Art Connection

Creating Yourself

When she makes art, fluid artist Tiffany Moyer lets paint have a mind of its own as she pours it onto her canvas. by embracing spontaneity, an abstract work is created that includes colorful, organic shapes. In 2022, the Bob Dylan Center opened its doors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more, this engaging space highlights singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and the significant contributions he’s made to the world. We meet the mother-daughter duo behind the stained-glass studio “A Glass Fantasy.'' Originally started by Vanessa Aramanda in 1987, her daughter has now joined the business. We travel to Nevada for the story.

Creative Careers

Artist Leslie Odom Junior is a force to be reckoned with, with a career that speaks for itself. a few years ago, he sat down for an interview to discuss his life and work. Since then, he has continued to perform, record albums, and cement his place in the arts. We take a trip to St. Petersburg, Florida, to meet the team behind “Funktionhouse Urban Lumber and Furnishings.” Founded in 2011, its owners transform wood into one-of-a-kind pieces, making art that is functional. Artist and professor Hiroshi Hayakawa produces paper crafts. with much skill, he can fold and cut paper into an assortment of animals and masks. We travel to Ohio to meet the artist and find out more about his process.

Creative Combinations

Artisodes honors Zachary Botchen, our Student of the Week, from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. Roots of Knowledge is a wall of windows at Utah Valley University's library entrance highlighting the events and people that shaped humankind from the days of wooly mammoths and cavemen to the iPhone. The North Market in Columbus is home to a family-run shop specializing in chocolates infused with herbs and spices, resulting in creative flavor combinations like cardamom and orange, and Jamaican curry. Born in Colombia and adopted by a Minnesota family, painter Paul Peterson is creating a Colombian themed series to help his recently found biological family.

Creative Expression

Quianna Simpson is a dancer who has strong ties to her community in Ohio.At age seven, she began practicing traditional West African dance, and today, she pays it forward by teaching students the many ways in which you can express yourself through movement. Born in 1857, artist Lorenzo Latimer taught plein-air painting in Reno, Nevada. In 1921, his students formed the “Latimer Art Club” to pursue their craft and promote the arts. A century later, in 2021, the Nevada Museum of Art opened an exhibit spotlighting the club’s many contributions to the art world. We take a trip to Aullwood Audubon in Dayton, Ohio, to experience the outdoor exhibit “The Troll That Hatched an Egg.” With the help of volunteers, recycle artist Thomas Dambo’s vision became a reality, and three giant trolls were created to bring people out into nature.  

Creative Flow

The National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron in Ohio supports the creative process. As an incubator for dance, the center offers spaces for artists to experiment, develop their craft, and create new works. The Doctor Carter G. Woodson African American museum in Saint petersburg, Florida, preserves and interprets African American history. We learn more about its role in the community and the ways in which it shines a light on the importance of equality and inclusivity. Rick Braveheart is a nature photographer. When he goes outside with his camera, he sees beauty all around him and develops a deep connection with the land. We joined him on one of his outings in Ohio to get a look at his process.

Creative Hands

Pasquale Iovinella makes high-quality handmade ties. From fabric selection to pattern development to tie construction, he is involved in every step of the process. We travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to meet jazz musician Romel Sims. With a trumpet in hand, he proudly plays for all to hear and tells a story through the notes he emits. We visit Baton Rouge, Louisiana where painter and architect Francisco “Pastel” Diaz colorfully transformed the space around him by creating murals for the public to enjoy. Whether she is applying henna, using fluid-based acrylic on her canvases, or practicing calligraphy, artist Lydia Hannah Wilson explores many different art forms when creating.

Creative Healing

We head to Michigan to learn about Artist Mario Moore’s exhibit, “Recovery”. In his paintings and silverpoint drawings, he reflects on how African American men rest in our society. Confronted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Sierra Arts Foundation in Northern Nevada has worked to keep galleries open and to allow artists and community members to safely interact. Zero Empty Spaces is a management company that transforms vacant spaces into affordable studios for artists to work and grow. We take a trip to South Florida to meet the founders and hear how this project developed. We are introduced to two art installations in Boston, Massachusetts. Called “The Heard” and “To each era, its art, to art, its freedom,” we learn about their role in the public space.

Creative Hues

Wonderbound is a new American dance company that produces creations to ease boundaries between mediums and engages artists and audiences. We talk with Las Vegas painter Jerry Misko and his love of the Sin City’s neon lights. Meet techno music innovators and see how they are honoring the music today and we visit The Hub in New Smyrna Beach, a unique art gallery that houses over 80 local artists.

Creative Journey

Artist Susan Handau’s canvases are of a minimalistic nature. With color and texture, she creates abstract shapes surrounded by neutral hues. We head to Reno, Nevada for the story. Through public arts programs, sculptor Craig Gray is able to share his work with many different states across the country. From orange slices to popsicles, his large-scale, sculptures are joyful and imaginative. We visit Cincinnati, Ohio, to meet Doctor Sarah Hellmann, the founder of art for all people. Created in 2010, this transformational program uses art to help individuals who are suffering. Aarushi Pratap is many things—a fashion designer, illustrator, and special Olympics athlete, to name a few. We visit Tampa, Florida, to find out more about her creative journey.

Creative Landscapes

Even in his own time the Renaissance painter Botticelli was a superstar. The Fields Sculpture Park at Art Omi in Ghent, NY, presents the works of internationally recognized contemporary and modern artists, spread over a sprawling natural landscape. Arin Peywa gives a Zuni language lesson. This short segment profiles Lafayette Gilchrist, an American jazz pianist and composer living in Baltimore, MD.

Creative Process

In upstate New York, the culinary arts are thriving. From farm to table, the art of cheese making, cured meats, and olive oil are front and center. As an artist, Jennifer Lanzilotti does not limit herself. From painting leaves to writing young adult fiction, she finds inspiration all around her in different forms of media. When cutting hair and styling facial hair, barbers often become artists. In this segment, we visit a Reno, Nevada barbershop to find out more about this art form. In Columbus, Ohio, jams Alexander owns an exciting hip-hop based dance studio. From breakdancing to popping and locking, he introduces and teaches dance to his students.

Creative Spaces

Concerned about plastic pollution in the ocean, photographer and diver Andreas Franke created an underwater photography exhibition that addressed this environmental crisis. Artist Emily Reid loves animals. She renders multicolored, patterned paintings of alpacas, donkeys, roosters, and more. We visit Reid in her studio in Reno, Nevada. We go to Detroit, Michigan, to meet Virgil Taylor, an artist who creates wearable art. Inspired by the ancient Middle East, Taylor designs special pieces full of spirit. We take a trip to Florida to experience Art Battle Sarasota, a competition where artists gather together to paint for the viewing public. With just 20 minutes on the clock, the competitors race to complete their artworks.

Creative Voices

Birdy magazine provides a platform for creative voices. Based in Denver, Colorado, this arts and culture publication highlights an array of artists through the print medium. We head to Florida to find out more about an organization that has dedicated itself to the advancement of the arts. Produced by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Cleveland Cinemas, the Reel Science Film series explores the world of science fiction and shows how directors incorporate scientific details in their films. Art Ambassadors is a new initiative that redefines how the Utah Museum of Fine Arts creates access and space for diverse voices. Each Art Ambassador works closely with a museum educator to create a personal tour—one that reflects their culture, background, language, special expertise or area of interest.

Creativity & Passion

Since 1881, the American association of University Women has been advocating for women and girls. In an effort to advance gender equity, the Utah branch put together an exhibit for women artists to show their work. When you enter 2D Cafe in Saint Petersburg, Florida, it is as if you’ve stepped into a comic book. Painted and designed by local artist Chad Mize, the space allows you to become part of the artwork and enjoy a memorable experience. In 2022, the 150th birthday of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was celebrated in Ohio. Born to two former slaves, Dunbar became one of the first African American poets to garner national critical acclaim.

Creatures

Meet endearing doll-sized creatures reminiscent of cast-off children’s toys and ill-conceived taxidermy experiments. An Arizona man uses his engineering skills and the connection he has with his brother to create custom wheelchairs. We visit the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum with a redesigned permanent exhibition “A New Deal for a New Generation” and we meet an artist whose canvas is the face.

Creole Jamboree

Cedric Watson shares his love of Creole music and reveals some of the struggles that come with being a full-time musician, despite four Grammy nomination. We take a look at the first war to be fought and represented by contemporary artists, World War I. Anna Skibska describes her work with glass as storytelling. We learn more about her approach in an exhibit titled Reveries at the Loveland Museum. And we visit the Bowne & Co. printing company in New York City.

Cross Currents

We stop by the “Cross Currents” exhibit in Denver, where Native American artists address the conflict of safeguarding tradition in the face of change. We meet Lisa Frasier, a newsroom illustrator that is looking for a change in pace. We drop by Portland, Oregon, where a young painter is making a name for herself and we chase down mystery and intrigue with the legendary Sherlock Holmes.

Crossfade

We head to the Denver Art Museum to explore an exhibition celebrating the work of Mark Rothko and other abstract expressionists called Figure to Field: Mark Rothko in the 1940s. We learn more about a legend in the music business, Henry Stone, who co-founded the indie giant “TK Records.” If you think disco is his only success story, think again. Screenwriter Matthew McDuffie shares the importance of storytelling. And we visit The Rockwell Museum in New York, which holds one of the largest collections of Western American and Native American art in the eastern part of the United States.

Cultural Dance

Traditional dance is an important part of Native American culture. In this episode, we explore the meaning, history, and regalia of three unique Native American dances. We travel through an exhibition of women’s work uniforms from the last century, showcasing the changes in costume. We visit a family in Detroit that’s taking on urban gardening. And we see how body painting artist, Sandra Artist, breathes life into her imaginative creations.

Culture Behind The Arts

Today we follow Grammy winning composer Gabriela Frank, tour the set and meet the actors and directors behind the mini-series The Hollow Crown. Meet the Northeast Ohio painter, Don Harvey and discuss his painting principles. Finally we'll introduce a unique partnership that brings farmers and artist together.