Connect Through Art

 

Are you an artist or creative looking for a welcoming and supportive space to grow, experiment, and connect? Then CONNECT THROUGH ART (CTA) is for you!
 

CTA is a hub for artists and creatives of all levels and backgrounds, shaped with the purpose of creating Art as a healing force and a vehicle for international connection and self-growth and empowerment. We are a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive art collective within the WBFN, where creativity, community, vision and healing intersect. 

Our goals at CTA:

• Experiment with artistic expression and explore art as a tool for wellbeing and higher purpose.
• Build an international, multicultural art community within WBFN.
• Share experiences, creative practices, and mutual support.
• Connect with fellow creatives at HQ, globally, and across the wider art community, by fostering an environment where artists feel empowered to share, grow, and create in new and meaningful ways. 

Join us for our first fall session!
When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Where: Hybrid– in person at MC building and online on Webex

Contact us: ctartwbfn@gmail.com

Please note that in order to attend you need to register via email at the provided contact address. Webex link and meeting room details will be sent to participants.

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Meet our group leaders:
 

Elena started painting in 2000 during a formative workshop (2 years) with Chilean artist Carmen Silva Rojas while living in Santiago, Chile. After a pause to focus on family and career, she is now looking forward to reconnecting with painting while based in Washington, D.C. 
 

Carole is an interior designer and visual artist with extensive professional experience in interior design and a growing passion for painting and the visual arts. She holds an MA in Interior Design from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA), where developed a strong foundation in spatial design, aesthetics, and artistic expression. While her career has been primarily rooted in interior design, she also been practicing painting over the past five years, exploring various techniques and styles. Her background combines technical design expertise with a creative, artistic sensibility, allowing her to bridge the worlds of functional design and visual art.
 

Maria Elena is a self-taught visual artist working with painting and mixed media, often using recycled materials. Inspired by mythology and symbolism, her work bridges intangible narratives and everyday life. With a background in Aesthetics and Phenomenology (MA in Philosophical Sciences, Università degli Studi of Milan), she combines over 15 years’ experience in marketing communications for arts, fashion and culture with her curatorial practice.
 

Elena is a public-sector communications professional with experience supporting mayors and city councilors in carrying out governmental functions and amplifying strategic public messaging. She holds a BA in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and an MA in Economics and Management (specializing in Art and Cultural Activities) from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy. Her creative practice spans painting, illustration, photography, and digital design, which she applies to textile art projects. 

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