The Art of It: Conversations on Creativity and Leadership from the Roanoke Arts Commission Roanoke Arts Commission

Harvest Blaque joins Samantha Meyer for a conversation on the upcoming Roanoke Youth Poet Laureate effort headed by this founder of Soul Sessions. The Roanoke Youth Poet Laureate will be part of the National Youth Poet Laureate program.

As one of the Year of the Artist's Artist in Residence, Samantha Meyer is tasked with telling stories of artists at work in Roanoke Communities. Get to know Samantha in our first episode of Season 2 before she takes over the host's chair!

Learn more at Roanokeart.org/YOTA

Alma Ensemble formed as an avenue for three musicians to make music together.  The collaboration has grown to commission music for their own performance, but also for an upcoming world premier to be performed by Roanoke City Public Schools students.  Sarah Wardle Jones, Erica Sipes, and Michelle Smith Johnson "borrow confidence from each other," as Sarah says. "Across the three of us we make it happen."

Alma Ensemble is a musician collective dedicated to championing women in music, education, and creating connection through music.

Listen to the full episode wherever you stream your podcasts or at www.roanokearts.org. 

Garland Gravely founded House of Expression in 2019.  On October 23rd, they'll host SWVA's first mini-ball. Listen to the second part of our conversation with Gravely to learn about the creative expression, supportive culture, and just what's behind "realness" in Roanoke's emerging ballroom culture. "In the House of Expression, it's family first," says Gravely.  We want to do what's best for the family and the community."

The Big Lick Mini Ball will take place from 2 PM to 9 PM on October 23.  Limited tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-lick-mini-ball-tickets-168652230361?fbclid=IwAR21Ul1YAxbBPxcZZuLqzmuLB5hrRMdavW-YwRzm--xGWhHJnA-uTvJfh98  
 

"It's important as a community that we know how to come together and work together," says Garland Gravely, a founder of Fashionista Roanoke.  The Roanoke native says it's all about multiculturalism as the organization develops creative collaborations to benefit nonprofit partners.  Established in 2008, Fashionista Roanoke is expanding into other communities, but with deep roots in Roanoke, the team continues to build new partnerships.  Learn more by listening to the episode here.

As a realist, artist Heather Marshall observes the world around her through her painting. She also teaches studio practice to high school students. In doing so, she shares the Eight Studio Practices of Mind, concepts elucidated in Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education by Hetland et al.

"You'll often hear art in schools supported by saying the work is related to other subjects," says Marshall. "But for students and learners, the art making in itself has benefits," says Marshall. Marshal works with students, on observation, persistence, reflection, and other skills that they can carry through life beyond the studio.

Heather Marshall received a MFA University of Notre Dame and a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

See images of Heather's work
Learn more about the Eight Studio Practices of Mind from Studio Thinking 2.