Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Rusenko. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I have had few “real jobs” in life, though a few came close. A memorable example, being the in house graphic and web designer at a small mom & pop baby bedding and furniture shop; which to me, still felt like an office job. I spent a decade in experiential marketing; which felt creative at times, but was ultimately serving corporate interests more than creative expression.

I have made many sacrifices to prioritize Art over everything else. Art over comfort, Art over security, Art over predictability.

Ultimately, I feel deep gratitude for each creative opportunity that truly serves the Art. I feel incredibly lucky to receive all of my income from my art, and from facilitating my community’s artistic expression.

Every hour of work I tackle is a heart offering, supporting myriad creative passions; from visual art, to music, to healing, to building community resilience, and creating space for many other artists’ gifts to be felt, seen, and heard.

I wouldn’t have it any other way! A “real job” would likely provide certain creature comforts, like, having a regular schedule, going to sleep at the same time every night, being able to accurately budget.

But at what cost? I would much rather sacrifice comfort for the deep fulfillment I receive from living in service to Art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

This will be challenging to summarize, as I am usually doing way too many things!

I believe art and all kinds of creative expression to be a self-healing modality. With my own art process, I seek to unhook my rational mind, and access my subconscious, and the collective unconscious. I allow the art to happen, intuitively, then examine it once it’s finished, for any insights I can glean about myself, my environment, or where I am at on my healing journey.

Similarly, I believe that music can create a portal to a trance state, and can powerfully alter the perception of reality. It is a primal force that exists in each and every one of us. I have personally experienced deep healing both from receiving another’s gift of music, and from allowing myself to be fully transported during the creation of improvised sound.

The key to abstract, improvised art is trusting yourself enough to truly Let Go.

I also curate art shows, live painter lineups, live music, and multi-faceted community healing events. I create commissioned artwork for aligned purposes, including painting, logo, and graphic branding. I work at a local music venue, and complete administrative tasks for spaces, festivals, artists, and promoters whose values resonate with my own.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

It doesn’t matter where an artist is in their learning process, you can always support them!

Support can mean paying an artist to do a job for you. It can mean spending your hard earned dollars on the fruit of their soul; for their art encompasses a very real piece of them; their deepest grief and their greatest joy.

It could also mean giving them verbal encouragement, telling your friends about their work, telling them what impact their art is having on you, sharing their work with your community, recommending them for commissioned work, cheering them on without expecting anything in return.

These things are especially relevant if you yourself are an artist! We can support each other, and rise into a collective abundance mindset.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is in service to inner work, expansive learning, trans-generational and trans-cultural awareness, multifaceted non-dual narrative, and transformational healing that will lead to the collective liberation of all.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelrusenko/
• Other: http://luneau.bandcamp.com/

  linktr.ee/luneausphere

Image Credits

Justin Potts, Frances Davis Furr, Nikita Kozlov, Kevin Brown