community. Most recently this would be, the art show and food drive I organized called “Food For Thought.”
This event was a culmination of my last decade of experience traveling the United States, my educational background, and the parts of this human experience that I hold most dearly: art, music, food, community support, human connection and space to hold important conversations. The idea for Food For Thought came to me randomly, I was pondering how to make the sometimes exclusive world of the arts more accessible to everyone.
With the support of a few artists around me, we were able to host a gallery and vendor style event that featured about 15 local artists. Attendees were able to enter the art show at no ticket cost with the donation of non-perishable food items. All 150 canned goods that were collected at the door were donated to a local food program which outsources to a large portion of the local community every weekend. This fairly small event of about 100 people gathering was able to generate countless meals for the community.
There are many small ways in which we can each make a positive impact on the people around us, and the more creative we are with the approach, the more we can make change in real time. Social change does not need to be a separate entity in our lives; rather, social change is much more consumable and approachable when we include it in our daily lives.
Retaliation against the systems in place does not have to come from a place of anger all the time. I believe that we can start positive social change through the lens of love, generosity, gratitude, creativity and joy as well.

Macy , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Macy Hembd. I am 28 years old, I use she/her pronouns, and I am originally from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I have a BA in Psychology and Art Therapy and a Master’s (MA) in Social Justice and Human Rights. I am a Taurus sun, Leo rising and Libra moon. I have spent the last decade moving around the United States: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, Florida, and now San Francisco, California.
Painting a flower on a sunny day is one of my first memories in this life. I have been painting ever since, which has also led me to explore other creative outlets. Primarily, I am now focused on painting, collaging, writing and photography, and exploring ways of combining them all. Live painting in front of crowds, at events, and on the streets of SF has become a major part of my life this past year. I am thrilled to be the Creative Director for an artist community in the Bay Area called The Good Fun, while simultaneously organizing my own events.
My twenties have been spent healing and learning as much about myself and the human experience as possible. It was through finding an art therapist that I was able to heal my mind and heart in a new way; a way that I knew I wanted the privilege and duty to carry on; healing through creative expression.
Each state I have lived in has taught me something new, and that is how I feel about the people I have encountered too. I truly see the value in every human, and am often inspired by passing conversations with people who are seemingly strangers. I also find inspiration by connecting with nature, admiring the details in my daily life, and watching the clouds turn pink.
I believe my open mind and open heart have given me the ability to network in a way that allows me to create a space to connect authentically with anyone. I believe my deep understanding of human nature has given me a unique perspective on life; I am honored to be able to communicate that through my art, while empowering the people around me to do the same. I am most proud of my mental resilience and full trust that I will always end up where I need to be, even when I have no idea how it will come together. I believe I am a vessel for creativity and love to come through into the physical world. I truly believe anyone can do anything they put their minds too, and sometimes we just need that reminder.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I believe that it is as important to unlearn things as it is to learn them. Our minds are like sponges, and sometimes we are not in control of what information is being poured onto those sponges. If we do not question what we have learned in this lifetime, especially from our loved ones, then we may not ever be able to see how we could be limiting ourselves.
Learning how to see my limiting beliefs in real time, accept them without judgement, and then positively rephrase that thought in the same moment is one of the greatest tools I have acquired and continuously practice.
There is a sort of constant unlearning of our limiting beliefs, because they will continue to come up in new situations or through new people.
There was one day when this first clicked for me while working for the SPARK Initiative in Brandon, Florida.
I realized that thoughts are simply thoughts. We have no control over which thoughts come into our mind, like clouds passing in the sky. However, we do have power over which thoughts we believe and give weight to.
Common thoughts like “I am not good enough” or “I could never do that” can feel really real and heavy when we believe them. When we realize these are simply thoughts, and not facts, then the limits we have imposed on ourselves begin to dissipate. Once we become aware of our own limiting beliefs, it becomes easy to spot them in the people around us as well. This allowed me to see clearly that, I am the only thing standing in the way of what I want in life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

​​To put it simply, the goal for all of my creative and community work is to instill a ripple effect of positive social change and inspiration.
When creating my own work, I know that I am healing and growing with each painting, collage and poem that I put into the world. By showing my work publicly, I open up a space to talk about the message I am sharing and how it resonates with the person viewing it. I have had countless conversations around mental health, systemic oppression, relationship troubles, motivation, love and many other facets of being human with the viewers of my art. When we are able to be vulnerable and express ourselves in a way that is unique to us, that is when the ripple effect begins.
I believe we are all a vessel for ideas to come through. Something I tell people often is that it is their duty to create their original ideas because that thought does not exist in anyone else’s mind. The community organization work I continue to do feels beyond me. It is not about me, but about me holding space for those around me to use their voice freely.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @artby_mace
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macy-hembd-15b937103/
• Other: Spotify username @maceliketheweapon (https://open.spotify.com/user/macyhembd)

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Malcolm Squire (IG @malcolmsdiorama)

Photographer at Art Battle: Alain Denis (IG @thecolourtv)