Classic California: Yosemite & Stanislaus: August 2015

Larissa is a multi-disciplinary artist and activist. Her media includes visual, performance, writing and healing arts. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Larissa has lived all over the United States. She graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan in 2001. Larissa’s creative sensibility is eclectic, drawing from her life and personal relationship with Christ, as well as various mediums, inspirations, philosophies, cultures, artistic and political movements. She is an advocate for single payer health care, women’s reproductive rights, cannabis law reform, International and American civil, human, and labor rights. She identifies her life’s work with the Slow Movement. In August 2012 Larissa and Omar opened The Clock Tower Studio/Gallery, curating group and solo exhibitions. From 2012 to 2013 she served on the board of F3 at the Cotton Mill. From 2006 to 2008 she served on the board of the Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco as Guildletter editor. Larissa has taught Art for the San Jose Museum of Art in San Jose, California and at the Creative Arts Center in Sunnyvale, California. Her metalwork has been published in the Santa Clara Review and in Lark Book’s The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry. Her sewn-paintings are included in the collections of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa at the Glaser Center and the The Angela Center in Santa Rosa, California. Her writing has been published by patch.com and The Peace Press as well as regularly on her blog and e-newsletter The Clock Tower Minutes. Larissa is a member of ASCAP, performs original and cover music, spoken word as well as improvised and scripted work for screen and stage. She has been a practicing Reiki Master/Teacher since November of 2006. She studied with and received Attunements from Ashanna Solaris, Brenda Wahl Siemering and William Lee Rand. She is an ordained non-denominational minister through Rose Ministries. Larissa is a trauma survivor and lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She shares her life so others don’t feel alone.