Editor’s note: In our Five Questions segment, you can get to know a member of the community. If you know someone you think we should feature, tell us at newsroom@prairiemountainmedia.com.
Jeanne Visvader is a local artist who, until 15 months ago, lived in Boulder since 1970.
Visvader is a self-described “true artisan” who works across artistic mediums. She leather-bounds journals, makes her own paper from plants in her garden, makes baskets and paints what she makes. She spent 50 years teaching children with disabilities in the Boulder Valley School District, an experience that taught her kindness and led her to new artistic ideas.
Visvader, 75, made the jump to Longmont after 55 years in Boulder because housing and property taxes became too burdensome. But she’s not bitter about the move. Now that Longmont is her home, she loves it.
What has been your favorite medium of making art throughout the years?
Because I am always curious and experimenting, I have trouble choosing which artistic medium is my favorite. Watercolor painting from childhood gave me an easy way into painting. I also love acrylics because they dry quickly and mix into a variety of colors, tones and thicknesses.
I also really love making hand bound leather journals. To me, my journals are art pieces that are useful and beautiful. Making my own papers and marbling the end papers is an art. I also make pine needle baskets — they are earthy, also functional and beautiful. All this work inspires me to try more and more designs.
What was the most rewarding part of working with children for so long?
Their smiles and hugs when they were happy. Their joy and our laughs together when we had a good session. Knowing that they felt safe with me and I could help them with skills they needed. Being in the presence of children: that felt like angels to me. Learning from them how to be a better loving caring individual! They were always my teachers, too.
What did you learn about yourself through your work with children? With art?
Doing art has taught me perseverance, patience and waiting for the muse to guide me. I learned to trust in my creative inner core. Through art and working with children I found I have a wealth of creative imaginative ideas inside me waiting to come forth in some way. Children inspired me to be a better, kinder and stronger-willed person.
Why move to Longmont after so long in Boulder?
We saw that financially we would have had difficulty affording Boulder much longer on our fixed retirement income. Housing is less expensive in Longmont … Now that we are here we love Longmont!
Can you walk me through the process of a house blessing or cleansing, and share what it means to you?
First, I ask the person’s reasons for wanting a house blessing. Here are a few possible reasons I’ve heard: sickness, death, divorce, buying a new home, not feeling safe in the house and more. I ask my clients to write down what they want to see come about in their home. Then I set up an altar depending on their religious or spiritual orientation. Then we say prayers and recite their intentions at the front and back doors and all the rooms while smudging and using drums or rattles. I sweep with a feather and smoke all negative energies out the door (we end at the front door). Repetition of intentions is paramount.
I also make some feng shui recommendations, as needed. At the end, we eat an offering from the altar to ground ourselves after the spiritual journey. This is “house cleaning on another level.” Helping people feel comfortable in the home makes me happy and we all feel more positive afterwards.