Laurie Lewis Brings Berkeley Roots to Bluegrass
Laurie Lewis is a San Francisco Bay Area bluegrass legend. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist continues to craft a unique sound of her own while helping to guide the next generation of Bay Area roots musicians.
Photographer on a Mission: Ed Drew
Ed Drew’s tintype portraits of his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan evoked the timelessness of war. Once he returned to the United States, Drew turned his lens toward an organic garden project that’s empowering at-risk youth.
Bridging Cultures with the Stroke of a Pen: Zubair Simab
With his calligraphy, Zubair Simab seeks both to preserve the ancient art of beautifying Arabic texts and to build understanding among cultures. Zubair fled when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan at 17, eventually emigrating to the Bay Area.
Santa Cruz Quilter Helps Piece Together the Lost Art of Hawaiian Kapa
Kapa is the traditional Hawaiian cloth made from tree bark. Wendeanne Ke`aka Stitt makes kapa today using natural dyes and ancient techniques.
Cambodia’s Dark Past Behind Her, A Dancer Steps into the Light
Charya Burt trained in and taught classical Cambodian dance in Phnom Penh, where her family suffered oppression by the Khmer Rouge. Now in the Bay Area, she’s passing on her art — and pushing it in new directions.
Kei Lun Lion Dancers Find New Meaning in Ancient Steps
There are several lion dance troupes in the Bay Area. What sets Kei Lun apart is the group’s dedication to passing on ancient Chinese stories, told through the art of lion dance. In the traditional lion dance, props are used that represent different meanings.
Drawing From American Hip-Hop and Iranian Culture with Ala Ebtekar
Ala Ebtekar experiments with different art forms and has been inspired by literary narratives since he was very young. He grew up as a graffiti writer and DJ, and later pursued painting studies in Iran.
Americana Music with American Nomad
American Nomad is a band that keeps Americana music alive by mixing contemporary and traditional approaches. Join them as they share their approach to songwriting, recording, and performing.
Chinese-Born Artist Ma Li Makes Treasure from Trash
Crafted from recycled materials, Ma Li’s dream-like sculptures celebrate individual freedom, imagination and play.