Upcoming Media Attention: Interview with Channel 11, Houstonisimo on the first or second week of April 2008. More details to come soon. Also, "Woman's World" magazine did an interview and photo shoot with me about my upcoming exhibit and new body of work. The article will print in May. Be sure and pick up a copy of that! Here's an article that The Houston Chronicle wrote about me about my new body of work to be exhibited in March 2008 at Saga's. Heights/Neartown News
Riverside Terrace artist starts new series after heart attack
Yvonne Zepeda aims to alert more women to stress-induced cardiomyopathy via 'Heart of the Matter'
Chronicle Correspondent Last spring Riverside Terrace resident Yvonne Zepeda told everyone she was going to do something big for her 40th birthday, but she got more than she bargained for. The week before her May 2 birthday, Zepeda, then 39, suffered a heart attack. "My arteries were not clogged, I am not overweight, and I don't have high cholesterol," Zepeda said. "It's called stress-induced cardiomyopathy and it's happening to young women." Dr. Paolo Angelini, a cardiologist with Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 6770 Bertner Ave.), said he's been studying this rare condition, also known as Takotsubo. "Basically it was not recognized until about five years ago," said Angelini, who did not treat Zepeda. "There is no clear understanding of what happens and why it happens, but we do know that 90 percent of patients who have it are women, and 90 percent are post-menopausal. "It's usually precipitated by an acute event such as intense pain, a car accident, an operation, an asthma attack, or an emotional stressor." Zepeda said for her, the cause was trying to juggle nine or 10 things at once without ever dropping a ball. "I thought I could be a perfect mom, have two careers in the same field, deal with a full household, sustain a strained relationship, be community-oriented and an activist," Zepeda said. "We women tend to think we can do it all. But we can't. We are over over achieving and we do not realize what we are doing to ourselves." Zepeda teaches art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St.). Art has been part of her healing process, she said, and she's creating a new series titled Heart of the Matter. "New paintings include Heart Torment, a nude figure with an open chest and a distorted heart inside to symbolize the many ways we abuse our hearts, medically and emotionally," Zepeda said. "Heart and Mind Virus is a painting of a large set of eyes where one eyeball has a heart in the center, and the other eyeball has a brain in the center, to symbolize the battle that goes on between heart and mind." Zepeda will continue working on her series until she has approximately 20 pieces of art, which will be oil on canvas and mixed media. She will exhibit the series next March at Bohemios Café, 708 Telephone Road. ). Meanwhile, Zepeda is learning to take it easy and how to better handle stress, something she says she wouldn't have been able to do without the help of Suzanne Jarvis, executive vice president of ESOCEN, an energy healing center at 4807 Caroline. ) "Doctors work with the physical body, the hardware," Jarvis said. "We work with the software. There are invisible energy systems that penetrate the physical body. We help transform that energy to release the stress from our system." Jarvis said they also have a coaching component in energy healing sessions. "Clients need to discover the internal patterns, sources and causes of stress so they can be corrected," Jarvis said. "We identify the right steps to change their habits or patterns into a healthier pattern." That's a lesson Zepeda had to learn the hard way. "I had a heart attack," Zepeda said. "It's the craziest thing. I'm still in shock." RESOURCES Want to know more?
• For more information on Zepeda's Heart of the Matter series, visit www.yzepedaart.bravehost.com .
• For more information on energy healing, visit www.esocenenergymedicine.com . • For more information on stress-induced cardiomyopathy, visit www.takotsubo.com . Houston Chronicle Article
| Heights/Neartown News |
Riverside Terrace artist starts new series after heart attack
Yvonne Zepeda aims to alert more women to stress-induced cardiomyopathy via 'Heart of the Matter'
Yvonne Zepeda aims to alert more women to stress-induced cardiomyopathy via 'Heart of the Matter'
Chronicle Correspondent
Last spring Riverside Terrace resident Yvonne Zepeda told everyone she was going to do something big for her 40th birthday, but she got more than she bargained for.
The week before her May 2 birthday, Zepeda, then 39, suffered a heart attack.
"My arteries were not clogged, I am not overweight, and I don't have high cholesterol," Zepeda said. "It's called stress-induced cardiomyopathy and it's happening to young women."
Dr. Paolo Angelini, a cardiologist with Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 6770 Bertner Ave.), said he's been studying this rare condition, also known as Takotsubo.
"Basically it was not recognized until about five years ago," said Angelini, who did not treat Zepeda. "There is no clear understanding of what happens and why it happens, but we do know that 90 percent of patients who have it are women, and 90 percent are post-menopausal.
"It's usually precipitated by an acute event such as intense pain, a car accident, an operation, an asthma attack, or an emotional stressor."
Zepeda said for her, the cause was trying to juggle nine or 10 things at once without ever dropping a ball.
"I thought I could be a perfect mom, have two careers in the same field, deal with a full household, sustain a strained relationship, be community-oriented and an activist," Zepeda said.
"We women tend to think we can do it all. But we can't. We are over over achieving and we do not realize what we are doing to ourselves."
Zepeda teaches art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St.).
Art has been part of her healing process, she said, and she's creating a new series titled Heart of the Matter.
"New paintings include Heart Torment, a nude figure with an open chest and a distorted heart inside to symbolize the many ways we abuse our hearts, medically and emotionally," Zepeda said.
"Heart and Mind Virus is a painting of a large set of eyes where one eyeball has a heart in the center, and the other eyeball has a brain in the center, to symbolize the battle that goes on between heart and mind."
Zepeda will continue working on her series until she has approximately 20 pieces of art, which will be oil on canvas and mixed media. She will exhibit the series next March at Bohemios Café, 708 Telephone Road. ).
Meanwhile, Zepeda is learning to take it easy and how to better handle stress, something she says she wouldn't have been able to do without the help of Suzanne Jarvis, executive vice president of ESOCEN, an energy healing center at 4807 Caroline. )
"Doctors work with the physical body, the hardware," Jarvis said. "We work with the software. There are invisible energy systems that penetrate the physical body. We help transform that energy to release the stress from our system."
Jarvis said they also have a coaching component in energy healing sessions.
"Clients need to discover the internal patterns, sources and causes of stress so they can be corrected," Jarvis said. "We identify the right steps to change their habits or patterns into a healthier pattern."
That's a lesson Zepeda had to learn the hard way.
"I had a heart attack," Zepeda said. "It's the craziest thing. I'm still in shock."
RESOURCES
Want to know more?
• For more information on Zepeda's Heart of the Matter series, visit www.yzepedaart.bravehost.com .
• For more information on energy healing, visit www.esocenenergymedicine.com .
• For more information on stress-induced cardiomyopathy, visit www.takotsubo.com .
HOUSTON CHRONICLE ARCHIVES
Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Thu 04/20/2006
Section: ThisWeek
Page: 2
Edition: 2 STAR
Date: Thu 04/20/2006
Section: ThisWeek
Page: 2
Edition: 2 STAR
Local painter taps creative juices / Gulf Gate artist focuses new project on women, wine
By KIM HUGHES, HOUSTON CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
By KIM HUGHES, HOUSTON CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
There's nothing Gulf Gate resident Yvonne Zepeda enjoys more than her sketch pad, artist's easel and a nice glass of merlot wine.
So, when Zepeda found a way to combine her love of art and her desire to feel connected to those who view her art, she jumped on it.
"Now, I can make my audience a part of my world and my life passion," said Zepeda, a 38-year-old mother of three.
"This will be a series of work that reflects my creative self, yet the personal experiences of other women."
Zepeda is referring to her work on an exhibit she has titled "How Do You Like Your Merlot?"
It will feature approximately 30 paintings of a variety of women and their glasses of wine.
The idea came to Zepeda when she painted a portrait of herself: Crouched on the sofa, knees tucked under, sketch pad on her lap and a glass of merlot on the side table.
"That painting ended up in a bidding war," Zepeda said.
"It clicked that I needed to do what every woman felt, enjoying a glass of wine in different situations.
"A glass of wine brings us the quiet time to reflect, and camaraderie when we're with our group of women friends."
For the portraits, some of Zepeda's ideas include "Merlot on the Beach," "Merlot in the Garden" and "Merlot under Moonlight."
All of her ideas include women from the community who are willing to model for her paintings.
Zepeda has about 20 women who have expressed an interest.
"Each of these women is very brave," Zepeda said.
"None of them have ever modeled before. These are women just like you and I; women in every stages of life.
"These women have entrusted me and have agreed to let a glimpse of their personal lives become my personal canvas.
"I hope I'm able to empower them when they see how incredibly beautiful they are."
Veronica Lopez, a 31-year-old Southeast Houston resident, recently posed for a "Merlot in the Tub" session for Zepeda.
"I've always wanted to do something like this," Lopez said. "It's actually a lot of work. It's not as easy as people think. You have to hold that pose while she (Zepeda) takes pictures of you, your feet, your eyes, your hands - everything."
Zepeda then retreats to her studio with the photographs, and begins to paint.
Once the collection is complete, it will be on display at Bocados Restaurant and Bar, 1312 W. Alabama in the Montrose area.
"I think this is her best idea yet," said Zepeda's husband of 16 years, Armando Benavides. "I believe this is really going to propel her into the art world."
ART, WINE PROJECT
Community Connection: Gulf Gate resident Yvonne Zepeda, a painter, is looking for models for her upcoming art exhibit, "How Do You Like Your Merlot?"
Fast Fact: Zepeda, 38, is a former interior designer who decided to focus on her artwork full time the day she turned 30.
Quick Quote: "I took the leap of faith. I had to take a chance. The first four years I really struggled but I kept at it." - Yvonne Zepeda
Info: Call 713-492-0432, or visit Zepeda's Web site at www.yzepedaart.bravehost.com.
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