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Blog archive

November 2024

October 2024

ARBORIST WALK: NOT FOR TREE HUGGERS ONLY!
10/29/2024

Bill Wishner: Visual Hunter
10/29/2024

Can a Village Group Fix Our Healthcare System?
10/29/2024

Community Board Directors Strengthen Village Board
10/29/2024

Connecting with Village Connections: The A, B, C, & D’s of Medicare @ 65+
10/29/2024

Grief is a Journey: Two Paths Taken
10/29/2024

Message from the President
10/29/2024

Promoting Informed & Involved Voters
10/29/2024

What Will Be Your Legacy?
10/29/2024

1619, Approaching the Election...
10/27/2024

Beyond and Within the Village - A Star is Born
10/17/2024

Happiness by Priscilla Leonard
10/11/2024

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
10/11/2024

Unpainted Door by Louise Gluck
10/11/2024

In the Evening by Billy Collins
10/10/2024

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
10/10/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Connecting with the Creative Hannah Rough-Shock

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 10/24/2023
Tags: bios, staff, karen bagnard

You know that quiet young woman who expertly juggles many tasks on behalf of our wonderful Village? She’s louder than you might think!

Hannah has been an artist as far back as she can remember. While her parents were not artists, they had the wisdom to encourage the natural talents of their children. For Hannah, those childhood days of drawing and coloring have translated into more than a career as a freelance artist. She has a message and a calling in her work.

While experiencing the love and support and art materials from her parents, Hannah also experienced the anguish of bullying. In addition, she has struggled with mental illness most of her life.

This blending of love, support and adversity shaped a “calling” in Hannah’s art. Throughout her stories, her images create a statement of acceptance, respect and love of all beings that identify as “queer” (a term Hannah has taken back as a statement of power). Hannah’s stories arise from her own experiences. The underlying message in her story characters is her “act of peace” toward creating a better world for all of us.

In addition, she is giving voice to mental illness, a longtime taboo subject. By being open about this we give oxygen to healing. One might see her as a personification of the Japanese art form called “Kintsugi.” 

Hannah finds inspiration in media, especially when she sees what she can relate to in a very personal way. At the same time, she finds some of the emerging corporate practices in technology quite disturbing and dismissive of the value of artists and their work.

As a result of this, she said, “I am learning to love art again,” and she is focusing on the constant love of the process of creating art. She feels a sense of freedom when immersed in her creative work. 

Hannah disclaims the notion that she is “quiet!” She says she is actually a pretty loud and boisterous person, and her friends and family will attest to that. What all we Villagers can say about Hannah is that she is a hardworking staff member who brings her creative spirit to every task.

Take some time to view and enjoy Hannah’s amazing art on the walls of our conference room. This exhibit will last through the holidays. If you missed her presentation in October, I hope that viewing her work, as well as reading this article will clue you in who that “quiet” woman is in our front office. As you get involved in volunteering on committees and task forces at the Village you will have the pleasure of getting to know Hannah even better.

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