Haute Handbags: Patricia Raskin of Anne Sylvain
| | |

Haute Handbags: Patricia Raskin of Anne Sylvain

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…

Jason Napier: Whimsical Wildlife Set in Bronze
| | | |

Jason Napier: Whimsical Wildlife Set in Bronze

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…

John Bell: From Silver Screen to Colorful Canvas
| | |

John Bell: From Silver Screen to Colorful Canvas

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….

Janelle Loes – Constructing Connections Through Music
| | |

Janelle Loes – Constructing Connections Through Music

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…

Brody Wurr – Young Talent, Old Soul
| | |

Brody Wurr – Young Talent, Old Soul

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…

Deeper Tones Yield Deeper Connections
| | |

Deeper Tones Yield Deeper Connections

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…

Joye DeGoede – A Leap of Faith Leads to Artistic Adventure
| | |

Joye DeGoede – A Leap of Faith Leads to Artistic Adventure

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,…

Gedion Nyanhongo – Carving Serene Beauty
| | |

Gedion Nyanhongo – Carving Serene Beauty

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,…

Of Good Cheer
| | |

Of Good Cheer

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Gina Brown/Capturing the Moments LLC [dropcap]G[/dropcap]avilan Peak School’s cheerleaders are stars on and off the mat. In addition to scoring good grades, many of the team’s members are excelling in a variety of other avenues. Among the 13 seventh- and eighth-grade girls on the Anthem school’s team is…