Thoughts on healing: The work and evolution of artist Kimberly Megoran

Self-employed for more than twenty years, Kimberly Megoran knows a thing or two about resiliency. And she has more than a story or two to tell about it.

The move to self-employment was inspired by travel to some extent. She was working at a local printing company in early 2000 when a two-week trip to the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally came up.

Time off was an issue, however.

So, Megoran and her employer parted ways. It’s now been two decades and she hasn’t looked back.

Artwork by Megoran and Love Street Live.

One thing has always led to another with her career and Kimberly’s experience is as colorful and dynamic as both her art and music – both passions she funnels into her work with Love Street Live.

Love Street Live brings together a harmony and inspiration of live painting, music and expression.

Just as interesting as her art however, is the path that got her there.

Previously, she ran her own media company for more than a decade, specializing in advertising and marketing for local businesses, radio ads, live interviews and more.

Megoran was later instrumental in both the Mountain Rock and Mountain Country Music Festivals in Farwell, Michigan before they shuttered in 2008 due to economic conditions.

She also had a live performance business, as both a singer and songwriter, often playing shows three to four nights a week.

“What saved me during setbacks was my art” she says. “After the festivals shut down, I was both broke and heartbroken. I took my heartbreak and put that energy into art.”

So, with that, Megoran took to her backyard.

Megoran performing live.

“There was a piece of cement that was probably 10 feet by 30 feet and I knew I could do something with it,” she says. “It took months, but I painted a multi-dimensional display of rocks. It was so therapeutic during that time and at some point, you get into the mindset of thinking how can I get myself through this?”.

After a few months, she took advantage of the economic climate at the time, picking up one of the stores that bought back gold and other jewelry in Saginaw as a marketing client. Megoran eventually learned enough about the business that she became a gold buyer, often hosting gatherings of women who wanted to make the most of old jewelry at the time.

After a chance meeting where she happened to have her guitar with her, Megoran met some diamond and gemstone industry connections.

“We had this impromptu jam session, and next thing I know, they asked me if I wanted to work with them,” she says. “The diamond and gemstone markets are really interesting, for the little stint I got to know of it.”

That’s right. Gold buying and guitar playing led a short stint with diamonds and gemstones, and Megoran went to Florida off and on for a time.

Megoran performing with Love Street Live.

“That wasn’t my passion however, so I eventually got back to my roots,” she says.

Megoran was temporarily working at Art Van Furniture in Saginaw while also continuing to work on her art, and happened to cross paths with a customer who she noticed smelled wonderful. Ever curious about other people, Megoran asked what she did for a living and the woman replied she was a massage therapist.

That moment was like a light switch for her.

“I just had one of those moments where I knew it was the right next move for me and that it blended well with the healing I get to see through both my music and art,” she says. “That happened on a Thursday. By the following Monday, I was enrolled in school Flint School of Therapeutic Massage.”

The time off and the change in direction allowed Megoran to play several leading shows at the Caseville Cheeseburger Festival while also going to school to pursue her massage therapy certification.

That was over six years ago. Now, Megoran says that massage and the “healing arts” is something that fits right into her passion for helping people. Her massage business is Be Well Studio.

“Healing and helping others has always been an internal calling and there are so many avenues to get there, whether that is through art, music, or therapeutic massage,” she says. “They all have helped to teach me in one way or another that this world is in need of so much healing.”

Megoran working with children as a part of Love Street Live.

“I work with many clients, from children to the elderly and there are so many ways we can work on self-healing,” Megoran says. “Everything from working on our health, to speaking kind words, listening and caring about others, to creative expression, to eating healthy foods. It’s all a part of what I do to some extent and most of all I just love helping people.”

From an artistic perspective, Megoran is careful to stress one thing.

“There are no rules with creative expression. That is something that is very important to me in teaching and helping others find their creative spark,” she says. “It’s not about the outcome. It’s the process that is the most important.”

Love Street Live exists to capture that process through the combination of creating music and art together. To get feeling, purpose and expression out of people.

“Everyone is creative, even if they don’t know it yet,” she says.

Musical inspired artwork by Kimberly Megoran.

Megoran has broadened Love Street Live and her art to a few more places recently, partnering with the The Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region on a new effort to help children deal with grief through music and art. She recently completed continuing education through the Children’s Grief Center’s annual training for facilitators. The training involved communication techniques and active listening practices for working with young people dealing with grief.

“I have an affinity for children in need, as I was an adopted child myself,” says Megoran. “We learned so much about listening with an open heart. Just by listening, so much progress can be made and we are also helping children cope through connection, music and art.”

Megoran dabbles in a little bit of everything, so rightly you can find her a few different places. Along with her work at the Children’s Grief Center, the local art scene, and her current schedule, you can catch her this summer at the Midland Center for the Arts Summer Art Fair, which will be the 20^th year Megoran has played at the event.

You can follow Kimberly Megoran at Love Street Live on Facebook, Be Well Studio as well as her website at http://www.kimberlymegoran.com/.