Heather Watkins

Heather Watkins is a visual artist, musician, dancer, teacher and a California native. Her development as an artist has been strongly influenced and nurtured by her family. She inherited a deep respect and value for diverse forms of art and world cultures that continue to positively influence her life. The arts have been an integral part of her family’s traditions and have served as a mode of self-expression, sharing history, celebration, cultural pride and social activism.

Heather received a B.A. in Social Studies from the University of California Berkeley. She has collaborated on several mural projects and visual art installations in the Bay Area. She was a member of Escola Nova de Samba, Fogo Na Roupa, and Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company. She toured internationally with Mingus Amungus as a percussionist and dancer, performing in the Berlin Jazz Festival, International Instanbul Jazz Festival, Monterrey Jazz Festival, Belgium, Cuba, as well as, numerous Bay Area venues. She currently plays piano, guitar and sings Jazz, Brazilian and R &B.

Heather has worked with youth and the arts for 28 years facilitating visual arts, music, dance, and theater classes and performances in several school programs throughout the Bay Area. She co-founded Loco Bloco and served as the Artistic Director and an instructor for over 18 years. Over and over again, Heather has experienced the positive impact of art and the creative process and continues to utilize the arts to enhance well-being and foster self-esteem, awareness, healthy relationships, positive perspectives and possibilities.