Born in Manila and raised in New York City, Rhea has been a creative artist since childhood. Early mentors instilled a love of poetry, dance, and performance. She published her first poem, "The Ice Cream Man," when she was seven years old. The magazine sent her a check for seventy-five pesos - enough to buy several tubs of ice cream for the neighborhood kids!
After graduating cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, Rhea attended The Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. The dance and theater world of New York City allowed her to work with many talented artists, including actors Craig Alan Edwards and Patrick Michael Buckley, playwright Anthony DiMurro, choreographer Diane McCarthy, and directors Tony Patellis and Cheryl Katz. Along the way, Rhea picked up a camera and began developing her photography skills.
On self-expression, art, and relationship, she says,
 |
"Self-expression is innate. Everything we do is an expression of the Self. A work of art doesn't have to be a Picasso or a Monet to have an effect or tell a story. Movement, visual art, musical play, dramatic enactments, spoken word, and written prose deepen us into the human experience - the stuff of life. The arts communicate an immediate sense of shared humanity. Hunger is hunger, poverty is poverty, beauty is beauty, and joy is joy - whether on the faces of people in New York City, Metro Manila, or Amsterdam’s red light district."
"Relationships, too, are an expression of our Selves. I enjoy getting to know people intimately - their different lifestyles and worldviews. It promotes understanding, dialogue, compassion, and a sense of humor. It also reminds us of our own place in the world. I am especially interested in artists themselves - the world surrounding them, how they express their spirit and create within that context." |
|
In 2007, Rhea received her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology & Expressive Art Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. Her old film camera has been replaced by a digital cousin. She lives in San Francisco, CA.
|
