Art Connection

Small and Big Feats

At first glance, Kristi Abbott’s work draws the eye with its vibrant colors and complimentary patterns. Upon closer study, her paper collages reveal their complexity. This segment is a visually stunning and highly personal tale about the universality of music, the immigrant work ethic and the pull of our roots, which inspires one to do both great and small things. One Six Five is a Columbus-based jewelry line by Kaleigh Shrigley and Claire Lowe. We popped into their High Street shop to learn more about their minimal and modern designs. Muralist Robert Dafford has made a lasting impression in cities across the country, as well as internationally. We look at this Lafayette, Louisiana native’s major works over the last four decades.

Snapshots

International acclaimed photographer Alec Soth, exhibits his work at the Denver Art Museum and showcases the America we live in. We take a look at the life of Iranian born musician and philosopher Ostad Elahi. We go inside the family gelato business Gelazzi and discover the art of gelato making. And we take a look back at the life of Cecil B. Demille and the legacy he left behind.

Something from Nothing

Meet legendary Iranian sculptor Parviz Tanvoli whose latest show, at The Davis Museum at Wellesley College features the man considered the father of the modern Iranian sculpture. They may be young, but the kids from the L.A. Drama Club relish in the works and stories of Shakespeare. Artist Jeanne Cameron shares how she uses digital and fine art to tell stories on canvas. And we visit the University of Central Florida as they celebrate the merging of the arts and sciences and explore the link between the two.

Something New

Zen Glass Studio and Gallery provides a space for members of the art community to learn about glassblowing. From workshops to classes, this flamework glass studio gives people the opportunity to do something new and exciting. In Reno, Nevada, artist and anthropologist Zoe Bray paints from life. Fascinated by humankind, people are her subjects. With her brush, she captures the identity and spirit of the individual. Stereotank is a design studio focused on the relationship between sound, art, and architecture. We take a trip to Florida to meet the studio’s co-founders. Through performance and education, Harlem Quartet expresses their strong admiration for classical music. We hear from its members and sit in on one of their master classes.

Soul Grooves

We meet the members of The Utility Players, a well-known Reno, Nevada improv group, and find out what it takes to create great improv. We visit The Old Manse, a historical hub where early literary masters gathered to exchange ideas; today it is a public space to discuss and debate important issues. The Pink House Gallery is a dream come true for artist Luis Nunez. And we catch up with funk and R&B band The Infatuations.

Space for Creativity

In downtown Norfolk, Virginia, the firm “Work Program Architects” partnered with creative agencies to transform three historic buildings into a people-focused, five-story office campus. To usher in a season of stand-out performances, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, hosted its first ever “Kravis Center Block Party.” Members of the community were invited to join in on the festivities. The exhibit “Degas and the Laundress” explores Edgar Degas’s depictions of the laundresses of Paris. An occupation that fascinated many artists, the show pairs his work with those of his contemporaries.

Spark of Vision

Cuban-born artist Wilfredo Lam traveled the world, inhaled the works of the greats and steeped himself in the cultures that moved him. We take a look at his body of work at a Boston museum. Cincinnati stone sculptor, Karen Heyl, found her new career when she picked up her first chisel in her thirties. The art of Cartier and its jewelry line is examined at the Denver Art Museum. And meet the directors of the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, who combine fun with musical training, and the dynamic music students learning their craft.

Special Experience

The Tropic Cinema brings quality movies to Key West, Florida. From independent films to Hollywood classics, they have become an integral part of the community. “Black Beanz,” is Ohio's premiere African Dance Troupe. Having grown up in Africa, these artists integrate the dance traditions of their home with modern dance to make something memorable. Artists Carol Sackman and Blake White live in a house covered with mosaics. over twenty years in the making, it is a place full of expression and wonder. Chef Antonio Caruana is the owner of “Luce,” a restaurant that serves Italian food with a twist. We travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to hear from the chef and experience some of his cooking.

Spotlight

The National Votes for Women Trail is made up of over 2,400 sites that tell the untold story of women’s suffrage. We travel to Ohio to Sewah Studios, a manufacturer of roadside historical markers, to see how they’re helping spotlight this important part of women’s history. Faced with pain and struggle, art has given Melvin Gomez hope. In his paintings and drawings, he examines the human condition—our emotions and feelings. Inspired by Yaa Gyasi’s Novel “Homegoing,” the exhibit “Home Again: The Embodiment of Africa Through Art and Fabric” features work by local, national, and international artists that link the past to the present and evoke the idea of home.

Stone Rose

Textiles, music and a disarmed nuclear missile come together to form an exhibition from Miami artist Christy Gast. Join us as we visit Susan Zalkind, a pioneer of contemporary American abstract and functional alabaster sculpture who honors each and every stone. We sit down with Terry Doughty, a wildlife artist best known for his intricately detailed paintings depicting animals in their natural habitats. And we visit a nationally recognized arts education organization that is dedicated to changing the lives of young people through the arts.

Story Threads

Meet New Mexico, Tlingit weaver, Clarissa Rizal as she documents the history of an indigenous culture. We visit Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where Timothy Haglund is using the walls as his canvas. Photographer Rick Buchanan shares how photography recharges his batteries. And we take a look at some unique seashell designs.

Strange Beauty

Curator Andrea Lipps talks about the exhibition “Beauty - Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.” An Alexandria artist called on to expand the collections of presidents of nations. Santa Fe Santero, Arthur Lopez uses traditional iconography in a contemporary way. Gallery 2125 is a unique space located within the Lakeland Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens. Two local art agencies, Platform Art and Polk County Art Alliance, partnered together to open this calming space for the public. 

Stripes and Lines

We fall into artist Bryce Widom’s vibrant and mystical portraits he creates using chalk. We go inside the Museum of Modern Arts in New York City, for a look at the sculptures of Pablo Picasso. Artist Charlotte Belland creates a miniature herd of zebras to fill a dollhouse-sized gallery. And we tour the murals of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida and meet the artist behind the large-scale works that adorn building facades.

Strong

Enter the fantastic world of Killbuck, a Reno artist who creates artistic works ranging from steampunk–themed oddities to historic scenes filled with sideshow banners and noodle-western flair. “Ballet Moves,” a partnership between the Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, offers classes to young people with Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Lives of both students and instructors are transformed. The best-selling book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was adapted into a best-selling drama winning 5 Tonys including best play. For its star, it’s a physically and mentally demanding role like no other. Albuquerque, New Mexico, artist Lea Anderson sees biological patterns as a world of ideas.

Style

Suzanne Wallace Mears is an Oklahoma City multi-media artist who’s forte is color and whimsy.The annual Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls brings famed UK outdoor installation artist Bruce Munro to Colorado for his first-ever presentation of Field of Light. Known for their harmony-laced take on alt-folk, the Chesapeake band of seven siblings have been playing music together almost their entire lives. It’s a panoply of posters at MassArt which recently unveiled its newest exhibition—A Century of Style. They’re the posters that made us dream of faraway travels and fizzy cocktails.

Style and Artistry

In Largo, Florida, a group of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease gather together to sing songs and welcome music’s ability to help both physically and mentally. We get a behind the scenes look at the Cirque du Soleil show Corteo. Full of thrilling circus acts with a powerful story to match, we learn more about the show and the group of performers that make it possible. We visit the Heritage Museums and Gardens to see an array of race cars from throughout history. Each car has a story and is rich with style and artistry. Otherworld is an immersive art experience that allows visitors the chance to go on an adventure. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this installation is brimming with creative wonders.

Surf & Sun

Inspired by riding the waves, Nick and Kelli Lambiase show us their one-of-a-kind custom skateboards. At We Care Arts in Kettering, Ohio, art instructors are teaching clients with various hardships art and life skills. New Mexico photographer Robert Christensen takes us around town to capture the portraits of the city and an artist turns his love of golf into works of art.

Surroundings

Artist Kelly Pennington works outdoors. Based in Ada, Oklahoma, she focuses on natural landscapes, painting the fields, mountains, and trees that surround her. At Scarecrow Jo’s Studio in Nevada, Halloween is celebrated all year-round. We meet the artists behind the shop and take a look at the spooky paper mache jack o lanterns, witches, and skeletons that they create. We go on an art deco tour. Led by the Miami Design Preservation League, the tour highlights the stylish art deco buildings that line the sunny beaches of Miami beach, Florida. In her textured paintings, New York based artist Mickalene Thomas explores race, gender, identity, and sexuality. We head to Columbus, Ohio, to see an exhibition of her work.

Sustainable Art

Located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Fairgrounds St. Pete is an interactive art and technology exhibition. Upon entry, guests are immersed in the work of over sixty artists and have an experience that is unlike any other. Nevada-based artist Tia Flores travels to the Amazon in Peru to assist in sustainable craft making. Using natural materials, art is rendered that supports the economy. We visited the Louisiana State University Museum of Art in Baton Rouge to learn about the art of Letitia Huckaby. Combining photography and quilting, Huckaby focuses on the African American experience and reflects on the past. We head to Ohio to meet artist Matthew Mohr, the creator of “Lightning Sprites.” Powered by the sun, these sculptures resemble everyday objects and, in their whimsy, they inspire. 

Swept Away

Ephemeral artist Basia Irland shares and discusses her work, which has a clear environmental message. When Dennis DeVendra decided to take up woodturning, he had a hard time finding mentors who would teach him. See how Dennis turned his immense challenge of blindness into beautiful wood pieces. A barbershop by day becomes a contemporary performance venue by night. And join us as we watch Buddhist monks create an intricate sand drawing and then sweep it away.