Meet Angela Berry: Owner/ Operator of LaVan Berry Art LLC.

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

Hi Angela, how do you think about risk?
“Life is a series of trade-offs.” – by Dr. William Birkhead. Risks are a part of life and a part of every choice you make. I learned that in undergrad where my initial plan in life was to become a medical doctor and go further to specialize in Cardiology. After a terrible car accident in my 3rd year in undergrad that left me with a traumatic brain injury in 2008, my plans changed. It took a diagnosis of epilepsy and 3 more years than originally planned but my 2 diagnoses and the recommendation of my doctors said I would never finish. I took a risk then and finished getting my bachelor’s in biology. After graduation applying for jobs to get into the workforce was difficult and getting control of my seizures figuring out if my original plan would still work I took a risk went back to school to be a phlebotomist. Under the disapproval of my doctors, that plan was squashed as well. So I delved more into art and healing. After realizing how much my art helped me and the coping skills that can be found when doing that, I took another risk and bet on my health and the health of others as a whole. From that came LaVan Berry Art LLC., an art therapy initiative that has become so much more. Thinking back to my original quote “Life is a Series of Trade-offs'” I can see where risks have played an important part in my life as a whole. I may not have gone to med school or done anything further with my degree but I did trade a scholarly learning path to take a risk and run my own business that is profitable and still gives me a chance to help people in another capacity. So with all this in consideration, I think that this trade-off was one of the best.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art is life and I think my life experiences led me to be the artist that I am today. Therapy is the basis of everything I do and the fact that every piece of my art is a part of that journey and the stage I am in at that point in life. Or the different healing techniques that I have discovered. What excites me most is the continued journey of learning and finding myself through my work. The journey, thus far, has been arduous but the experiences I have encountered have taught me a lot. Thinking back on it the quote that got me through some pretty tough times is: “There is more than one way to get to California.” – Dr. Joanne McCrary, remembering my cousin telling me that even if I probably did not become a doctor/ healer in the way I originally thought there was another way to reach my goal; which was to help others. Having to cope with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its many effects, relearning how to do simple things. Then finding out later the epilepsy diagnosis. Not knowing what anxiety and depression or hand tremors and migraines were before but experiencing it full on after and during counseling realizing what works for me and what did not. After many hospital stays trying to control my seizures I realized that art helped me work through all the emotions, frustration, sense of loss (a dream deferred), and trying to figure out what my next steps are in life. I explored my art more and was encouraged to sell the many pieces that I made. After selling a few pieces I finally took a risk and bet on myself and using a few of the techniques I worked with during my recovery I turned it into an art therapy business. There is a lot of literature out there about TBI’s (Traumatic Brain Injury’s) and Epilepsy but no one is an expert on it but the person that is going through it, every case is different. That is a lesson I had to learn. I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to ask when you need help. I learned that change is inevitable and you have to be flexible. So I built a business that could compensate for my perceived shortcomings as I see them because deep down now and then the old Angela was a control freak. What I want everyone to know about LaVan Berry Art LLC and myself is that Change is inevitable and no matter the mistake you can always make something beautiful out of it. Hence why my business colors are Purple and Green, They represent part of my story Green for TBI awareness and Purple for Epilepsy awareness.

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?
We would go to The Vegan Sweetie pick up a couple treats go to an art show in downtown then head to Sea Salt at Midtown. The next day go to 10th & Piedmont for brunch then Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar later for dinner. Probably go to Escobar Restaurant & Tapas on Peters Street maybe for lunch on the third day. Head to the southside for some Indian food at Bombay Bites. Then I would wrap up our excursion by going to Jeju Spa and enjoy some nice sauna relaxation maybe get a massage and then on Sunday eat at Herban Fix on Peachtree Street. That would wrap up our week of hanging out because all these places have music and we’d definitely invite friends from around the city to join the fun no matter the time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a Shoutout to my dream team of Angela’s Angels as I like to refer to my mother Bonita Skillman, Kimberly Smith, Teresa Skillman, Brian, Brenda Skillman, Joshua, Lillian, Vivian, Brianna, Savanna, Yamonica Robinson, Nicole Ncho, Dr. Britteny Duru and to the late and great Ulysses H. Smith.

Website: www.lavanberryart.com

Instagram: @lavanberryart

Facebook: facebook.com/lavanberryart/

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaVanBerryArtLLC/

Image Credits
Angela Berry, Kimberly Smith, D & K Kustoms