Nursing and the Arts Podcast Ep 13: Marietta F. Lee, MSN, RN, Founder, Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy

Host: Author, Actor, Photographer, Poet Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, SJF Communications

Nursing and the Arts Podcast

Nursing and the Arts Podcast- Ep13: Guest Marietta F. Lee and Host Susan J. Farese

Audio link above is provided to listen to Ep13: Marietta F. Lee, MSN, RN, BFA Painting and Nursing and the Arts Podcast Host Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN.

Nursing and the Arts is a podcast devoted to Nurses discussing their diverse artistic passions (or endeavors) such as visual arts/photography, journaling, comedy, podcasting, storytelling, writing/poetry, crafting, cooking, dance, theatre, music, film etc.

Welcome to our 2nd Season!

Join us on today’s 13th episode of the Nursing and the Arts Podcast for an informative and entertaining discussion with our guest Ep13: -Marietta F. Lee, MSN, RN And – Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, Host of the Nursing and the Arts Podcast

Watch the Nursing and the Arts Podcast (above)!

Ep13: Marietta F. Lee, MSN, RN and Host Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN (right)

Show Notes

Well worth it to listen/watch and then please comment and subscribe!

What an enjoyable conversation with Marietta (Mary) Lee! We discussed many topics, including how Mary became a nurse as well as an artist, how caregiving can be stressful and contribute to burnout and depression, ways that therapeutic creative art (and the arts- especially whimsical art) can be fun, inspiring etc. We also discussed what the catalyst that started her journey creating art, her idea, quest and ultimately success in founding the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, and much more!

Marietta (Mary) F. Lee, MSN, RN (University of South Florida) and BA Art (Eastern Kentucky University), BFA Painting (Ringling College), is the Founder, Curator and Executive Director of the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy in Sarasota, Florida. She has clinical experience as an RN/EMT/Paramedic.

Of note, Susan met Mary are kindred spirits (and nursing arts pioneers) and share the same birthday!

Also, some trivia – the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is named after three additional Mariettas! Our very own Marietta PLUS her Mother, Grandmother and niece!

We met during the early 1990’s when both were seminar presenters in the nursing creative arts. Mary, a painter and Susan, a poet! Imagine that! So many years later we are still practicing our arts.

For some of her history in art- in 1978, Mary was and treasured being an Emergency Room nurse in Kentucky. She became an artist serendipitously after tending to a small airplane crash in Jessamine County, Kentucky as a Nurse Paramedic EMT volunteer, discovering no survivors. There was no one to assist or transport. This changed her life in a profound way- She started sketching and then painting after that horrific event. Her spirits lifted. She them obtained her BA Art in 1981 and her BFA in Painting in 1991.

According to Mary, Therapeutic Arts is multifaceted. There’s a process of making art, thinking about it. Art therapy is making the art from one’s heart and one’s history, creating something new from experiences.

Here are two of Mary’s paintings that Susan has on her office walls! Left to right: John Stanton Store; Painting by Marietta F. Lee (With permission) and “Out on a Limb” Painting by Marietta F. Lee (With Permission)

“Out on a Limb” Painting by Marietta F. Lee (With Permission)

Mary started the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy museum formally in 2006 but thought about it years earlier as a caregiver for her parents – and as she experienced boredom/depression would visit art museums as a short respite to uplift her spirit. But the content at the museums needed a change! Her visits did not give her joy.

Thus, the idea of Mary starting a museum sparked!

After 2004 when her parents passed away, Mary’s Wills and Trust lawyer gave her advice regarding her museum idea : “You have to do that for yourself”!

The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy began in 2006 in Connecticut and Mary later purchased the new site when she moved to Sarasota, Florida in 2008. The indoor-outdoor museum has wonderful gardens and according to the museum’s “About” page, “is a space for happiness, joy and peace”. It has paintings, sculptures and mixed media pieces.

Why Whimsy? Because “serious” art doesn’t give Mary pleasure. She wants to keep it lighthearted ~and loud!

As Mary stated “Art is the grease to keep on going”

Many thanks, Mary. I loved having you as a guest on the Nursing and the Arts Podcast!

Marietta’s LINKS:

Get in touch with Marietta F. Lee: Email: mleeawp@aol.com

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy 2121 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34234

Open Thanksgiving through May.

Website: https://whimsymuseum.org

Mission and History of the Museum: https://whimsymuseum.org/about-us/

Videos/Press of Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy https://whimsymuseum.org/videos-press/

About Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, a native of New Jersey, is the owner/ president of SJF Communications, San Diego, CA.

SJF Communications, originally established in 2002 in San Jose, CA, provides communications services including Public Relations, Publicity, Virtual Assisting, Marketing, Websites, Film Making, Acting, Social Media, Writing and Public Speaking, Photography, Mentoring, Coaching and Legal Nurse Consulting services.

Ms. Farese has diversified experience in health care/communications, including clinical nursing practice, management, education/training, research and consulting.

She has a Masters Degree in Nursing in Adult Health from Seton Hall University (NJ) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Widener University (PA).

Susan has presented numerous continuing education classes, seminars, and keynotes. Susan is the author of the book Poetic Expressions in Nursing…Sharing the Caring (1993 and 2021), currently teaches ‘Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku‘ workshops and has published poetry and articles on a variety of topics..

She created and is the Host of the “Nursing and the Arts Podcast” and creator/admin of the Nursing and the Arts Facebook Group. Here is the Nursing and the Arts Podcast IMDB Link

In addition to her being on the advisory board of San Diego Film Week, Susan is a member of SAG-AFTRA, Veterans in Media & Entertainment, and San Diego Writers Ink ,

Since 2017, Susan has been a Volunteer Mentor in the San Diego State University Aztec Mentor Program.

List of clients at https://sjfcommunications.com/list-of-clients/

Contact SJF Communications at:

info@sjfcommunications.com or sjfcommunications@gmail.com

LinkTree link: https://linktr.ee/Sjfcommo

Thank you for joining us to listen to and/or watch the Nursing and the Arts Podcast! Please feel free to like, comment on, share our episode(s), etc.

Also nurses can join our Facebook Group “Nursing and the Arts“

If you are a nurse (or know of a nurse) who would like to be considered for a “Nursing and the Arts” Podcast interview, please reach out to Susan by email: info@sjfcommunications.com.

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Actor, Author, Coach & Speaker Debra Wanger Announces “The Resilient Actor” Audiobook & Workbook/Planner

Debra Wanger – The Resilient Actor – Photo Credit – Ken Jacques

(SAN DIEGO, September 23, 2019) – Actor, Author, Coach and Public Speaker, Debra Wanger is an often-sought-after professional actor, well known in the San Diego region. She published her debut book The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass In the Business Without It Kicking Your Ass in 2017 and is thrilled to announce the upcoming The Resilient Actor Audiobook and The Resilient Actor Workbook & Planner: How to Kick Ass in the Business Without It Kicking Your Ass.

“I’ve worked with Hollywood stars and actors currently working on Broadway. I have been able to utilize the secrets of their behind-the-scenes success along with my skills as a wellness coach and my own personal experience. I’ve worked mostly in live regional theatre, but also some television, film, and radio. When I left my BFA program and started working professionally, I had to learn the hard way all the life and balance skills they didn’t teach at the conservatory. There was a lot of focus on being a triple threat, on performance skills, but nothing about how to survive the challenging life of being an actor. I fought depression, loneliness, weight gain, difficulty navigating periods of unemployment, all of it. Like most actors, I had to learn how to get the rest & recovery I needed, how to master my mindset to work with me – not against me, and how to take care of myself like a performing athlete. I had to learn all these life skills beyond my BFA.” – Debra Wanger

ABOUT THE RESILIENT ACTOR:

From The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass In the Business Without It Kicking Your Ass

Acting can be a crazy profession, full of uncertainty, insecurity, and unpredictability. While there are many books about technique, little has been written about how to pursue the dream without compromising your health and sanity. Pulling from her decades of experience as an actor, talent manager, and lifestyle coach, Debra Wanger filled this void in 2016 with a must-read survival guide for the acting professional.

Debra offers a positive, practical, playful, holistic approach to the art and business of acting that marries mind, body, spirit, and craft. In this essential handbook, which serves as a personal coach in a book, she covers all the bases–from exercise and nutrition to time management and setting goals to staying motivated from audition through performance. Her valuable, tried-and-true insights, gained from client successes, will enable the performing artist to balance and bolster a challenging creative career with a healthy, productive personal life.

At last there’s a clear path through the madness. The Resilient Actor will lead you to the top of your game, increase your professional staying power, and help you achieve equilibrium in all aspects of your life.

ABOUT THE RESILIENT ACTOR’S WORKBOOK AND PLANNER:

Discover some of the secrets from Broadway & Hollywood to supercharge your career and balance your life. Debra Wanger knows how difficult it can be to pursue your dream of acting without compromising your health or your sanity. She drew wisdom from decades of working as an actor, talent manager, and wellness coach to write The Resilient Actor and give emerging and experienced actors a holistic approach to their profession that marries mind, body, spirit, and craft. Sustaining a healthy and satisfying career requires more than just talent- go beyond the skills you learned in your BFA program.

The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner is filled with quick & easy exercises designed to help you plot the direction for your career from the start and avoid the pitfalls that many actors face. You’ll walk through the steps to figure out what kind of actor you want to be and the lifestyle you want to have. You’ll set goals and develop habits for your career and use the specially-designed included actors’ planner to create a step-by-step action and accountability plan for achieving them. The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner will unlock longevity in your career by showing you how to find happiness and health in an industry that challenges both.

Debra Wanger – Photo Credit – Ken Jacques

BIO – DEBRA WANGER

Debra studied acting at the nationally acclaimed Piven Theatre Workshop with such talents as John Cusack, Joan Cusack, and Jeremy Piven. Her vocal training began at the Northwestern University vocal department while still attending high school. She declined an opera scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory in order to study musical theatre at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM.) She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tufts University and received a Master of Fine Arts in musical theatre from San Diego State University, where she graduated Phi Kappa Phi as a Marion Ross Scholar.

Debra is currently in rehearsals as “Liz”- the younger version of Queen Elizabeth in Handbagged at Moxie Theatre which runs October 19^th through November 17^th. She has performed in regional theatres and cabaret clubs across the country, most frequently in Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, and South Florida. In Professionally Speaking at the Off-Broadway, The Miami Herald hailed her “a comic spark plug.” Her role in Triumph of Love won a KPBS-TV Patté award. Her one-woman show My Nights With George, Kurt & Cole, (co-written and directed by comic genius, Phil Johnson) was featured at various venues throughout Southern California and won Best New Play and Best Actress at the 2003 San Diego Actors Festival, and the San Diego Playbill Billie Award for Best Actress in a musical.

She was just featured as The Angel in Cygnet Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Angels in America, as well as A Little Night Music, On the 20th Century, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady, Evita, Sweeney Todd and Dogfight on the Cygnet stage. At San Diego Musical Theatre has been featured in Hairspray, Billy Elliot, Footloose, Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles, and White Christmas. Other San Diego theatre highlights include: God of Vengeance at La Jolla Playhouse, Hamlet (Gertrude) at Intrepid; Titanic & Sunset Blvd. at Moonlight; Permanent Collection at Mo’olelo; Full Monty (Vicki) at New Village Arts; Sleeping Beauty at North Coast Rep; Anything Goes! (Reno), Oliver! (Nancy) at Lyric Opera San Diego; Carousel and Sound of Music at Lawrence Welk. Her CD, Driving My Own Heart is also available on Amazon and iTunes.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“This book is fantastic. I’m a professional actor and also teach acting, and will recommend it to all my students. It’s a topic not discussed enough! Resilience is one of the most important qualities for any working actor–if not THE most important quality. Highly recommended!”

-Amy Griffin

“The Resilient Actor by Debra Wanger is a valuable and refreshing resource for anyone in the acting profession who wants to elevate their career while attaining balance in their life. Wanger delivers a motivating, witty, and practical workbook that is bound to bring about positive and healthy change on the road to success.”

-C.K.

“I found The Resilient Actor to be very helpful to me as a musician even though the book was written for actors. It was a great reminder of how to be proactive instead of waiting for the phone to ring and how to keep active always working on your craft. It was a good reminder that even successful creative people never let up on getting their name and face out there and true artists know that their profession is always a work in progress. The book really gave me good solid tips on how to stay healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually; especially when you are in between work projects. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in the business or that is thinking about getting in the business to get a reality check for the persistence needed as well as the care and feeding of the artist in you. Loved it and will continue to use it as a reference!”

-Marc Breithaupt

BOOK INFORMATION:

The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass In the Business (Without It Kicking Your Ass)

ISBN paperback: 978-1-61961-830-5 ISBN eBook: 978-1-61961-831-2

Audiobook: The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass In the Business (Without It Kicking Your Ass)

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07ZTPBWMH?qid=1572559504&sr=1-1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=VZ7R3H

ISBN: pending.

Upcoming: The Resilient Actor’s Workbook: How to Kick Ass In the Business (Without It Kicking Your Ass) ISBN: pending.

Debra is available to speak to groups about The Resilient Actor.

Debra Wanger’s Website: http://debrawanger.com/

Q & A with Debra Wanger and SJF Communications

Like, Follow and Interact with Debra on Social Media:

Facebook: @resilientactor https://www.facebook.com/resilientactor/

Twitter: @debrawanger https://twitter.com/debrawanger

Instagram: @debradiva https://www.instagram.com/debradiva/

For more information or to book Debra for interviews, speaking engagements or coaching Contact:

Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications 408-398-5940 sjfcommunications@gmail.com

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Q & A with Debra Wanger ~ The Resilient Actor & Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

We are thrilled to introduce our new SJF Communications client – San Diego Actor, Author and Coach – Debra Wanger. Debra’s book The Resilient Actor: How to Kick Ass in the Business (Without it Kicking Your Ass) brings the behind the scenes secrets of Hollywood & Broadway to supercharge one’s career and balance one’s life. An upcoming Audiobook as well as Workbook/Planner will be available soon.

SJF: In a nutshell…tell us about your life as an actor/performer – highs, lows, ‘aha’ moments- stressors…etc.

DW: I’ve worked mostly in live regional theatre, but also some television, film, and radio. When I left my BFA program and started working professionally, I had to learn the hard way all the life and balance skills they didn’t teach at the conservatory. There was a lot of focus on being a triple threat, on performance skills, but nothing about how to survive the challenging life of being an actor. I fought depression, loneliness, weight gain, difficulty navigating periods of unemployment, all of it. Like most actors, I had to learn how to get the rest & recovery I needed, how to master my mindset to work with me – not against me, and how to take care of myself like a performing athlete. I had to learn all these life skills beyond my BFA.

SJF: What experiences and/or people (parents, role models, etc.) in your life influenced you the most and why?

DW: My brother used to attend an acting school in Chicago with some young actors – John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Jeremy Piven among them. They were all clearly phenomenally talented back then. I tagged along and was impressed. I caught the bug then & there. My brother gave it up, but I didn’t.

I also had a boss at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) who was somehow able to be an agent, a wife, a mother and a happy human all at the same time. She was able to cut through all the B.S. and find a balance that worked for her. She was an inspiration for me.

SJF: Describe your book The Resilient Actor

DW: Many of my private coaching clients are actors who stumble upon the same road blocks, and that is how The Resilient Actor was born. The Resilient Actor combines my experience as an actor, coach, and Hollywood talent manager. It is part cautionary tale, letting readers know my story and all the ways I did it wrong. It is the actors’ handbook I wish someone had handed me when I left my BFA program. It is the course that was missing from my acting school curriculum.

SJF: Describe your work as a health and wellness coach

DW: As a coach, I help my clients discover what their goals are: whether it be to lose 20 pounds, gain energy, make more money, improve relationships, whatever it is they want or need. Then I help them come up with an action plan to achieve those goals, identify and remove any obstacles they have to this action plan and help them with accountability. Every client is different, so I customize it to their needs. Many of my clients are actors who stumble upon the same roadblocks, and that is how The Resilient Actor was born. The Resilient Actor combines my experience as an actor, coach, and Hollywood talent manager.

SJF: Your time working at CAA and with the Talent Manager? Stresses? Patterns seen? High points?

DW: Creative Artists Agency in the 90’s was so exciting and crazy. I was there when super-agent Michael Ovitz still ran the place and all of Hollywood. It was like working in an emergency room, everything was high stakes and urgent and high stress, and then Tom Hanks would walk by. It was incredibly stressful, but such a fertile learning ground for how the business of the business worked. It probably took a few years off my life, but the experience was invaluable for learning how film and television work. Managing was some babysitting, some creativity and lot of phone calls, horrible scripts and hours in my car traversing LA for lunch meetings. Taking clients to Sundance or the Golden Globes was as cool as it sounds, but the grind really got to me. Ultimately, I enjoy being on the creative end more than the business side of things.

SJF: Tell us about your past year or so of musicals/shows- Describe your roles and accolades! Angels in America, etc.

DW: This year has been a breakout year for me in San Diego theatre. I was the female authority figure in Hairspray at San Diego Musical Theatre, a collection of John Waters dark-humor characters in a cracker jack cast of a huge musical comedy. I played The Angel (& several other roles) in the acclaimed production of Angels in America at Cygnet Theatre (all 7 hours of it.) It was the most challenging, most exhilarating show I have ever done. Every single element of that show came together, every single person from the director, cast, designers all brought their A game. Next, I play the Queen of England in the West Coast Premiere of the British comedy hit Handbagged at Moxie Theatre. It’s funny – I followed my own advice and had one of the best years of my career.

SJF: Tell us about the cast of Handbagged and when is the theatrical run at Moxie?

DW: The Handbagged cast is a ‘who’s who’ of San Diego theatre: Sandy Campbell, Linda Libby, Lisel Gorell-Getz and myself, with Durwood Murray and Max Macke directed by Kim Strassburger. Many of us are often up for the same roles and don’t get to all work together. It will be a diva-fest in the best way possible. So much talent. We play Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth running October 19-November 17. I can’t wait.

SJF: What do you dream about?

DW: I dream about making a difference. I dream about balance. I dream about sunny weather, hugs from my children and using my all the wisdom I have acquired to help others. And chocolate.

SJF: What are your top 3 values in life?

DW: Authenticity, love and playfulness.

SJF: What are you most proud of?

DW: I am really proud of The Resilient Actor, and upcoming The Resilient Actor Audio Book and The Resilient Actor’s Workbook and Planner, my creative babies, but I’d have to say I am really proud of my 3 kids, my human babies. They are phenomenal, loving, decent human beings.

SJF: Describe your feelings about balancing motherhood and work

DW: Balancing motherhood & work is a challenge. Acting tends to be feast or famine. I don’t take every show I am offered. I have to weigh it against tucking my kids in for those 3 months. I am pickier about what projects I do. That is one of the reasons I love writing, coaching, and public speaking – it allows me to work with actors and be creative without negatively affecting my kids. They know I love being onstage and want me happy, I just attempt to balance it as best I can.

SJF: Female issues with males (harassment) in entertainment?

DW: Ugh. This is a real thing. It is time that people shed light on bad behavior in the arts and in business. There have been some individuals abusing and taking advantage for years, many of whom were common knowledge and no one did anything. I applaud the brave souls who are willing to speak up for themselves. Of course, I hope that individuals who are breaking the law are brought to justice and that attitudes change. The whole system needs to change and awareness is the first step.

SJF: Any fears? Doubts? ever?

DW: Of Course! I’m human. Like all actors – I doubt myself. I have several exercises in the book to help with negativity and doubt so they don’t get the best of you. I get insecure and doubtful like anyone, but I have learned how to tame that beast most of the time.

SJF: Many thanks, Debra!

Debra Wanger’s Website: http://debrawanger.com/

Like, Follow and Interact with Debra on Social Media:

Facebook: @resilientactor https://www.facebook.com/resilientactor/

Twitter: @debrawanger https://twitter.com/debrawanger

Instagram: @debradiva https://www.instagram.com/debradiva/

For more information or to book Debra for interviews, speaking engagements or coaching contact

Publicist: Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications 408-398-5940 sjfcommunications@gmail.com