Kalichi Lamar, MS, MA
Artist | Healing Arts Practitioner
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Mabrika! (Welcome!)
My name is Kalichi, Indigenous-Taino for "fountain of the high mountain," my birthname given by my parents. I am from the island of Borikén where my roots are tied to my name and my connection to nature. I am an artist and healing arts practitioner with an M.S. and M.A. degree in Psychology and Arts in Medicine. I entered the creative field when the arts helped me cope with my father's passing from Pancreatic cancer, being a co-caregiver for my grandmother with dementia, and facing my own health matters. After witnessing the healing effects of art within my life, I was inspired to share this same healing with others.
Artist
As an artist, I run this small shop where I create woodburnings and laser engraved wooden pieces for the home and sacred spaces. Each piece is a representation of repurposing and alchemizing nature - a connection to roots.
When I work with wood, the connection is an awareness that the piece I am working with came from the earth, from a tree, from the land, from the roots, and was brought to me to change its form. Like wood, we also go through changes. We expand and contract depending on our environment, and sometimes we are uprooted to plant seeds and root ourselves in different phases of our life. May viewers and collectors of my work be inspired to examine their relationship to earth and cultivate ways to connect with their own roots, nature, and spirit.
Healing Arts Practitioner
As a healing arts practitioner, I provide creative wellness sessions for individuals experiencing grief and loss, as well as to promote relaxation and mindfulness through the creative process. I use my background in the arts and psychology to bring a holistic view of healing while also cultivating a connection with nature. This includes using art to remind ourselves that we are part of earth, part of the soil, and part of the ecosystem. Creative expression is engaged through the lens of Indigenous community healing and honoring the entire person – mind, body, spirit, and their connection to land and community. Cultivating each connection brings a sense of healing within our minds and body. We are not alone; we are part of a larger collective.
My previous experience includes working in the field of healthcare where I provided creative outlets for cancer patients, the elderly, patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and movement disorders. After the pandemic, I transitioned to providing services virtually. Since then, I have collaborated with Indigenous Taino artisans in my community, as well as organize creative wellness sessions for clientele of a local small business and university organizations.