Chances are, if you are into a certain kind of art, Houston has it. Everything from museums, graffiti parks, and a thriving theater district are a part of the city’s diverse cultural environment. The city also has a large community of emerging artists who keep the scene relevant and ever changing. Fresh Arts is a community-based organization that helps advance the careers of local artists. Located in Sawyer Yards, the non-profit offers developmental workshops, holds events that generate income for creatives, and hosts regular exhibitions.
The artists featured here represent the rich diversity Houston has offer. They work closely with Fresh Arts and participate as peer facilitators in a mentorship program called Artist INC Houston. For more information or to support Fresh Arts, visit fresharts.org.
Emanuelee “Outspoken Bean” is a performance poet, writer, compassionate mentor, electric entertainer, and an educator. Bean travels the country performing his original works and inspiring creative minds. “Poetry is a lighthouse that is always there even when I am not looking for it or when I don’t realize that I am at sea.” outspokenbean.wordpress.com
Lori Yuill is an independent choreographer, performer, and teaching artist. Her work challenges audiences to look at dance in new ways and aims to create and connect to community through movement. “I make dances because I understand the world and myself through movement. Dance acts as a filter through which I view and process the world. My choreography experiments with the relationship between anatomy and space. Sometimes I take a close up look at one bone and how it can be moved through space.” loriyuill.com
Tami Moschioni is both an artist and an architect and has lived/worked for nearly two decades at her studio in the First Ward Cultural Arts District. Her personal art practice implements mixed media and emphasis on color juxtaposition and color field theory in sculptural forms. “My public art practice is multi-disciplinary, and I often collaborate with other Houston creatives to explore innovative materials and create interactive art.” art-tami.com
Eepi Chaad is a practicing multidisciplinary artist, advocate, and environmentalist who tells stories using textiles, fibers, metals, places, and people. Chaad’s work studies humanity’s relationship to both natural and built environments through time. Chaad believes “art is for every community and creativity is in every human.” esquaredpidesign.com
Christopher Thomas began dancing and entertaining at a young age and was featured in commercials starting at age eleven. He took a break during his teen years to focus on sports and college, but Thomas returned to his true love, dance, and in 2007 began traveling the world. He has visited 24 countries as a teacher, choreographer, and performer. Through corporate entertainment Thomas has performed alongside many popular performers. "God gave you a talent. Use it. That is your gift to the world." chrisopherthomas.org
Dominique Røyem is the Music Director of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra. An active guest conductor, she has worked with ensembles such as the Ukrainian State Orchestra, Plevin Philharmonic, Galveston Symphony, Moores Opera Center, Sugarland Opera, HBU Opera Theatre, and the Houston Civic Orchestra. She has a Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Dominique currently lectures at the Women’s Institute of Houston. dominiqueroyem.com
