Gabe Dixon
Musician/Singer/Songwriter
How would you describe your music?
I am a singer-songwriter who plays mostly piano and keyboards. My music has elements of rock, pop, soul, folk, gospel, jazz, funk, blues, and classical. In my music, you will hear heartfelt lyrics, melodies and some strong grooves, too. And I like to improvise when I play live.
What do you hope to communicate through your music?
If listening to my songs and my music makes people smile, feel love and happiness, and feel more connected to other people, then I have done my job.
Why do you believe it’s important in our current world for people to experience art in the form of music, whether it is listening to others’ music or making their own?
Music can touch the human heart, soul, and mind in a way that no other art form can. It can stimulate your intellect, but it can also help you escape your own mind. It can comfort you, unsettle you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you dance. It can help you feel, process, and express your emotions. It helps connect us to one another. That is why we have it everywhere—weddings, funerals, workouts, airports, bars, music venues, movies, tv, social media, religious services, etc. Listening to and playing music and singing together is part of what makes us human.
Regina Davidson
Visual Artist
How would you describe your art?
I think of my work as a modern twist on impressionism. The process begins with expressionistic marks that are painted, splashed, batiked, even printed onto high quality papers. These hand painted papers may contain natural inclusions such as fibers, leaves, or grasses for added texture and visual interest. When dry, these pigmented pages look much like nonobjective paintings in their own right.
What do you hope to communicate through your artwork?
I am celebrating the diversity and strength of women when I make art. I believe women have an inner strength that is rarely depicted in fine art. Young women shouldn’t need to search and hunt for a visual representation of intelligence and integrity in the female form. I choose to showcase multiple facets and attributes found in the women all around us.
Why do you believe it’s important in our current world for people to experience art, whether it is experiencing others' art or creating their own?
Art reflects society. I am not a prudish person or an extreme feminist, I just want the current world to see a broader spectrum of women’s attributes. I can do that visually with my art.
Lisa Jennings
Sculptor
How would you describe your art?
My artwork as a mixed media artist and sculptor of stone and wood is a blend of pigmented papers, modern aesthetics, primitive influences, spiritual themes, with an overall calming feel. My sculptures carry a deep spiritual essence that is both primitive and contemporary and exude a sense of serenity and tranquility that allows viewers to find solace in their presence.
What do you hope to communicate through your artwork?
I believe that art can serve as a bridge between our inner selves and the natural world. Through my paintings, I seek to convey the sense of calm and serenity that comes from spending time in nature. Whether it's a vibrant sunset over a calm field, a tranquil forest glen, or a blooming garden, my art strives to capture the essence of nature's healing power.
Why do you believe it’s important in our current world for people to experience art, whether it is experiencing others' art or creating their own?
In a world that can often feel chaotic and overwhelming, I believe that art or creating art and being in nature can serve as a balm for the soul. By bringing the beauty of nature into our homes and lives, we can create spaces that promote tranquility, balance, and well-being.
"That is why we have it everywhere ... Listening to and playing music and singing together is part of what makes us human."
Gabe Dixon
