Wisdom, Art, and Longing – Judy Tuwaletstiwa – Ep 151

Judy Tuwaletstiwa, a multidisciplinary visual artist, writer, and teacher, had no idea she was an artist for many, many years. After being told she was ‘no artist’ by her 7th-grade teacher, she didn’t create art until later.

Judy shares her insights on aging as a liberating gift, allowing her to focus on what truly matters. We explore her vision of art as a mysterious, transformative force and she tells me more about an ongoing project, which aims to help people understand how to integrate art into every life stage.

I know you’ll love the inspiring stories based on Judy’s teaching experiences, including a viral TikTok that demonstrates the power of art in self-exploration. She shares influences that shaped her artistic path, including lessons from a tumultuous childhood, transformative travels, and meaningful collaborations.

Join us to reflect on creativity, intuition, and the enriching exchange of insights between generations, offering valuable takeaways for artists and educators alike in this episode of the Art2Life Podcast.

Listen if you are interested in…

• Her grandmother’s positivity and magic helped overcome generational wounds [06:38]
• How Van Gogh brought Judy back to cresting art [12:35]
• Providing art-based workshops to help young boys experience healing [17:01]
• What brought Judy back to sharing her art 15 years later [23:23]
• A soul-searching camping trip in the Southwest at age 41 [28:21]
• How Judy created her “Songs of the Earth from Space” series [34:24]
• Art has no mistakes; it’s a doorway that leads you somewhere [37:38]
• Intergenerational exchange enriches learning [42:32]
• Growing old is a gift because it brings freedom and clarity on what truly matters [46:14]

Aging is Freedom

For Judy, growing older has been a liberating experience that has allowed her to focus on what truly matters. I love hearing her share how accepting the unknown origins of her art has provided her with a profound sense of freedom. This acceptance enables her to explore her creativity without the boundaries of rigid expectations or preconceived notions.

Age isn’t a barrier, it’s a gift that allows for deeper introspection. Judy shares how growing older enables her to connect with and express her most authentic self through her art. This feeling of liberation shows up in her latest projects, including an upcoming book that documents her extensive work with art programs and demonstrates how art can be seamlessly integrated into any stage of life.

Art for Exploration and Healing

Discovery and reflection come through creating art. Judy talks all about her teaching experiences, including a project at an elementary school where she guided children through clay projects, showing them that mistakes aren’t missteps but opportunities for new insights and growth. I love that this philosophy of embracing imperfection and discovery is at the core of Judy’s teaching and creative ethos.

One of the most touching anecdotes from Judy was about a TikTok video featuring a piece created by a 10-year-old girl she taught. The piece gained over 7 million views, and Judy shares how she encouraged the young artist to express herself freely, emphasizing the important role of art in self-exploration. Creating spaces where young artists can explore freely, make mistakes, and tell their stories without fear or judgment is vital.

A Catalyst for Artistic Change

Judy’s early life in East Los Angeles, growing up during a politically precarious time, shaped her early on. Resilience is a recurring theme in Judy’s life and work and has heavily influenced her approach to teaching and art-making.

Challenging personal experiences in life often lead to growth and opportunities, and Judy digs into the details of her life journey that profoundly impacted her art. Judy set off on a solo expedition through the Southwest after the breakdown of her first marriage.

This experience spurred her to experiment with her art and try a method new to her, inspired by the ancient Hopi traditions of layering and whitewashing. Her method of creating and releasing temporary paintings mirrored her internal process of confronting and letting go of deep-seated emotions.

Judy’s experience and continued joie de vivre go to show how exploration and continuous learning offer all of us artists a lesson in the wonderful potential of art as a medium for healing and self-expression.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
• Frog Dreaming

Connect with Judy Tuwaletstiwa

• Judy’s artwork
• Gma Judy on TikTok
• Judy’s Instagram

Connect with Nicholas Wilton and Art2Life

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