Art Connection

Journey

The musical as one tells the story of those who constructed this extraordinary railroad that linked the east and the west. In this segment, we go behind the scenes and see how this musical came to be. For the artist Scott Boris, wood is his medium of choice. With a lathe and a desire to create, he takes chunks of wood and spins, cuts, and sands them until they are unique wooden bowls. In St. Petersburg, Florida, Esteban Valdez owns Echo Bridge Pictures, an animation production company. We hear about his artistic journey and this creative field. Visual art, puppetry, set design, and performance…in this segment, we meet a hybrid theatre artist who uses her intuition and imagination to make memorable works of art.

Keeping the Arts Alive

The wildly popular "Stitching History from the Holocaust" exhibition has returned to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. One incredible piece of art goes on a remarkable journey to its new home in Texas. Most authors aspire to have their words leap off the page. Keith Allen of northeast Ohio aspires to have his images and words "pop" off the page. A local theater program in Sacramento, CA challenges kids to grow.

Kokeshi Dolls

Artist Craig Galentine puts an American spin on the classic eastern art form of Kokeshi dolls. The Russian Nutcracker ballet is traveling to more than one hundred American cities allowing young ballet students to perform and learn alongside them. We visit and exhibit that simulates what life is like in the USA for undocumented immigrants. And we take a look at the American opera, Elmer Gantry.

Labor of Love

We head to the south street seaport museum in New York City to see Wavertree, the flagship of the museum’s fleet. We get an inside look at the 1885 globe-trotting cargo ship, learning about her history and remarkable architecture. For the Reno Film Collective, collaboration is essential. Located in Reno, Nevada, members of this community film group work together to tell a story and create a work of art. As the owner and executive chef of two Bangkok inspired restaurants in Michigan, chef Genevieve Vang makes tasty dishes that everyone can enjoy. She takes us on a culinary journey. Artist Delita Martin does not limit herself to one artistic process or technique. Through printmaking, layering, drawing, painting, and installations, she uses her canvas to convey a powerful message.

Lasting Achievements

We travel to the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in Florida to visit an exhibition that celebrates the black pioneers of the American West. Through quilts, their stories are brought to life, and their occupations and achievements are explored. We head to New Mexico to meet curator and art historian Amber-Dawn Bear Robe who created “The Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts Fashion Show.” Starting in 2014, the show gives indigenous fashion designers a platform to present their collections and express their creativity. Thanks to a generous donation, one can find Andy Warhol’s “Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century” at the Temple-Tifereth Israel in Cleveland, Ohio. From Sarah Bernhardt to Albert Einstein, Warhol depicted ten Jewish luminaries who made a lasting impact on the world.  

Lasting Impact

California-based artist Pat Blide creates unique sculptures made out of metal. With his tools, he transforms discarded objects into wonderful artworks. We travel to Florida to meet photographer Sal Patalano. Through his camera lens, he captures striking black and white portraits of passerby that have a lasting impact. The Pfister artist-in-residence program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin gives artists the opportunity to pursue and present their art to an eager audience. We hear from the vibrant brasshouse trio ‘Too Many Zooz’. Based in New York City, this group of musicians comes together to play dynamic pieces of music that excite listeners.

Layers of Color

Artist Michael Hudock finds inspiration in the surfaces the surround him. We translate the colors and textures of these surfaces to his work on canvas. We go into Heather Swenson’s screen printing studio where she shares her techniques. Photographer and filmmaker Emily Peacock cast herself and members of her family as subjects in her works. And artist Caitlin Warner has created a unique way to get her work into the hands of the public.

Learn and Grow

In Reno, Nevada, artist Joe C. Rock creates art for public spaces. His large, energetic murals liven buildings and streets, and are available to everyone. Boston Arts Academy is a public high school focused on the visual and performing arts. The school provides its student body with a place to learn and grow as artists and individuals. We meet Louisiana artist Heather Ryan Kelley who finds inspiration in symbolic paintings and the writings of James Joyce. In her art, she features objects that are full of meaning. The exhibition “Teresita Fernández: Elemental” gives viewers the opportunity to encounter landscapes of the natural world. We travel to the Pérez Art Museum Miami to get a look.

Learning

Ka Vang immigrated from Laos when she was five. Vang’s career began as a journalist for Saint Paul Pioneer Press and the Chicago Tribune. She performs her spoken word piece and talks about keeping Hmong traditions alive. A review of the broad career of Susheel Bibbs, an actress, filmmaker, scholar, professor, author, and internationally renowned American opera singer. Centerville, Ohio’s Derry Cox taught himself photography in the early 1970s. And he’s never stopped learning. In 2007, he made the leap to digital photography. Megen Nelson is a Palm Bay, Florida, artist who is mostly self-taught. Her science fiction images offer a twist on reality…and have drawn national recognition.

Learning Through Art

The Kohl's Color Wheels is the Milwaukee Art Museum's offsite mobile art experience, which creates free art activities for families with children ages 12 and under. We take a look at how British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill picked up the paintbrush to relax and help lift his spirits. We visit Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford as the Liberty Craftworks corner takes center stage showcasing many different type of old-world art. Lastly, Ballet San Antonio dancers speak about their experiences learning and performing "Sleeping Beauty."

Leaving a Mark

Regina Benson uses ancient mark-making techniques, applying rust to fabrics. Ray Tomasso shreds old blue jeans and canvases to make art. They create independently, but often show together. Teo Castellanos' one man show depicts his family and the tragedies he and his brothers faced together. Jazz pianist Eddie Moore is a proud proponent of the Kansas City jazz tradition, he's not one to stay stuck in the past. Lea Rizzo is a tattoo artist who has participated in Rochester, New York-based mural project, Wall Therapy. She dedicates herself to getting art into the streets and into our everyday lives.

Legacies

We take a trip to Ohio to learn about the artist John W. Carlson. Having passed away suddenly in 2020, his empathy, passion, and legacy are remembered by those who knew him and admired him. The artwork of Nneka Jones makes you think. Combining embroidery, paint, and textiles, this contemporary multidisciplinary artist confronts challenging topics and reflects on the injustices occurring in the world today. Born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Andrew montoya is an award-winning artist who creates devotional art. mentored by his aunt, he passes on his knowledge to the next generation and gives back to the community.

Legacy

Jerry Hirschmann and Michael Paul Thiry are the "Partners in Art." Combining their skills in glassblowing and stainless-steel sculpture, this duo of artists creates unique, mixed-media flower bouquets.We meet Jackson Cavalier, a musician who is just as comfortable playing on the street as he is in a bar. He’s been voted Rochester, New York’s best busker. Recovering from an injury, Santa Fe, New Mexico, artist Gurudarshan Khalsa uses symmetrical imagery to heal. Florida-based Nathan Selikoff incorporates computer algorithms into his interactive art. Nathan's work is often highly conceptual but in his most recent project, he invites his audience into his personal turmoil.

Legacy and Art

Since its founding in 1946, Highlights Magazine has been committed to helping children learn and grow. Using their imagination, the highlights team creates engaging stories, puzzles, and more, for their readers. For over 30 years, artist Mark Sisson has taught printmaking at Oklahoma State university in Stillwater, Oklahoma. During his classes, students are shown the ins and outs of this artistic process and are able to produce their own works of art Since 1974, the Reno Chamber Orchestra has performed classical music for audiences in Nevada. We meet the talent behind this instrumental ensemble and hear about its 47th season.

Legends and Traditions

Meet local photographer Ian Wright, who began his career as a photojournalist at 14 years old and has captured rare, candid moments of the Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and the Rolling Stones, just to name a few. In 1969 NASA sent the first manned crew to the moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. Fifty years later, artifacts from that expedition are on view in an exhibition at Harvard. A group of freelance artists join together to create a media company that fosters community development. In Columbus, a young girl celebrates her Mexican heritage through traditional folklore dances.

Life and Art

Painter Peter Hurd was inspired by New Mexico. Under the tutelage of artist N.C. Wyeth, he developed his own creative voice and rendered portraits and landscapes that evoked a New Mexican way of life. We take a trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio to experience “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.” The exhibition features art created during the tudor dynasty and includes tapestries, portraits, and much more. Sonya Bryson-Kirksey is many things. She is a veteran. She is a painter. And she is also the national anthem singer for the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. We meet Bryson-Kirksey and hear more about her impact.

Life & Art

In her home studio in Lakeland, Florida, folk artist Heidi Wineland creates. From rag baskets, to knitted creatures to academy award action figures, her handmade art takes on many different forms. With each piece of pottery made and sold, artist Troy Drake gives to those in need. In this segment, we head to Gardnerville, Nevada, to meet the artist and learn how he inspires others.  We travel to the Cape Ann Museum in Massachusetts to see an exhibit focused on two of New England’s oldest summer art colonies. An assortment of artworks inspired by the region’s landscapes are on display. Scott Jeffries calls himself a soul doodler. Since a young age, he has doodled and he continues to do so today. With his abstract paintings, he provides a window into his soul and mind.

Life’s Journey

For more than 50 years, artist John Palmore has been immersed in the music world. From playing the keyboard to singing songs, he does it all. We learn more about his creative journey. Inspired by her Laos roots, artist Loy creates vibrant paintings that enliven traditional practice and philosophy. Ed Dwight was set to be the country’s first African American astronaut, but unforeseen circumstances changed the trajectory of his life. We find out more about Dwight’s life journey and his exploration with the arts. The play “Detroit Red” shines a spotlight on civil rights figure Malcolm X. We hear from the talented team behind the show.

Life's Routes

Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues reflects on the band’s decades of pop music stardom. We get an inside look at the life of a ballet dancer, both on stage and off, with BalletMet dancer Samantha Lewis. Four teenage girls get an unexpected lesson in compassion and humility in the film “Gift of Gravity.” And retired advertising photographer, Tom Ferderbar, enlightens us about his passion for the West.

Light

Bringing light from the midst of war encapsulates the essence of the “Remembered Light” stained glass art exhibit in Salt Lake City, UT in December of 2018. The art installations are created from shards of stained glass from destroyed houses of worship during World War II, collected by Chaplain Frederick McDonald and in collaboration with artist Armelle Le Roux and 12 others.Learn how the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay in Florida provides a space for veterans to participate in the arts and showcase their work. Using vintage road maps, two artists expose the history of queer culture from America's infancy. A collector of neon art displays it for his community in an alleyway of Pueblo, Colorado. Neon Alley is a labor of love for local criminal defense attorney and art collector Joe Koncilja.