Blog - Rising Arts Leaders

1 Feb '21

Heather Sweeney

February 1, 2021

Interview with Heather Sweeney 01/11/2021 Heather Sweeney, lives in San Diego where she writes, and does visual art. Her chapbooks include Just Let Me Have This (Selcouth Station Press) and Same Bitch, Different Era: The Real Housewives Poems (above/ground press). She is also the author of the collections, Dear Marshall, […]

25 Jan '21

Beto Soto

January 25, 2021

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives, Uncategorized

Interview with Beto Soto 01/11/2021 Beto Soto is an artist, youth advocate and educator. His ongoing project Undocuqueer shines a spotlight on LGBTQ Undocumented Americans living in San Diego, California. Through his portraiture, and use of lighting and props, Soto is able to create mystical landscapes that often portray his […]

18 Jan '21

Amanda Lopez

January 18, 2021

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Amanda Lopez 11/15/2020 Amanda Lopez is a Bay Area native currently loving life in sunny San Diego. By day, she manages digital marketing for a top San Diego attraction and by night, she dives into all things creative including painting, collaging, learning to play ukulele, singing, and more. […]

11 Jan '21

Katherine Carrion

January 11, 2021

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives, Business Owners

Interview with Katherine Carrion 10/22/2020 Katie Carrion is a San Diego native who studied and earned her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University. With a goal to help improve the Art Scene in her city in 2015 Katie Co-founded the alternative retail shop, Little Dame, in […]

4 Jan '21

Diana Benavidez

January 4, 2021

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Diana Benavidez 10/27/2020 Diana Benavidez is an artist from the San Diego/Tijuana border region, her practice explores piñata-making as a method of expression and storytelling. Diana builds piñatas that reflect upon her experiences growing up along the Mexican-American border, her identity, and binational culture. Her work is known […]

7 Dec '20

Hallie Chavis

December 7, 2020

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Hallie Chavis 10/20/2020 Hallie Chavis, a San Diego native, is a mixed medium jewelry maker specializing in acrylic, resin, polymer clay, and beadwork. After almost a decade of living in San Francisco, Hallie moved back to San Diego and began Shop Cholla in 2019. Her goal was to […]

30 Nov '20

Stefanie Schmitz

November 30, 2020

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Stefanie Schmitz 09/12/2020 A multi-instrumentalist, artist, and teacher in San Diego, Stefanie has made it her mission to use music to foster empowerment, expression, and connection in children and adults. She plays the clarinet, saxophone, and percussion and has a passion for the music and culture of Brazil. […]

23 Nov '20

Zoe Marinello-Kohn

November 23, 2020

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Zoe Marinello-Kohn 09/12/2020 Zoe Marinello-Kohn is a ballet dancer and activist. Most recently, she was highlighted by Rising Arts Leaders after submitting an audition for Arts Fest 2020, where she performed live on Instagram for our audience. What projects are you currently working on?I have been working on […]

16 Nov '20

Elizabeth Tobias

November 16, 2020

Artist Advocacy Committee, Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Elizabeth Tobias 10/30/2020 Elizabeth draws upon multiple art disciplines to create immersive installations and public spectacles that engage the community in social, political and environmental issues. She creates open-ended experiences that unfold as audiences engage with them. Tobias has received multiple awards for her short documentary, “Survivor! 98 […]

9 Nov '20

Wilfred Paloma

November 9, 2020

Artist's Toolbox, Artists and Creatives

Interview with Wilfred Paloma 09/12/2020 Wilfred is an Actor’s Equity member with an M.A. in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University and a B.A. in Theatre Performance: Acting and Musical Theatre. Wilfred is also a graduate of the Meisner and Chekhov Integrated Acting Studio (MCIT). In addition to Diversionary, […]