Our Vision & Mission

We envision a world where empathy is the engine of transformation and people connect with themselves and each other in ways that are curious, courageous, creative, and kind. Heart Mechanics exists to nurture a culture beyond blame, beyond transaction, beyond isolation—a culture where the art of being human is practiced through presence, resonance, and radical self-expression.

Launched in 2022 with standing meetings at a member’s home, Heart Mechanics is a decommodified, peer-based empathy practice community that cultivates relational and personal transformation through creative expression and resonant language. We offer spaces for learning, unlearning, and collective growth by engaging with empathy not as a performance, but as a way of life. Through art, circle practice, and embodied presence, we support each other in shifting from judgment to curiosity, from reaction to reflection, and from disconnection to belonging.

Attune-UP

Created in 2022 and updated in 2025, Attune-UP is an interactive empathy practice installation based on the practice called Nonviolent Communication. Each of the chairs represents a way to relate to one’s experience.

The first installation was fully funded and built by Dianna Walters-Hartley. The second, updated installation was funded in part by Heart Mechanics and with an art support grant from Midwest Burners. Contributing artists to the second iteration includes Derek Carson, Margoe Chesler, Justin Cleveland, Una McGarry, Dianna Walters-Hartley, Allison Wilson.

The Heart Car

Launched in 2022, this drawable art car has now been repainted seven times. Using a peelable rubber coating called plasti-dip, participants are invited to visit Attune-UP to open their hearts and then draw and write on the car with markers.

The Heart Car is Dianna Walters-Hartley’s personal vehicle and support in offering The Heart Car at 7 events has been provided by Justin Cleveland, Ther Matthews, Una McGarry, and Jasmine Raskas.

The Observatory @Heart Mechanics

“The Observatory” was built in 2024 and first installed at the Heart Mechanics theme camp. This space allowed for our community to look inward, self-reflect, and connect on a heart-based level while practicing community building.

This installation includes over 30 hand painted canvas tapestries, hand sewn fabric works, custom lighting, and custom cut vinyl triangles that together form a giant kaleidoscopic artwork. The structure’s frame weighs over 1,000 pounds in steel conduit, spans 30 feet in diameter, stands 15 feet tall at the center, and provides an estimated standing capacity for 100 people.

Lead Artist: Jasmine Raskas

Lead Engineering & Lighting: Justin Cleveland

Community Support: Heart Mechanics members including Dianna Walters-Hartley, Margoe Chesler, Teresa Lynn Hasan-Kerr, Alex James, Andy Kutner, Elizabeth Loudon, Kevin McPherson, Amelie Polizzi, Miranda Rectenwald, and many more whose contributions supported fabrication and installation.

Artists Jasmine Raskas and Justin Cleveland also brought The Observatory to the 2025 Midwest Salute to the Arts where it won the People’s Choice Award!

Twerkforce

Coming soon in 2025, the Twerkforce will offer performance art to raise awareness about the power of empathy, movement, art, and various forms of attunement to improve well-being in both body and mind.

Twerkforce is being designed and envisioned with generous support from Renee Garcia, costume designer. Stay tuned at this website for opportunities to join a Twerkforce flash mob.

PEER-LED EMPATHY PRACTICE

From 2022-2025, a group of St. Louis area artists met at least monthly to practice non-violent communication. The art projects listed above have been deeply informed by this work to learn and grow in community.

It is with deep gratitude we acknowledge those who have participated in the practice community, shared vulnerably, offered compassion, helped transport and setup art installations, and the myriad many other ways we all share our unique gifts with one another:

  • Tanya Bezreh

  • Mads Bohn

  • Derek Carson

  • Eleanore Chadderdon

  • Margoe Chesler

  • Alan Cina

  • Justin Cleveland

  • Sophia Dalpiaz-Brown

  • Maranda Davis

  • Jason Gyorog

  • Alex James

  • Andy Kutner

  • Arkay

  • Teresa Lynn Hasan-Kerr

  • Dailee Joyce

  • Tony Leong

  • Stephanie Long

  • Elizabeth Loudon

  • Ther Matthews

  • Una McGarry

  • Hannah Napady

  • Eric Napady

  • Amelie Polizzi

  • Jasmine Raskas

  • Miranda Rectenwald

  • Sean Robinson

  • Joshua Rosene

  • Dianna Walters-Hartley

  • Allison Wilson

  • Peat Wollaeger

  • Jack Xim