Artist Q&A: ‘Hey, Black Child’ author Jaidah Kirksey discusses poetry and growing up in St. Louis

“It was hard for me to process what happened to George and Toyin and Brianna. I couldn’t figure out what to say the whole summer about what happened to them. One day I said to myself, ‘I’m going to writing a poem for Breonna,’ and it just flowed.” Jaidah Kirksey, author of “Hey, Black Child”… Read More Artist Q&A: ‘Hey, Black Child’ author Jaidah Kirksey discusses poetry and growing up in St. Louis

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Kyla Hawkins’ pop surrealist paintings tackle themes of body image, mental health and addiction

As a child, Kyla Hawkins would spend hours in her room alone drawing.  Kyla says that isolation was key to her becoming the artist she is today. Though, her paintings are much different now than what she created as a six year old. Growing up, Kyla didn’t speak much. She spent a lot of time… Read More Kyla Hawkins’ pop surrealist paintings tackle themes of body image, mental health and addiction

Have old records? Artist Cadence Hodes can spend up to 20 hours painting patterns on vinyl

There’s not a lot you can do with a scratched up old vinyl. Cadence Hodes thought so too when some roommates left her with a bunch of their old records when they moved out. Then inspiration struck. She saw her cousin’s friend use an old record as a mixing palette. Cadence says she thought, “why… Read More Have old records? Artist Cadence Hodes can spend up to 20 hours painting patterns on vinyl

St. Louis-based artist and poet Bryan Payne creates mosaics from pottery shards found on Mississippi River banks

For most people, the objects that wash up on the banks of the Mississippi River are nothing more than trash. For artist Bryan Payne, they’re his medium of choice. Among discarded Styrofoam cups, broken bricks, plastic soda bottles and other discarded garbage, Bryan finds desirable items decades, sometimes a century old. “It’s like ‘I Spy,’”… Read More St. Louis-based artist and poet Bryan Payne creates mosaics from pottery shards found on Mississippi River banks