Artwork Heals Through Spirit

A seventh-generation Interdisciplinary Artist with German, Irish/UK and Indigenous ancestral lineage, Jessica is a musician, visual storyteller, art educator, scholar, spiritualist, counselor working in therapeutic expressive arts, mixed media, fibers, found objects/recycled art, photography, sculpture, digital media and painting.  She is the granddaughter of Henry Zahn, fine art illustrator, who was with Vile Goller Fine Arts in Kansas City (1930’s - 1970’s). She traverses phenomenological and inner landscapes in abstraction, and creates original musical compositions or poetry to accompany them. This has been formative in her own healing process from complex, chronic trauma. As a trained and licensed mental health practitioner she utilizes methods to help others find hope and healing as well. She has completed extensive education in education, psychology, fine arts, vocal performance, music technology, counseling and therapeutic expressive arts. Jessica has been honored to learned from and to be mentored by Anishinaabe-Ojibwe, Haundanuasee, Menomenni, Tiwa, and Tewa tribal members and elders, as well as, Curanderas(os) in the traditional folk medicine of Mexico and Latin America. She taught art for 25 years prior to becoming an expressive arts faciltator and addictions counselor specializing in grief and trauma. Her arts education is from her lineage and self study, supplimented by a certificate in fine arts: mixed media from the Kansas City Art Institute, MFA-IA studies at Goddard College in Vermont, Graphic Design study at CalArts and presently, MFA studies in Interdisciplinary Media Arts and Art History at Lindenwood University in St. Louis. She also holds a master’s in applied psychology, doctoral work in psycholody and educational adminstration and a Phd in Transpersonal Psychology while recently completing graduate coursework in Audio Recording at Southern Utah University.

Artist Statement

My work has always been my autobiography—expressions of life as I see it, experiences, both those that am inspired by it, engage with the mystic, process experiences and work with healing, attempting to speak things that I can’t find words for, or can only feel in color or image. I claim the title of Interdisciplinary Media Artist as I am not defined by one discipline of visual art, one style or even means of artistic expression. Within this definition, I am a sound designer, composer, vocalist, author and creative storyteller with art, sound and word. I’m blessed to be able to utilize these skills and an extensive background in traditional healing practices, spiritual work, the arts, psychology and counseling, to help others heal. Everything is spiritual in my world and within these expressions, I try to deliver messages, visions and healing processes that are meant to help understand, move forward and connect. Some would label me “a wounded healer”. I like to think of myself as growing in wisdom through the weilding of brush, scissors, tingering of keys and tapping of the pencil.