Art Connection

Create and Imagine

Ever since he was a child, artist Juan jose Hoyos Quiles has been painting. Based in Clearwater, Florida, he experiments with color, space, and line, to render striking abstract works. Josh Weinstein is the creator of Norfolk Tour Company. For over ten years, a series of spirited walking tours have been offered to the public, inviting people to experience the arts, culture, and history of Norfolk, Virginia. In Sparks, Nevada, emerging artist Braighlee captures femininity by painting abstract-realism portraits of some of the inspiring women in her life. In doing so, their voices are heard. Michael Powell, aka “Blakk Sun,” is many things. He is an actor, a musician, a poet, and he is also a spoken word artist. Through writing and performance, he moves people.

Dazzling

We take a trip to New Mexico to hear about a family who worked at the locomotive repair shops in Albuquerque. Through photographs, their powerful story is told and a shared immigrant history is revealed. Artist Rebecca Louise Law’s installation “The Archive” is made up of thousands of flowers that seem to float in the air. Located at the Cleveland Public Library in Ohio, the dazzling exhibition was made possible through the efforts of the local community. We meet singer-songwriter Leah Sutter. Born and raised in the Florida keys, her home has played a big part in shaping who she is as a musician.

Rediscover

Artist Titus Kaphar examines history and representation. In his work, he closes the distance between past and present, revealing history’s impact on the contemporary world. For over twenty-five years, the Carson City Ghost Walk has been entertaining the public. Led by artist Mary Bennett, the historical tales and paranormal stories of Carson City, Nevada, are told through live theatre. Eco-feminist artist Mira Lehr renders abstract artworks that reflect on nature and our environment. Through mediums such as painting and sculpture, she conveys her message. When viewing Joan Snyder’s painting “Smashed Strokes Hope,” one notices the colorful brushwork. We go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to look back at the exhibit “Epic Abstraction,” which featured this work.

Skills for Life

For his book “Bridging the Mississippi,” Louisiana photographer Philip Gould traveled the entirety of the Mississippi River to capture the many bridges that cross over it. Started in 2018, “Paint 22” is a non-profit that provides free art activities for military families. We meet the organization’s founder and some of the veterans who participate in the programming offered. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Darren Leung is a martial artist. Having learned his skills from his father, he has gone on to become a trainer, actor, and technical advisor.