Nature and the imagination thrive when boundaries are exposed, and both persevere when challenged. Vecchione explains how the act of being in nature expanded her imagination, which made the act of doing art become more meaningful. Wandering and letting go of control, she says, are the best ways to spark creativity. Patrice Vecchione is a poet, author, and artist. She teaches creative writing retreats, and collage and poetry workshops. She has also worked with children, leading classes in poetry and the imagination in elementary, middle, and high schools. She is the author of several books including Writing and the Spiritual Life: Finding Your Voice by Looking Within (McGraw Hill 2001) and Step Into Nature: Nurturing Imagination and Spirit in Everyday Life (Beyond Words Publishing 2015)

Interview Date: 5/12/2015   Tags: Patrice Vecchione, imagination, earth, structure, nature, poetry, children, bees, grandparents, birdbath, education, walls, art-making, clouds, wandering, leaf, forest, pocket park, The Tenderloin National Forest, Art & Creativity, Ecology/Nature/Environment