The Heartwood Circle

The Heartwood Circle is a long-term community-based project led by artist Julia Orquera Bianco and youth artist Wesley Ericson, dedicated to supporting communities through art, mindfulness, and nature-based practices. Rooted in the belief that healing begins at the core—like the heartwood of a tree—the program creates a nurturing, circle-based environment where participants can process trauma, reduce stress, and cultivate resilience. Through hands-on workshops, community support, and activities connecting urban ecology with people, The Heartwood Circle fosters lasting well-being and connection for individuals seeking peace and renewal.

The Heartwood Circle is currently accepting donations for the following project:

Art and mindfulness for Resilience and Representation:
We hold weekly sessions on artmaking, mindfulness and connection with nature at a Cincinnati-based women shelter. Thanks to a Safe and Clean grant from the City of Cincinnati, we are currently working on a beautification project combining a mural and planters, whose design will represent the women - their hometowns, what makes them who they are, what they feel connected to. We will implement this design on partner organization Community Matters' grounds. Our goal is to raise an extra $10,000 for this project.

Past Projects:

Encuentro De Arte, Ecologia Urbana y Comunidad
4-day conference that Wesley Ericson and Julia Orquera Bianco facilitated in Mendoza, Argentina, July 2025, at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. It involved training students and facilitators in the area of art therapy on mindfulness practices, connection with urban ecology, and the collective design and implementation of a mural on UnCuyo’s campus. The goal was to raise $10,000 for the intensive seminar.