"Art is a way to make sense out of our lived experiences."
-Miki nishida Goerdt
Photo by Yoshi Azuma (helloyoshi.com)
Many of Miki's images are related to emotions or her exploration to understand herself, others, and life experiences. She found oil painting as an avenue of self-expression when she was 16 years old and never stopped artmaking since then. In recent years, she has expanded her artistic expression to printmaking and mixed media. Her artmaking reflects her social work background, psychological concepts and emotions, social justice issues, racial/ethnic/gender/cultural identities, and her reflections on interactions with others.
Life experiences and events often do not make sense right away. This was especially true for Miki as she moved to America after high school, away from her home country of Japan. Art has helped her to process and extract meanings out of her lived experiences as an immigrant and a woman of color. Art also has been a method for her to contemplate how to make space for difficult feelings, joy and losses in life, and alternative viewpoints. Throughout her life, art has been the tool for her to make sense out of experiences in life and in the society.
Miki is a board-certified art therapist in addition to being an artist. This means she helps people to learn more about themselves through art making. Art therapy is about healing what hurts, cultivating self-awareness, and growing yourself through creative expression.
More information about her art therapy practice can be found at www.emeraldleafcc.com .
She also offers clinical supervision for art therapists and social workers.
EDUCATION
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Master of Social Work (May 2004) & Advanced Graduate Study Certificate in Art Therapy (August 2015), Marywood University, Scranton, PA
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Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Art (May 2002), Wartburg College, Waverly, IA
HONORS / AWARDS
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Honorable Mention, A New Palette For The Workhouse (2006) , The Lorton Arts Foundation, Reston, VA
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Semi-Finalist, L. Ron Hubbard’s the Illustrator of Future Contest (1999), Nationwide
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Second Prize, Illustration of Books Contest (1998), Mu-Shi Tale Inc., Nationwide
JURIED & JUDEGED EXHIBITIONS
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The Unseen, Del Ray Artisan Gallery (Feb - Mar 2023), Alexandria, VA
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Collab: Conversations in Art (July - Aug, 2022), Fall Church Arts Gallery, Falls Church, VA
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Feminist Insight: Telling Her Story (3/2022), The Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery, Fayetteville, NC
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No Justice, No Peace: Global Protest, Unrest, and Conflict (2021), James Wise Gallery, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
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20/20 in Hindsight--Coping, Confronting, and Creating Change (2021), Online exhibition, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
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Your Place at The Table (2020), 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
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Facing Forward (Oct, 2020 – Jan, 2021), Light Art Space, Silver City, NM
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Divulge: A National Exhibition Featuring the Use of Art for Therapy and Mental Health Awareness (2020), d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
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When Darkness Falls: Night Exploration (2019), Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, Solomons Island, MD
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A New Palette For The Workhouse (2006), The Lorton Arts Foundation, Reston, VA
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Insight & Inspiration: The Fine Arts Healers (2002), The Center For Being And Becoming, Washington, D.C.
GROUP EXHIBITION
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Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibition (2016), Arlington County Central Library, Arlington, VA
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Wings exhibition (2015), Falls Church Arts Gallery, Falls Church, VA
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Impression & Stories (2004), Marywood University Visual Arts Center Lounge, Scranton, PA
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Art Therapy Unmasked (2004), Studio 120, Binghamton, NY
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Where I live (2003), Artist For Art Gallery, Scranton, PA
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Earth Day Exhibition (2003), Artist For Art Gallery, Scranton, PA
WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS
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Building Solidarity among BIPOC Communities (November 2022), Workshop at American Art Therapy Association, Minneapolis, MN
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Art Therapy with Older Adults: Creativity as a Healing Tool (November 2022), Presentation at Mid-Atlantic Chapter Aging Life Care Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
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Art therapy with older adults (November 2021), Presentation at Aging Life Care Association Northern Virginia unit meeting.
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Art as a tool for self-care and healing (October 2021), Presentation at the Virtual Wellness and Mental health Summit, Northern Virginia Community College.
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Awakening your heart: Mindfulness & Art workshop (2017 – 2020), Bi monthly art therapy workshop at Circle Art Studio, Fairfax, VA
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Printmaking Techniques with CBT Interventions (October 2017), Full-day workshop at Expressive Therapies Summit in New York, NY
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Art Therapy for Older Adults with Mental Illness (March 2016), Half-day workshop at the annual conference of National Association of Social Workers Virginia Chapter, Richmond, VA
PROJECTS & INSTALLATIONS
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Together Through Art – Calendar project to advocate for mental illness and older adults (2012), Arlington County RAFT program, Arlington, VA
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Creativity Within Us – Calendar project with hospice patients’ artworks (2004), VNA Hospice, Scranton, PA
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Tree of Life mural project (2004), Moses Taylor Hospital Inpatient Hospice Floor, Scranton, PA
I welcome your feedback on my art, suggestions on collaborative projects, and inquiries for purchasing artworks.