exhibitions.
i recently spent a couple of months in spokane, washington and the timing was great for me to participate in the spokane arts queer art walk, "a vibrant celebration of artistic expression, diversity, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the heart of Spokane, Washington." i didn't hang any new pieces in this exhibition, but it was very meaningful for two reasons: (1) this was my first gallery exhibition and the chase gallery is gorgeous. (2) the program director at the time, shantell jackson, let me hang the group exhibition pieces with her, and taught me a lot about curating an art exhibition. also, she's an awesome person ❤️. it was a great experience!
finger lakes coffee roasters (may 2024)
Pittsford Plaza: 3349 Monroe Ave # 35,
Rochester, NY 14618
:texture:: has always fascinated me and i have been playing with it using different materials for a couple of years. i was not able to complete all the pieces i planned for this first ::texture:: exhibition. i was excited, however, to exhibit some pieces that express physical, emotional, and existential ::texture:: at Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters for the month of may 2024.
click on the image below for a digital exhibition
click on the image below for a gallery of photos & videos
click on images to go to exhibition pages
february 8, 2024, 7pm - 9pm
i exhibited three pieces of art. two of them are for sale at my art store as indicated below. i was so deeply honored to be featured along with
visual artists katharine torgersen, micah "breeze" walker, & zie stauffer; and musicians L. é Dee. & Daniel Alejandro Rivera.
click on the links below to purchase and/or for a digital exhibition of each work
$333
$280
fuego coffee roasters (october 2023)
exhibition closing event: october 20, 2023, 5pm - 7pm
this is a joint exhibition with skyla pisciotti & karis underwood
click on the image below for a digital exhibition
ugly duck coffee (september 2023)
click on the image below for a digital exhibition
click on images to go to exhibition pages
«salud project: COVID bubble»
sanando en comunidad
july 10, 2022, 10am - 9pm
while on my first artist residency at jupiterfab, in guadalajara mexico, the residency team and i decided to collaborate on a joint mural inauguration/residency open house. i was fresh out of TOO MANY years of doctoral training in clinical psychology, and really wanted to do something focused on healing as a community from our COVID experiences — the theme of my mural «salud: COVID bubble». this was my first indoor mural, completed in collaboration with local artist denise quezada.
i will always be grateful and so proud of the program we put together, which included: two free yoga classes; a free watercolor painting workshop by incredible local artist and healer kandani pintor ide; donation based chair massages from local vivacious massage therapist/artist/musician paloma huerta cortes who also sold her handmade samadhi sanación integral beauty, cosmetic, and personal care products; a free workshop on sound improvisation by the amazing local musician and producer pedeplei; a free live original dance performance entitled "reconstrucción 2.1" by esencia_transmutable_danza, choreographed by the amazing rossana quezada, a free live performance of three songs i wrote for the mural inauguration («simple truth,» «how love should feel,» and «mind over matter»), performed with local musicians pedeplei, the magical liz ruvalcaba, and the gifted scholar and musican gus larroyo; a live performance by local musicians for the international positive songs project, led by liz ruvalcaba; a free community music jam; along with plenty of food and drinks from local businesses and vendors including pulque degollado; and a photography exhibition by my residency roommate turned bff, the fantastic british photographer francis william payne. this event was a dream come true on so many levels for me. see below for photos and vidoes of the event.
click below for galleries
«salud project: COVID bubble»: sanando en comunidad
promotional materials & agenda
«salud project: COVID bubble»: sanando en comunidad
event photos
«salud project: COVID bubble»: sanando en comunidad
performance photos & videos
murals.
click on images for gallery
film.
CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION: Marina
role: producer, artist
about: "Marina" is a poignant short film that delves into the life of Lucho, a young deaf boy working alongside his family in their bustling restaurant. Despite his deafness, Lucho finds solace and connection in his unlikely friendship with Marina, a vivacious dishwasher with a heart of gold. As Lucho navigates the challenges of communication with his hearing family, Marina becomes his beacon of understanding, bridging the gap with her limited knowledge of American Sign Language.
"Their bond deepens as they share moments of joy while washing dishes and dancing to the rhythm of life. After an impulsive mistake on Lucho's part leads to a series of devastating consequences, he sets out on a journey of redemption and forgiveness, confronting his mistakes and finds the courage to make amends. With the support of his family and Marina's unwavering forgiveness, he learns valuable lessons about honesty, empathy, and the enduring power of human connection.
"Marina" is a moving exploration of love, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through the lens of Lucho's journey, the film celebrates the beauty of friendship, the complexities of communication, and the transformative impact of empathy and understanding.
website: www.marinathefilm.com
instagram: www.instagram.com/marinathefilm
PAST PRODUCTIONS
Belief: a Documentary Miniseries | Episode 1: Sacred Ground
role: creator, director, editor
about: belief: a documentary miniseries is a research film project I completed as an undergraduate student at stony brook university from 2006-2010. the project was funded by the humanities institute at stony brook and undergraduate research and creative activities (ureca). the film is focused on exploring the experiences of former jehovah's witnesses, including myself, as they navigate how belief has impacted their lives, in ways that may not be obvious to the public. these stories are told through interviews i conducted with former Jehovah's Witnesses my therapy sessions that I filmed for 6 months while creating the film. this was my first film project. i put the project on hold to pursue doctoral training in clinical psychology. i am currently contemplating next steps for the project.
content advisory: this film has references to sexual assault, child abuse, and suicide.
on april 14th, 2010 at 4:30PM, was the official premier of "belief." episode 1, entitled "sacred ground." it was shown at the humanities institute at stony brook university in stony brook, ny. the premier was followed by an informal reception and discussion with myself, and four former jehovah's witnesses who made my day by attending. the premier was also attended by students, faculty, and staff of stony brook university, and some very supportive community members. it was one of the happiest days of my life, and the beginning of what i hope will bring healing to many.
i received the undergraduate recognition award for excellence in promoting “expanded learning” from stony brook university for the film project in april 2010.
Personality Methods: How We Know What We Know
role: creator, director, editor
about: created for the 2016/17 noba + psi chi student video award, this video highlights how two common methods for studying personality, self-report and naturalistic observation, may lead to different conclusions about a person's personality.
i received honorable mention for the video.
sound effects from: http://www.orangefreesounds.com/bing-... music from: http://freemusicarchive.org
Questions: Diving Into The Subject Pool
role: editor
in this film psychological researchers and student participants in research discuss some of the benefits and challenges of having a "subject pool" at a research university. this film was entered into the 2011 aps film festival from the association for psychological science at www.psychologicalscience.org.
created in collaboration with: dr. anne moyer, an associate professor of social and health psychology who teaches research methods at stony brook university.
storytelling.
i have had the pleasure of sharing two stories with the story collider
leap of faith: stories about finding and losing faith
the tank theater in manhattan, ny in dececember 2019
scroll to ~ 21:15 for my story
inspiring: stories about telling #MyScienceStory
the caveat in nyc in september 2021 as part of a show presented in partnership with black in mental health.
scroll to ~ 19:13 for my story
photos by zhen qin
photos by zhen qin
about.
name: mani garcia
location: santa fe, new mexico, usa
bio: i am the love child of bob ross and bob marley — savoring life one creative expression at a time. since childhood great depth, color, emotion, and amazement have been buzzing in me at all times. my art is about savoring all of those things — and giving them breath and form in this world. neither breath or form are predetermined. so I’ve been blessed to create art with music, with poetry, with illustration, with small objects and installations, with textural and interactive pieces, with ceramics, with origami, with painting (small scale & murals), with storytelling, and with homemade organic healing skin/lip balms.
i most deeply connect with others through art. so I’m not satisfied with waiting for the world to discover my work. for all of my projects i seek out and cultivate a community to explore, create, witness, and celebrate with. i share with family, friends, strangers, on social media and on this website. i frequently work with collaborators and love organizing community events and exhibitions. art for me is inextricably linked with education, science, and health. so, I have doctoral training in neuroscience, social, and clinical psychology—specializing in therapy for trauma, anxiety, depression, and ODC. i am also certified as a holistic yoga teacher, and group fitness instructor. lately i am very focused on exploring deeper layerings of the many forms of expression i savor — exploring new breaths — and new ways of using public art to promote and improving mental health and wellness for individuals and communities.
in my poetry i use the double colon before and after a word to indicate the ::experience:: of something. i call my art studio/practice ::savor:: because in my art i am always trying to communicate my experiences of savoring all the things that touch, bewilder, and fascinate me. these are my sources of artistic inspiration.
