Julie Ray Creative

04/17/2026

I'm taking part in Julie Berman's new Podcast Guesting Program! It's a series of one-on-one sessions to prepare me for interviews and presentations related to my passions: Advocating for public support of the arts, promoting creativity and civic engagement, and inspiring folks to get engaged in their communities.

We're going through a step-by-step process that's allowing me to take time for each phase and get really clear about why I'm doing this. I appreciate that Julie takes the time to thoroughly explain each stage and provides worksheets and recordings of each session. Her guidance gives me confidence that I'll be fully prepared for taking my show on the road! 😆

04/03/2026

Arizona Gives Day is next Tuesday, April 7! Arizona Gives is an annual giving movement where donors come together to support the 1000+ nonprofits currently operating in the state of Arizona. These noprofits contribute to the health and wellbeing of all Arizonans through services and programs ranging from investing in artists to providing food and shelter for the unhoused.

Several of our clients participate so check out https://www.azgives.org/ to learn more. Let's continue to support the organizations that are vital to Arizona!

Our participating clients:

Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project
Sahuarita Food Bank
Jose Women's Center
Southwest Folklife Alliance

02/25/2026

Since 2015, the Master-Apprentice Artist Award program of Southwest Folklife Alliance —the first of its kind in Arizona—has awarded nearly 100 master artists-apprentice teams, helping them to continue and pass on heritage-based practices in music, dance, weaving, jewelry, foodways, storytelling, and more.

This Saturday, SFA will present "Culture Keepers," in honor of 10 years of the program. We designed the graphics, and have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare signage and swag for the event. SFA has exciting plans for 2026 and we're thrilled to be a collaborator!

Learn more about the event: https://southwestfolklife.org/event/17386/

Photos by Steven Meckler Photography

01/09/2026

It's been one year since the start of the devastating Eaton Fire that destroyed over 9,000 structures, including a disproportionate amount of homes in historic Black neighborhoods.

We were in the process of designing the digital Altadena Poetry Review's Anthology 2025 when the fires hit. In response, the Altadena Poetry Review put out a call for fire-related poems and images.

When we learned about the Batchelder Tiles that survived the fires, and the efforts to preserve them, we were inspired to include them as a design element alongside the poetry. Designed by Ernest A. Batchelder, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement in California, his tiles formed many of the fireplaces in Altadena and surrounding homes. Able to withstand extremely high temperatures, many of these tiles were still standing after the Eaton Fire.

JRC designer Jenni Pagano created a stunning e-book featuring a whopping 163 poems by 108 authors! Contributors include Poets Laureate, Pushcart Prize poetry nominees and winners, national and regional literary award winners, bloggers, writing professors, editors, and those relatively new to writing poetry.

The first section, "Before the Ashes," is dedicated to Peter J. Harris (Black Man of Happiness Project), Altadena Poet Laureate from 2022-2024. The second part, "After the Ashes," is dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Credits:
Lester Graves Lennon, Editor
Sehba Sarwar, Associate Editor
Funding from Altadena Library District and Altadena Library Foundation.

Read the Anthology at https://altadenapoetryreview.com/2025-anthology/

11/19/2025

Kapow! Zap! The team at Sahuarita Food Bank wanted to reach younger audiences with their annual impact report, so we partnered on this comic book format (using their AI-generated illustrations) to make their vital work engaging and accessible. This is our fourth year designing the report.

Here's what the organization shared with us about the recent government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits for many constituents:

"Government furloughs, workers at their jobs without pay, and SNAP recipients have come for food during this highly unsettling time. The SFB has been so fortunate that the community immediately provided food and monetary donations. With Thanksgiving and the winter holidays approaching, additional support would be welcome—to ensure that there is enough food to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors, children, and adults."

If you're able to help: donate at https://www.sahuaritafoodbank.org/make-donation or mail a check to Sahuarita Food Bank, 17750 S. Cañada Drive, Sahuarita, AZ 85629.

Shoutout to our designer Katie Ormsby for her creative design and layout!

10/27/2025

It's been a year since Peter J. Harris ( Man of Happiness Project) left this earth. Yesterday we remembered his joy, humor and love while announcing the launch of Inspiration House Foundation. I'm honored to be one of the founding board members of the non-profit organization that will carry on his legacy by supporting creative changemakers.

Peter and I worked together on grants and other initiatives, often cursing the elaborate process artists have to navigate to get money. It is my hope that we can create a transparent and joy-filled process to provide social change artists with funds that can nurture and support their professional creative endeavors.

Thank you, Peter, for including me in your life and creative process, and for sharing your Peterisms with me. I looking forward to working with your family (Carla, Adenike and Ketema) to continue your legacy and spread seeds of inspiration.

Learn more at https://inspirationhousefoundation.org

08/23/2025

Art opening of So Fun: An Exploration of Maximalism at ! I’m with the fab celebrating her colorful, vibrant artworks. Additional artists featured are Sarah Hurwitz, Sofie Ramos, Emily Spetrino, and Chloe Torri.

08/22/2025

Must read! In the latest Borderlore from Southwest Folklife Alliance: "Boots on the Ground: A Pictorial of the Arizona Black Rodeo." Essay by Adiba Nelso and photos by Eryka Dellenbach.

Fashion comes in boots of every color and material, with every adornment, leg, and heel height at the Arizona Black Rodeo.

04/17/2025

After a decade without professional photos, it was time to face my fears. At 52, I've struggled with feeling insecure in photos as long as I can remember (hello, being a woman!) but my website redesign required an authentic current representation. I was fortunate to connect with Harrison Hurwitz, a skilled Phoenix photographer with an impressive portfolio. We chose the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art as our setting, where these images were captured in James Turrell's contemplative 'Knight Rise' Skyspace (2001) and in front of Janel Garza's interconnected and nature-inspired 'Environ' mural (2019). Both artworks engage meaningfully with the natural environment—Turrell's piece opening directly to the sky above, while Garza's work inhabits an outdoor courtyard surrounded by desert flora. In the end, these photographs represent not just my professional identity, but my deep love of contemporary art and the benefits of interacting with art on a regular basis.

09/04/2024

It's Tucson Meet Yourself time again, coming to downtown Tucson October 4, 5, and 6! Each year we have the opportunity to design a new image for the festival (along with signage, maps, website updates, and more!). This year, our new team member, Katie Ormsby, designed this beautiful poster featuring Elisa Molina demonstrating Yoeme traditional embroidery! Photo by Steven Meckler Photography

Learn more about the festival, now in its 51st year, at tucsonmeetyourself.org