Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Peggy Coleman [dropcap]I[/dropcap]f this year has taught us anything, it would be that we should expect the unexpected. Who would have guessed back at the beginning of 2020 that stay-at-home orders, face coverings and routine temperature checks would become some of the most key characteristics of our day-to-day lives?…
Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Jeff Beck [dropcap]U[/dropcap]ntil the 17th century, clothing did not have pockets. Men and women alike carried small bags or pouches — often attached to their waists — that were decorative and communicated the status of the wearer, much like jewelry. For women, handbags are also the story of independence…
Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Mark Gardner [dropcap]O[/dropcap]n the surface, Jason Napier appears to be like any other artist who is passionate about his work. A self-taught artist, Napier studies his wildlife subjects to make sure the anatomy of each sculpture is correct. He enjoys the challenge of creating work in a variety of…
Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Tobias Nolan [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Malcolm Gladwell’s landmark book, “Outliers,” the author describes the paths of people who rose to incredible career heights through a combination of dedication to their sphere of expertise and being in the right place at the right time. “Success is not a random act,” Gladwell writes….
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Chris Loomis [dropcap]J[/dropcap]udith G. Wolf knows that art is one of the most effective tools for healing on our planet. That is why for the past 30 years, she has not only been using poetry and music to make moving statements about the shared human experience but also finding…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photo by Kaelyn Loes [dropcap]J[/dropcap]anelle Loes believes that social media has created a community in which we all share only the most perfectly curated images from our lives — highlights that do not tell the full story. Comparisons to these apex moments are not only inevitable but also detrimental to the…
Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Joanne Wastchak [dropcap]A[/dropcap]t just 18 years-old, Brody Wurr has the ability to delight an audience just as easily as he can strike up a conversation about music, literature or philosophy. His accomplishments in acting, singing, dancing and musicianship have taken him from Phoenix to Los Angeles and Nashville — with…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Loralei Lazurek [dropcap]F[/dropcap]rom a very early age, Alexander Drace surrounded himself with a wide array of musical genres. His mother instilled within him an appreciation for pop music while his father encouraged him to value heavy metal rock. He even developed a profound admiration for orchestral music, including solo…
Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Joye DeGoede, Heidi Huston and Greg Bubb [dropcap]T[/dropcap]here’s quite a party going on in painter Joye DeGoede’s studio. Party guests include a zebra eating sweet treats, two monkeys eating cupcakes and a pair of donkeys enjoying a bottle of tequila. DeGoede’s party guests — which also include bears, bobcats,…
Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Gedion Nyanhongo [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Zimbabwe, there’s a Shona tribe proverb, “Kumhanya hakuzi kusvika,” which loosely translates to, “Running is not getting there.” The wise proverb teaches an important lesson about taking time to set a clear direction, something acclaimed stone sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo does daily. For this masterful Shona artist,…