Art Connection

Hands That Create

Alaskan Tlingit artist Clarissa Rizal creates Chilkat weavings and button blankets highly regarded for their unique beauty and the stories they hold. We sit down with artist Chuck U who morphed his childhood dream of illustrating comic books into a successful career as a graphic designer. We visit Dayton artist Willis “Bing” Davis who is well known for his distinctive, mixed media work that pays tribute to his African-American heritage and culture. Lastly, we watch as artist Jera Rose Petal Lodge melds metal into wearable art.

Happy Uke

Get a look at the play Fear Up Harsh, which depicts some of the harsh realities a soldier must face when returning home from war. After Cincinnati artist Dawn B. Dyer retired she returned to her true passion of painting and found true inspiration in animals. Bettina Burr has found a new home for some of her family's collection that was stolen by the Nazis and scattered throughout the world. And Grammy-winning musician Daniel Ho shares his unique worldview and takes a refreshing approach to all aspects of his successful career.

Hard Work

Reporter Jared Bowen goes one-on-one with the director of Cirque du Soleil Amaluna, an acrobatic production that tells the story of a world made up of only women. Take a trip into the field on an outdoor lifestyle photo shoot with Reno, Nevada photographer Mike Okimoto. A musician in Tampa, Florida, uses radio waves and instruments to encourage social change. Everyone who makes their living in the fashion industry knows there’s more to the job than glamour. We go to Kansas City, Missouri, to see a prime example of hard work in the industry, designer Nataliya Meyer.

Harmony

With bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, drums, and keyboard, the five-piece Rock ‘n’ Roll band Silver creates catchy tunes that attract listeners across the country. Through his art, ceramic sculptor Jef Raasch provides an opportunity for viewers to interact with the natural world. Based in Bay View, Wisconsin the artist intertwines the human and animal form to make fascinating sculptures. The Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida highlights the history and artwork of the American studio glass movement. With over 500 pieces of glass on display, museumgoers experience this art form in its entirety. Darren Kramer is a Jazz expert who understands the different elements of music. In this segment, Kramer delves deep into the sounds of Jazz and shows us how to listen to a song.

Healing Arts

Experience the healing power of art with Artisan Mind, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia through art. We go inside artist Colleen McCulla’s studio and see how collage making has opened up her life. Fiber artist Inna Schoeler shows off her wearable art that is inspired by nature and design. And photographer James Meyer captures pictures of the beauty of Wisconsin that often goes unnoticed.

Healing through Art

Paola Gracey is both an artist and chemist and when she creates, she demonstrates the connections between art and science. Each of her paintings become an experiment. We take a trip to New Mexico to meet artist and educator Haley Greenfeather English. In her expressive portraits, drawings, and murals, she speaks about humanity and society, and explores the world we live in. Nevada-based artist Ben Rodgers is the creator of burned wood prints. With wood as his canvas, he uses fire, water, electricity, and ink to render something truly unique. Mariners Inn is a treatment center and shelter that recognizes art’s ability to foster connections and heal pain and suffering. Through art therapy, clients are given an outlet to express their feelings.

Healing with Art

Located in the Edgemont neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, Five Rivers Health Center recognizes and embraces art’s ability to heal. In addition to providing quality healthcare to patients, they display a wide variety of works from local artists. Decades ago, Hollywood backdrops were a popular art form. After they were used in films, many of them were destroyed…but some were kept. At the Boca Raton museum of art in Florida, twenty-two of these large, scenic paintings were shown together. Kaboom collective is a non-profit organization dedicated to the next generation of creatives. Students are able to pursue their interests and gain experience in the arts and entertainment industry by working with experts.

Heart and Soul

We meet a blues musician from Orlando, Florida. With a guitar, lap steel, and an emotive, powerful voice, he plays and sings for all to hear. Jon Barlow Hudson is a sculptor who creates works of art for public spaces worldwide. Each of his sculptures tell a story, generate a feeling, and demonstrate noteworthy techniques. We meet Dora Malech, a Baltimore-based poet and published author who loves to explore the written word and its many possibilities. The “Colour of Music Festival” celebrates contributions that people of African ancestry have made to the classical music genre. We go to Houston, Texas for the story.

Helping Communities

Colleen Connolly is a member of the Reno police department in Nevada. After a crime is committed, she works with witnesses to create composite sketches of suspects. The Metrohealth Glick Center is a new hospital in Ohio that features hundreds of artworks, ranging from murals to photographs. designed for the community it serves, many of the works were created by local artists. We visit the exhibition “Monet to Morisot: the real and imagined in European Art.” Focused on the 19th and early 20th century, the show offers a thematic exploration of art from this period.

Helping Hands

The profile introduces us to Amy Sherald, an award-winning portrait painter who shot to international fame when she won the commission to paint the portrait of Former First Lady, Michelle Obama. A day-habilitation program for people with disabilities in Rochester, NY that focuses on the arts. Carl Goines is a skilled craftsman and figurative sculptor who also is the creative director for 555 Arts, an arts organization that is renovating an art space on the Eastside of Detroit. From filmmaker Tommy Shimanek a look at Abel Alejandre who learned early the importance of allowing himself creative freedom and personal perspective he shares his thoughts with young artists attending Fullerton College.

HERitage

For local art group the big picture Denver, the street is their canvas. Using the age-old technique of Wheatpasting, they enliven the streets of Denver, Colorado with powerful photographs. Every summer, the Museum of Wisconsin Art welcomes the community to their annual art and chalk fest. Both local and nationally renowned chalk artists gather together and create a variety of colorful works. In this segment, we check out the Francis Wilson playhouse, a community theater that brings famous Broadway productions to Clearwater, Florida. Brooke Smart has illustrated 50 leading women from Utah history, in preparation for the 150th anniversary of Utah being the first place and American woman voted. Learn about this remarkable artist and the process of bringing these 50 women to life.

Hidden Gems

Ice can come in many different shapes and sizes. Just ask Charles Jones, the owner of the Ice Man. Based in Hudson Falls, New York, Jones and his team of artists create memorable ice sculptures. Detroit vineyards is redefining what a typical vineyard and winery looks like. Located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Vineyards is making and supplying wines in a city environment. Sign painter and shop owner Derek McDonald focuses on vintage design. Based in Reno, Nevada, the artist chooses to work in the traditional sign painting technique, forgoing the computer for paint, brushes, and pencils. Artist Randi Channel makes unique porcelain ball-jointed dolls. Each doll is its own special work of art. We head to Clintonville, Ohio to learn more about her creative process.

Historic Murals

We take a look behind the curtain at the Arizona Opera Costume shop, where we meet shop manager Kathleen Trott, who guides us through the costume creation process. We see how The Walldogs movement of sign painters and muralists revitalize towns. We visit The Guggenheim Museum and go inside the “Italian Futurism, 1909-1944: Reconstructing the Universe” exhibit. And musician Matt Saunders combines Celtic music with the electronic dance genre, creating music that is loved by a variety of audiences.

History and Inspiration

A short walk from the Utah State Capitol, a monument unveiled in 2020 commemorates 100 years of women paving a path toward inclusive voting rights. Katherine Kitterman, Historical Director, and Tiffany Greene, Historical Research Consultant, from Better Days 2020, reflect on the importance of the monument and the historical influence behind its unique design. The installation “Cuban Caricature and Culture: The Art of Massaguer” features the modernist works of caricaturist and publisher Conrado Walter Massaguer. We travel to Miami, Florida to stop by the show. We travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to meet artist Ahmad Darouich. Born in Syria, we hear about his journey to the united states and his passion for painting. The Battleborn Memorial in Carson City, Nevada pays tribute to Nevada’s fallen service members. We meet the artistic team behind the meaningful structure and find out more about its design.

Holiday Cheer

Take a look as the Kansas City Ballet mount their production of The Nutcracker. From costumes to lighting the sets to opening night. Erin Simmons shares the practices of the traditional art of blacksmithing. We visit artist Philip Worthington’s newest exhibit where graphic design combines with technology to make shadow monsters. And we visit an exhibit showcasing the enormous art collection amassed by Ruth and Marvin Sackner.

Holiday Gala

In this edition of Art Connection, we meet the faculty and students of the Festival of Fine Arts as they prepare for the perfect concert to celebrate the holidays. We go behind the scenes with Kansas City Ballet's Artistic Director as the troupe prepare to put on the holiday favorite, the Nutcracker. We meet a Sacramento artist who is creating sweet designs from clay. And we meet a photographer who hand etches all of her images with a needle to create depth.

Home

We get an inside look at Milwaukee’s “Present Music,” an ensemble devoted to commissioning, creating, and recording contemporary music. We talk with dancer Sheri “Sparkle” Williams who has danced with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for 40 years. We get a look inside the strong, charming, creative, and courageous soul that was artist Maria Lowenstein. And we visit artist Harumi Abe, who is working in South Florida as part of the AIRIE (Artist In Residence in the Everglades) program.

Hope

Critically-acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei visted the Newseum in Washington, D.C., to discuss artistic freedom of speech and his new documentary on the global refugee crisis, Human Flow. Jamie Hevener of Hilliard, Ohio believes "sewing is growing." She takes her craft – namely her sewing cart – on the road to remind us that some skills can last us a lifetime. In April 2017 Harold Holden became the first Oklahoma artist to be inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. We watch him work on his art in his private studio in Enid. From France, a violin worthy of a concert stage created by a 3-D printer… 3Dvarius.

Human Bond

We visit the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas where a unique exhibit is sparking curiosity and encouraging interaction with art. The Museum of Jewish Heritage reveals their core exhibit that gives insight into the lives and talents of Jews living in Nazi concentration camps. Sculptural landscape artist, Adam Kuby, brings a touch of natural to his urban art pieces and artist Jeff Suntala shares why he loves to create art without a computer.

Identity

Artist Cora Marshall focuses her work on issues of identity, history and community with her colorful portrait paintings that she creates in her home studio in Gulfport, Florida. For almost 70 years, the Wisconsin Philharmonic has provided cultural and educational experiences to Wisconsin audiences through music. In this segment, audiences experience how "music paints a picture. Mass media has often portrayed Native Americans as sidekicks or villains, and comic books are no exception. Lee Francis helps launch INC Comics, the first all-Native comic book publishing company. The Eustis Mansion in Milton, MA was constructed in 1870s. More than 18-thousand square feet, it sits atop 80 rolling acres. And thanks to Historic New England, it recently opened to the public as a new museum.