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Alessandra
obtained her B.A. in Linguistics, her Master in Fine Art, and
she is a Ph.D. Candidate in Expressive Arts Therapy. She’s a
member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association
and the Associate Director of the Expressive Arts Therapy
Department at IUPS. Alessandra is a professional artist in the
community with exhibitions and awards for her mixed-media
artwork; Alessandra has been using art and its therapeutic
effects for over 7 years in
private and clinical settings (assisting cancer patients,
Alzheimer’s seniors, the developmentally disabled; adults, teens and
children).
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Amore
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Alessandra discovered and cultivated her artistic
calling since she was a young girl growing up in a small village in
northern Italy,
Alessandra
moved to San Diego from Italy, instinctively following a calling for a
life of balance, meaningful pursuits and involvement with the community.
With a BA in Linguistics and after a 15-year career in the fashion
industry, life experiences brought her to create a new path, by shifting
her artistic and creative passion towards a blend of art and emotional
balance and healing.
She
is drawn to colors and textures of fabrics and hand-made papers and
often finds inspiration for her work from recyclable, earth sustaining,
natural materials and old treasures. The bold strokes with acrylic paint
join the depth and textures of torn paper or clay in her mixed media
work, which represent the exploration of her passion to communicate love
and joy for healing and peace.
Being especially interested in the
therapeutic effect of art making, Alessandra obtained her
Master’s Degree in Fine Art, with emphasis on Expressive Art
Therapy. Alessandra's creative process serves not only to
achieve esthetically pleasing results, but it is a healing
journey with love, through which mind settles into a state of
relaxation that is a source of boundless creativity, guidance
and inner peace.
Alessandra is constantly refining her skills through programs and
mentoring offered by the best professionals in the field. She is now
completing her Ph.D. in Expressive Arts Therapy, in order to deepen her
experience in the therapeutic use of the arts and to assist others with
their life challenges, professional/personal blocks and life’s issues,
joys & changes.
Her Vision is
to facilitate individual and group expression through art, music, drama,
and dance/movement to clients of all ages with all levels of
functioning. I provide creative opportunities that integrate education,
mentoring and therapy. I offer resources, support, and introductory
training in arts therapies to parents, faculty, and professionals in
other institutions through seminars and workshops. I use integrated arts
therapy to help people reach their fullest potential.
'Let the beauty of what you love be what
you do.'
~ Rumi
Recently Alessandra has added a new dimension to her
repertoire: she joined her husband William Leslie in creating
artistic lighting fixtures called
Paper Sun Lightsculture
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Community
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