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 projects:

- Casa de Paz: programming Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 - We will be continuing the program on artmaking, mindfulness and connection with nature that we started in April 2025, and will work on a beautification project combining a mural and planters, that represents the women. We will implement this design on partner organization Community Matters' grounds. Our goal is to raise an extra $10,000 for this project.

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