Lighting the Artistic Spark

Located at the southern edge of St. Helena, untold thousands of visitors have spedpass the Nimbus Arts Center, unaware that one of Napa County’s main centers of artistic creativity has its headquarters in a modest building along Highway 29.

Founded in 2005 by Jamie Graff and Dana Johnson, the nonprofit’s name is a spin off “Cloud Camp,” the first summer camp the group offered. In the years since, Nimbus’ classes have expanded to a wide group of disciplines — from sewing to painting to the culinary arts — and to an even wider group of students: middle schoolers to retirees to those healing from physical or mental ailments. 

The journey of Nimbus Arts began modestly. 

“We really started small out of the back of my Volvo and borrowing church buildings and school classrooms and cafeterias,” said Graff. 

Today, Nimbus Arts occupies a dynamic space where creativity andcommunity intersect, boasting three well-equipped studios, including a dedicated ceramics and metal arts facility. The organization offers a diverse range of programs, from traditional fine arts to innovative disciplines like glass fusing and culinary arts. 

“We work within the public school systems providing arts activities on campuses… And we also work in the court and community schools,” said Graff. 

In public schools, Nimbus Arts integrates art into the educational fabric,offering students a creative outlet that complements their academic learning. This program helps foster creativity, critical thinking, and a sense of accomplishment.

The impact in juvenile halls is even more profound, where art becomes a tool forself-expression and emotional exploration, offering a positive channel for theyouths’ experiences and feelings, said Graff. 

Andrea Cázares is a resident artist whose work has become a cornerstone of their educational and outreach programs. Cázares, who joined Nimbus Arts in 2018, has a background in historical fine artmediums, studying at the American University of Rome. 

Her approach to arteducation is deeply rooted in her belief in the therapeutic power of art. Thisphilosophy extends to her work with various community groups, including young students and individuals in juvenile facilities, emphasizing art as a tool for emotional and psychological healing. 

“We accept all forms of art. We accept all ideologies, and we allow a person to uniquely express themselves regardless of what we feel, we encourage it and that’s incredibly healing,” said Cázares. 

Matt Mumford is father of a 12-year-old student at the center. 

“My daughter has been attending Nimbus Arts since she was 2,” he said. “It started with simple activities like finger painting, and now she’s an accomplished oil painter and has even created Victorian dresses in Andrea’s sewing class.” 

Cázares describes Nimbus as a sanctuary of creativity and learning, where art transcends mere technique tobecome a medium of personal expression and healing. 

“I teach a lot of different classes for all age groups... just a lot of like exploratory art. I talk about our history.I nerd out with them... so I teach them the historical mediums, and just kind of teach them through a form of play,” she said. 

Her words paint a picture of an environment where art is not just a skill to be mastered but a language through which individuals of all ages can communicate, explore, and heal. Nimbus, in her view, is more than just an art center; it’s a vital, nurturing community hub that empowers and inspires. 

Graff said part of the nonprofit’s mission is to involve the community as much as possible. Examples of this include the annual Dia de las Muertos event — organized in partnership with the UpValley FamilyCenters — and the “Hundreds of Hands” program, meant to raise awareness about youth mental health. 

“We invest a lot of love and energy in working with and collaborating with other community organizations,” she said. 

The latest initiative, said Graff, is a mobile art center housed in a box truck, aimed at reaching an even wider audience across Napa County. “We just got our ‘Nim-Bus’ out on the road,” she said.