Biography:

Lewellen was born in 1954 in Richmond, Virginia. Dance, art, language, and building forts in the woods were all part of her childhood world. In 1981, she graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with honors and a B.S. in Marketing. Creativity, body work, and expression have always been an important part of her life. Lewellen is a wife, mother and grandmother, lucky to have her daughter, Tiffany, son-in law David, and grandsons, Max and Jack, living close by.  Lewellen will also welcome a new grand daughter, Ella Grace, in November 2011.

In 1990 she and her husband, Clyde, relocated to Salisbury where they have made their home on South Fulton Street. She has continued to refine her medium, Shadow Box Construction, and has shown in Charlotte at the Blue Pony Gallery, in Black Mountain at Seven Sisters and the Blue Butterfly Gallery. She had a solo exhibition at Pfeiffer University. In 2005, she had an exhibition at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center entitled, “Incantations and Incarnations.” She has continued to show throughout North Carolina and is honored to have her work included in many patron’s collections. In 1999, she purchased property for studio and gallery space at 323 West Harrison Street and Artemesia Artworks came into being. There she facilitates helping others find their way to creative lives using Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.

Lewellen’s interest in yoga started in 1996 when she began to practice the ancient art. In February and March of 2001, Lewellen went to the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Nassau, Bahamas to study to become a Certified Yoga Instructor. An extensive education was provided in diet and nutrition, anatomy, spirituality, pranayama or breathwork, and asana or the yoga postures. She has studied with Baxter Bell, Cora Wen, John Friend, Paul Grilley, Eric Schiffmann, Cyndi Lee of Om Yoga, and Angela Farmer ( October 2011) among others. Thai Yoga has become part of her focus as well. Learning to help others to relax and care for themselves has become an important part of her life. Classes are offered weekly at her studio, often surrounded by art! She continues to offer and practice body work to help practitioners mine their own creativity.

In an often chaotic world, it is Lewellen’s privilege to help others reconnect with their body and spirit. Teaching people how to overcome stress and anxiety, helping them relearn how to breathe properly, how to focus, become strong, centered and therefore in touch with their creative abilities has been a wonderful gift which she hopes to continue to give.