Visions of Venus

Blue Red Lady Hat Growing up around my grandmother, Katharine Stowell and her creative friends who often got together to create in her sun porch in Tampa, Florida, I learned to paint, assemble, sew, knit, embroider, quilt and appliqué using various materials to create my own clothing. My grandmother would cut beautiful fresh flowers from her garden arranging unusual combinations. I was in awe bemusing myself with their colors and fragility, often drawing their images and plucking their petals to glue on my down on my paper. Thus roses and flowers began to emerge in my own drawings and embroidery.

I have always been fascinated by colors, costumes and theatrical images. My Dad, B.J, Brown, often took the family to see Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus, whose winter head quarters were located in Sarasota, Florida. The circus people practically lived around the corner and I was enthralled by their bright and shiny costumes! Clothing and color combinations that I had never seen before left me gasping for more! Thus, when the circus came to town, I was constantly gathering up ribbons and laces to embellish my clothes before we went. I was determined that if I could not join the circus I could certainly wear some of my own artistic clothing. My Mother, Katharine Weekley Barker, was always encouraging my creativity until the day, she notice her Elvis Presely 45 records, were missing. I had taken them outside into the hot Florida sunshine and had melted all these treasures to make ashtrays, though no one smoked in my family. She then discovered her jewelry glistening outside on the sidewalk as I was fascinated by the sparkles from the sunlight. I was quick to notice the difference between costume jewelry and my mom's good stuff. Hence, the beginning of creativity.........

Trish has an extensive history of exhibiting both her artwork, jewelry and clothing line in Museums, Galleries, and private collections. She has been published in Calendars and publications. Her jewelry is featured in Winter 2010, Belle Amoire, Jewelry magazine, altered art designed Tshirts in February 2011, Altered Couture magazine and her artistic aprons in Apron.ology, February 2011. In 2009, she was featured in Altered Couture for her Vintage Camisole and Tshirt along with her image being used to advertise in world wide issue of Haute Handbags. Her Jewelry and Tshirts are currently being featured at California Center for the Arts, Escondido. During 2009 she was featured in the Escondido¹s Fashion Week Trunk Show.

Trish Vernazza, M.A., MFT, the author of "Women, Art and Mental Illness" practices Art, Art Therapy, Licensed Marriage Family Therapy and is a California Credentialed Instructor. Trish is a 9-time recipient of Who's Who of American Women, a 6-time recipient of "Who's Who in America", and 4-time recipient of Who's Who in the World. She chaired and Co-Chaired V-Day, Vagina Monologues for NCAAWA, 2010, 2007, and 2006 with producing the cover artwork for the program. She was also was honored with a grant from Serpent Source Foundation for Women, San Francisco and Hillsborough County Artist Grant. Trish is an American Art Therapy Ambassador, CAMFT Elections Committee, and Media Spokesperson. Trish has also appeared numerous times as a guest expert on NBC's reality TV Show "Starting Over" along with representing CAMFT on KUSI News, San Diego.

She continues to display a community commitment in raising funds for Women of Color, (NCAAWA) Women with Mental Illness (Berkeley Creative Living Center), Vista Community Clinic, Women's Resource Center of Oceanside, CA by Moonlight Cultural Foundation. She is also a Board Member, Moonlight Cultural Foundation.

As a grad of New College of California in San Francisco, she further her education in Art Therapy at UC-Berkeley. Her extensive experience involves workshops for all ages. She pioneered co-ed gropus for art therapy at the San Francisco County Jails. She also assisted members to display their art works in national and distinguished exhibitions at the Berkeley Creative Living Center, CA. Trish is known for her personal warmth, compassion to healing, and inspiring others to attain their potential. She works individually with a diverse group from adolescents to adults in family counseling. She uses various theories: eclectic, humanistic, psychodynamic, and art therapy skills. She has worked in and for fields in mental health, school districts, and art facilities. Various settings consist of San Francisco County Jails, locked and unlocked group homes, Day Treatment Centers, probationary schools, and Haight Ashbury Free Clinics. She has treated individuals that have suffered from Delusions, Schizophrenia, Bipolar (manic -depression), Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychosis, Sexual Identity, Disassociate Identity Disorder, and Gender disorders. Many have physical and sexual abuse, personality disorders, grief, incest with abandonment, incarcerations, loss and multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, and homelessness.

More About Trish: Trish Vernazza's Resume