Meet Lorin Drexler | Teaching Artist & Writer/Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lorin Drexler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lorin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Balance is one aspect of my life I’ve been inadvertently forced to take more seriously because of the pandemic. Prior to the lockdowns, I’d been working almost every day, between teaching, being an artist, and all the other myriad activities my multi-disciplinary business had been performing. It was exhausting and I didn’t have much of a balance in my life. More recently, I’ve been limiting my work-time to make time for other vitalities, such as spirituality, socializing (mostly via social distance mediums), and volunteering.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If there’s one important thing I’ve learned on this road, and it’s something I frequently teach, it’s that if you’re passionate enough about something you can work toward that being the root of your survival. The creative path is always most difficult in the beginning because it’s all a question at that point. But you grow and learn along the way as long as you stay persistent and practice vigorously. The most current project I’m excited about is an art & poetry book I’m working on with my mom, Beth Hyatt. The content is inspired by the homeless communities I’ve encountered throughout my time doing volunteer work and is intended to be a gift to those communities once the work is complete. I will be writing poetry to paintings my mom will be creating from photos of some of the homeless communities captured in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Considering I live in Downtown Mesa, I’d bring them to Main Street and take them on a walk from where I live, which is the Mesa Artspace Lofts on Hibbert, all the way to Country Club. We’d visit the Mesa Arts Center, head to Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea, & Gallery for a drink, and possibly Worth Takeaway for lunch. From there, I’d probably find a good hike to bring them on, and there are plenty in the valley.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shoutout to all my family and friends, who have always been supportive of me while I’ve been on this creative journey. Above all, it’s those closest to you that are the driving force behind any success. I couldn’t imagine being able to accomplish anything without that support system.

Website: https://lorindrexler.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorindrexler/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorinwdrexler

Image Credits
Personal Photo – Bruce Moore Poetry Reading Photo – Winona Grey (https://nonagrey.com)