"How can I choose love - today - right now?" is a question I'm asking myself, and now you, because it's one that positively shapes what I pay attention to on a day-to-day basis. It's the kind of question that can be answered in an infinite number of ways, asked by everybody at the same time. Choosing love is inherently creative even when it doesn't work out exactly how we hoped it would. And it's impossible to run out of things to learn about love.

Thank You.

& bravely bear my heart to the world in honor of Yours,

Living my life in the spirit of this letter,

As the ultimate form of love & gratitude for You,

Praying for the possibility that I may be able

To guide our descendants

from beyond the grave

as You have for me.

Love Your Grandson,

Jan

“My deepest condolences” and “Sorry for your loss” always fall short of really reaching a broken heart. It’s like the more I hear well-intended-but-awkward-af statements like this, the further away I feel from other people, not closer.

For Rich, the motivation behind Soft & Tender was clear: “I hear people talk like, ‘Oh, we need more conversations like this.’ I've been a really big supporter of the idea, ‘Show don't tell,’ so [I wondered] if these conversations need to be had, why don't I just use my platform to build it?”

Whenever I’m asked “Where are you from?” my anxiety spikes a little bit. In a state of mild panic, bracing myself for how you may or may not respond, I say something cryptic like “I’m from all over,” or “It’s complicated.” I sometimes pick the place I’ve lived that closest in proximity to wherever you said you were from.

Everyone knows that the arrival of a new kid means there’s a chance that everything could change. So naturally the true kids can feel scared of the new kid, especially when they are very different from them.

Everyone knows that the arrival of a new kid means there’s a chance that everything could change. So naturally the true kids can feel scared of the new kid, especially when they are very different from them.

The duality of Cook's legacy lies in juxtaposing his graphic design's universal clarity with the nuanced complexity of his art's symbolism. While one aims to remove barriers to communication, the other intends to highlight the barriers to understanding and empathy that still stand tall in society.

Paintsil's exploration of hair braiding, a skill she learned while growing up in Wales, becomes a profound means of communication in her textiles. In a community where she found solace in expressing her Ghanaian identity within the confines of her home, each textile represents an opportunity to convey the significance of care.

The art of truth in storytelling is an oxymoron in itself for some, but it’s what many writers attempt to do, whether that truth be in the actual facts of the story as it happened or the truth of the experience. Journalism as a practice has been challenged by the public for centuries. As the so-called watchdogs of those in power — whether that be in politics, economics, technology, science, among other beats — journalists began their profession with immediate distaste and disapproval of their role and its functions.

The art of truth in storytelling is an oxymoron in itself for some, but it’s what many writers attempt to do, whether that truth be in the actual facts of the story as it happened or the truth of the experience. Journalism as a practice has been challenged by the public for centuries. As the so-called watchdogs of those in power — whether that be in politics, economics, technology, science, among other beats — journalists began their profession with immediate distaste and disapproval of their role and its functions.

Coming from what she described as a “non-traditional” writing path, prolific Seattle writer and multidisciplinary artist Anastacia-Reneé has quickly ascended in the ranks of the city’s local creative scene.

alt_ founders Jon Veal and Jordan Campbell believe the way to build sustainable community infrastructure and care for trauma is through a combination of faith and art. There’s an emphasis on concentrating their efforts on community based projects which are relational to the issues within their community. For example: in an effort to combat food apartheid, Veal and Campbell created alt_markets. By doing the work in and for their communities, they are creating a foundation of trust that will allow for sustainable and healing spaces. Building a sustainable community definitely requires art and faith, but it requires other things that aren't always associated with art. Art is merely a tool that they use to make real change happen.

In times where nothing seems certain, the world can feel as though it’s on the brink of chaos. Yet, one certainty is that a new age has started to blossom. A global pandemic has forced us all to slow it down and focus on the things that are most important in our lives, from the large things like our relationships with family and friends to smaller tasks like daily routines in this new reality. One thing I’ve talked about among friends that are artists like myself is that this time has also been a blessing to some extent. It allows us the time to truly dive deeper into our respective practices.

Black voices and Black narratives are centerstage at Medium Tings, a gallery and project space in Brooklyn founded by New York City-based curator Stephanie Baptist. This is a curated space intended to nurture and develop young and emerging Black artists by providing a platform for incubation and experimentation. It also serves as an intermediary between new and established art collectors, so buyers can feel connected to artists and their processes. Fostering access around art has been the goal of the Medium Tings gallery since 2017.

The aesthetic of birds is the driving force and motif behind New York painter, Austin Eddy. Eddy studied at the Art Institute in Chicago in 2010. On the surface level, his work on canvases embody the stylistic choices of Matisse, in terms of broad colors and fluidity. Eddy’s shapes are just as bold as the colors and they’ve always formed bird figures. “Lately, it’s this body of work specifically focusing on paintings of birds in the reflection of the moon or in the sunlight,” said Eddy. “Previously, the paintings were birds in an isolated space.”

When putting his work on display, Cameron Platter is usually quiet, reticent, and reserved. In no way does this reflect his in-your-face art, which he uses as a way of airing his dirty laundry. It’s provocative and certainly not restrained. Nevertheless, the art’s audacity is given a lot of careful consideration by Platter, who puts thought into every word that he says, cautious not to box his art into a static definition. This multidisciplinary craftsman is wise beyond his years and this interview is a glimpse into the mechanisms of his logic.

A multifaceted painter, artist, curator, and human, Westly experiments with elements of hyperrealism, architecture, and visual layering to create a different, more truthful representation of contemporary western culture. Based in New York, Westly is committed to supporting his community, presently focusing his work on art to benefit Beirut after the catastrophic explosion that wiped out a large section of the nation and left 300,000 people homeless, 6,500 injured, and 192 dead. For Westly, art is a form of communication that synthesizes the world around him while giving back to the community.

Mercado and I talked about the importance of reusing materials for multiple projects and some of his incredible pieces. What struck me about his work was that it’s constantly changing. This artist is unafraid to go out on a limb to experiment with new materials and ideas. Every piece is unique and exciting. He’s constantly rethinking and reimagining materials so that a new purpose can be given to repurposed materials.