In a world that is becoming saturated with life coaching of all varieties, Claudia’s Open City Creative Group stands well apart — a truly unique for makers of any kind, trying to find and hone their creative voice.

My decision to be a part of the creative group was born from both a sense of excitement and trepidation. Excitement at the prospect of becoming “unstuck” from the creative and logistical rut which I found myself in over the last several years within my own practice as an image-based studio artist and writer. And trepidation at how well any such group or coaching might actually help me to achieve these things that I so sorely desired.

I am pleased to say that this experience went well beyond my expectations. Through Claudia’s unique blend of practical artistic experience, boundless empathy, courageous agility and heart, I was able not only to connect some of the logistical dots, but also to go much deeper into some of the more fundamental roadblocks which have long been camped in the periphery of my being, holding me back from the joyful freedom of artistic expression and chronically dampening my shine.

The small group setting was also a perfect way to explore these things and Claudia is quite skillful at both leading the group and allowing it to act as an entity for its own healing and discovery. Having been a teacher in the arts for many years, I can tell you this is not an easy thing to do. Yet, when it is done correctly, working in an intimate group setting — filled with artists of all kinds, from writers, to designers, to photographers — added a layer of collaborative support that proved truly essential. Claudia’s guidance during these sessions helped me open up and rediscover my voice and agency as a maker…being a part of a group of like-minded creators made me feel less alone in my struggles and grateful to learn from and connect with my peers.

If you are an artist, writer, designer, singer, actor, maker or creator of ANY kind, I believe being a part of Open City Creative can help with whatever problems in your practice with which you are currently dealing. Claudia truly is an expert at what she does and her generosity of spirit and genuine care for Creatives absolutely helped me gain critical insight, direction and that oh-so-important “mojo” that had been hiding in the shadows for many years. If you find yourself struggling with the same thing, I promise you this will bring some of those things back out into the sunshine, where they were always meant to live and grow and thrive.

Thank you Claudia for all that you do and for being such a force of good in the universe!

– J.T.