AND MAKING MARKETING MAGIC.

I WEAR A LOT OF HATS.

I STARTED OUT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

I'M NOW A FINE ART REPRODUCTIONIST.

FINE ART PRINTER.

I HAVE NAFD EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO PEOPLE.

NEXT GENERATION OPERA SINGERS BRIDGING THE GULF BETWEEN SCHOOL AND AGE.

THE STORIES WE GET TO TELL ARE SO VERY HUMAN.

IT GIVES PEOPLE PERMISSION TO FEEL AND THINK THINGS THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T PEOPLE OR THINK.

MADE TO ORDER JEWELRY BLENDS CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY.

WE LIKE TO MAKE THINGS PEOPLE CAN WEAR EVERY DAY.

AND MAKING SPACE FOR THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF CREATION.

EVERYONE HAS A NEAT AND A WANT TO CREATE ART.

IT ENHANCES INDIVIDUALS' LIVES.

THAT STORY NEXT ON "ART ROCKS."

"ART ROCKS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROAD K569ING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

HELLO.

WELCOME TO "ART ROCKS."

CHASING CREATIVITY WHEREVER IT LEADS WITH ME, JAMES FOX-SMITH, PUBLISHER OF COUNTRY ROADS MAGAZINE.

STEP INTO THE BATON ROUGE STUDIO OF FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID HUMPHREYS.

WITH BOUNDLESS ARTISTRY AND PAINSTAKING ATTENTION TO DETAIL DAVE HAS BUILT HIS CAREER AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF COMMERCIAL FOOD CREAFER CREATING ICONIC RESTAURANT AND FOOD AD CAMPAIGNS FOR CLIENTS ACROSS THE 2K3WU68 SOUTH.

BUT DAVE HAS A FINE ART SIDE TOO.

HE CREATES EXQUISITE LARGER THAN LIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS AND A AQUATIC CREATURES THAT DEG HAVE INTO THEIR STRUCTURES AND INVITE VIEWERS TO SEE FAMILIAR THINGS THROUGH NEW EYES.

COME SEE.

I WEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT HATS.

I STARTED OUT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

I'M NOW A FINE ART REPRODUCTIONIST.

FINE ART PRINTER AND I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO JEWELRY TO PEOPLE, CORPORATE TYPE WORK.

BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ARTIST SO I HAVE ALWAYS CREATED ARTWORK AND IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

I WOULD SAY -- 70% MY CREATIVITY AND WHAT I WANT TO SHOOT AND 30% MIGHT BE CLIENT BASED.

THE ARTWORK HAS BECOME MORE ACCEPTED AND IT SELLS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A LIVING, AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO BE AN ARTIST AND MAKE A LIVING AT IT.

SO WHEN YOU FIND GOOD REPRESENTATION AND YOU FIND GALLERIES THAT LOVE YOUR WORK AND APPRECIATE YOU, THAT'S A REALLY A PLUS, BECAUSE UNLESS YOU FIND SOMEBODY THAT'S REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SELLING YOUR WORK OR PUTTING IT IN FRONT OF CLIENTS, NOBODY KNOWS YOU'RE HERE.

AS FAR AS FINE ART, ONE OF MY FIRST PIECES WOULD BE THAT ARTICHOKE.

SO I PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE ARTICHOKE.

THE BLUE CRAB IS A VERY POPULAR IMAGE.

THE ROSE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED.

THIS PIECE IS ACTUALLY IN THE LSU MUSEUM OF ART'S COLLECTION AS AN EIGHT FOOT BY EIGHT FOOT PIECE OF ARTWORK.

THE PIECES BEHIND ME WERE PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS OF WORK.

A GALLERY CAME TO ME AND SAID WE WANT TO CREATE SOME ARTWORK FOR A LOCAL HOTEL.

THREE BIG FLOWERS THAT FLOAT ON THE WALLS OF THE CONFERENCE CENTER AT RENAISSANCE HOTEL.

ON CIRCULAR PIECES OF POLYCARBONATE.

IT'S REALLY PLEXIGLAS, A STRONGER, MORE SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF PLASTIC, SO IT'S THICKER.

I HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

SO THE PROCESS BECOMES MORE UNUSUAL AND DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU ARE WORKING ON A TYPE OF SUBSTRAIT.

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH AN ACTUAL TRUE PHOTOGRAPHIC BUT THEN TAKING THAT INTO THE COMPUTER, SCALING IT TO THE SIZE OF THE FINAL PIECE OF ARTWORK YOU WANT, THEN ACTUALLY CUTTING IT APART IN THE COMPUTE SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO FIT WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE ACTUAL HANDWORK.

I HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE SKIN OF THE ART.

I CREATE THE SKIN ON A SPECIFIC TYPE OF PERL THEN ONCE IT'S PRESENTED ALL THE WORK IS DONE BY HAND.

SO EACH INDIVIDUAL PIECE IS AN ORIGINAL BECAUSE NOTHING COMES OUT THE SAME EVERY TIME.

A LOT OF MATHEMATICS GO INTO IT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH A FIXED SCALE OF A PIECE OF BOARD OR PLEXI, OR WHATEVER.

ONE EVER THE PRINTERS IS A 60-INCH PRINTER.

I COULD PRINT 60 INCHES WIDE BY WHATEVER LENGTH, BUT EVER SINCE I STARTED DOING FINE ART, I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED IN GRIDS, IN SECTIONS, IN SEGMENTS.

IT ALSO AFFORDED ME THE ABILITY TO WORK VERY, VERY, VERY BIG BECAUSE I COULD PRINT FOUR OR FIVE BOARDS WITH IMAGES LIKE A QUADRANT, QUADRANT, QUADRANT, CUT THOSE PIECES OUT, AND MAYBE THE PIECES ARE EIGHT INCHES, TEN INCHES SQUARE SO YOU HAVE A MULTIPLE OF MAYBE 200 PIECES.

YOU ARE ENDING UP WITH A PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT CAN BE 10 FEET BY 12 FEET HIGH.

I STARTED OUT IN ANALOG USING FILM, WORKING WITH 35, 2-1/4, FOUR BY FIVE CAMERAS SHOOTING BIG SHEETS OF FILM, POLAROIDS TO TEST, I HAD A FULL DARK ROOM HERE WHERE I WOULD PROCESS THE FILM, PROCESS THE NEGATIVES.

AND THEN I HAD A DARK ROOM WHERE I WOULD PRINT AS WELL.

I TOOK COURSES AT LSU BUT I RAN OUT OF MONEY TO GO BACK TO LSU, SO WHAT I DID WAS I BOUGHT TIME-LIFE BOOKS.

I WOULD BUY ONE BOOK EVERY TWO WEEKS.

I WOULD READ IT FROM FRONT TO BACK THEN TURNED MY LIVING ROOM INTO A STUDIO AND STARTED SHOOTING IMAGES FOR MY PORTFOLIO AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY TAUGHT MYSELF EVERYTHING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

I WOULD GO AROUND AND SHOW MY WORK.

I WOULD GO BACK TO MY APARTMENT AND I WOULD WAIT FOR THE PHONE TO RING.

THE PHONE WOULDN'T RING, SO I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO CREATE ARTWORK AND CREATE IMAGERY.

SO MY PORTFOLIO GOT STRONGER.

FINALLY, I HAD A COUPLE OF AGENCIES CALL ME AND TAKE A CHANCE ON ME DOING SOME WORK FOR THEM.

FROM MY PORTFOLIO THEY COULD TELL THAT I FELT LIKE EVERYTHING I CREATED SHOULD BE ART.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT SET ME APART IN SOME RESPECTS.

THEY WOULD TELL ME, WELL, YOU'RE MORE CREATIVE AN SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS BUT THEY ARE MORE TECHNICAL.

BUT IN ESSENCE, THEY LIKED THE CREATIVITY.

THAT WAS THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

SO SLOWLY BUT SURELY I STARTED BUILDING UP MORE AND MORE CLIENTS.

I SHOWED MY PORTFOLIO TO AN AGENCY IN LAFAYETTE, AND SHE SAID, WELL, YOU ARE A FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER.

YOU NEED TO BE DOING FOOD.

SO FROM THERE I GOT IN FRONT OF BIG INSTITUTIONAL FOOD COMPANIES, PICADILLY, RALPH AND KACOOS, RAISIN 'CANES, TONY'S SACCHARIE, IZZO'S, WALKONS.

WE SHOT LOBSTERS FOR A COMPANY IN MAINE.

WE SHOT FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY FOOD MANUFACTURER IN THE SOUTH OVER THE YEARS.

I HAVE ALSO DONE JEWELRY FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT JEWELRY COMPANIES.

I DID ALMOST THE ENTIRE STARTING COLLECTION FOR THE LSU MUSEUM OF ART WHEN THEY WERE OPENING WHICH INCLUDES SILVER, INNUIT, SCULPTURES, IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO HAVE ALL OF THAT ARTWORK COME THROUGH THE STUDIO.

I SAW THE TRANSITION, THAT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE INTO A DIGITAL PORTLAND, MEANING CAMERAS WERE GOING TO HAVE SENSORS.

WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT COMPUTERS, SEE THE IMAGE BEFORE WE FINISHED THE JOB OR FINISHED CREATING.

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPOSITE IMAGERY IN THE COMPUTER JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DO IN A DARK ROOM.

SO THE BEAUTY OF ME HAVING A BACKGROUND IN ANALOG AND WORKING IN A DARK ROOM IS MY ABILITY TO TAKE THAT AND TRANSCEND IT INTO THE COMPUTER AND DODGE AND BURN AN INGE AIM AND ACTUALLY CONTROL THAT IMAGE.

THE MOST CHALLENGING SUBJECT MATTER TO WORK WITH WOULD BE JEWELRY, FOOD, SCULPTURE, SILVER.

SILVER IS REFLECTIVE.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO LIGHT AND TO PHOTOGRAPH.

THE SAME WITH JEWELRY.

JEWELRY IS JUST FACTS THAT DPLITTER.

AND THEN FOOD.

FOOD CAN DIE ON YOU WHILE YOU'RE PHOTOGRAPHING IT.

THOSE ARE THE THREE HARDEST THINGS I WOULD THINK.

I JUST FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING THAT I LOVE THAT I HAVE A PASSION FOR.

YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS FOR 43 YEARS IF YOU DIDN'T ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

IF YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT ARTS WERE OPTIONAL, JUST IMAGINE HOW BLAND LIFE WOULD BE WITHOUT THE MUSIC, FILM, LITERATURE AND VISUAL ART THAT HAS KEPT US COMPANY.

KEEP THE INSPIRATION COMING BY VISITING THESE NOTABLE EXHIBITS ACCESSIBLE IN PERSON OR ONLINE, AT MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD FOR MORE ABOUT THESE AND MANY MORE EVENTS IN THE ARTS, VISIT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS WHILE THERE YOU'LL FIND LINKS TO EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM SO TO SEE OR SHARE ANY SEGMENT AGAIN VISIT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS.

THE LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, IS BUILDING A NEW PROGRAM TO BRIDGE THE GAP THAT SINGERS FACE BETWEEN LEAVING COLLEGE AND JOINING THE RANKS OF PROFESSIONAL OPERA.

SAMANTHA GOSSARD IS ONE OF FOUR RESIDENT ARTIST INSTRUCT YOURS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.

AS LYRIC'S SEASON GETS UNDER WAY SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW AN OPERA.

I WAS IN COLLEGE ACTUALLY.

IT CAME TO ME MUCH LATER IN LIFE THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN IT.

I WAS JUST MESMERIZED COMPLETELY.

THE SPECTACLE, THE SHEER SOUND, THE FACT THAT THESE VOICES WERE CARRYING OVER THE ORCHESTRA IN THIS GREAT BIG HALL.

[SINGING] A MEZZO-SOPRANO IS A LOWER FEMALE VOICE, SOPRANO BEING THE HIGHEST, MEZZO-SOPRANO IS THE MIDDLE AND THEN THERE ARE CONTRALTOS.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT TESSITURA, WHICH IS THE RANGE OF VOICE WHERE WE'RE MOST COMFORTABLE SINGING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME LGBT SINGING IN ITALIAN] MY TEACHER ALWAYS TELLS ME YOU HAVE TO SAY HELLO TO YOUR VOICE EVERY DAY.

EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKING TEN MINUTES TO VOCALIZE IN THE SHOWER YOUR VOICE IS IT'S OWN ORGAN, ITS OWN MUSCLE.

IT GROWS AND CHANGES AS YOUR BODY GROWS AND CHANGES AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING.

[SINGING] FOR NEARLY EVERY ASPIRING OPERA SINGER FINDING THE RIGHT TEACHER IS ESSENTIAL.

LIKE THIS MAN, WORLD RENOWNED TENOR VINSON COLE.

SAMANTHA WORKED WITH HIM DURING HER GRADUATE STUDIES IN CLEVELAND THEN FOLLOWED HIM TO KANSAS CITY WHERE HE NOW SERVES ON THE FACULTY OF HIS ALMA MATER, THE UMKC CONSERVATORY.

HE'S SO DOWN TO EARTH, VERY NURTURING AND HAS BEEN SUCH A MENTOR AND FRIEND TO ME FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

HE'S REALLY TAUGHT ME MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW.

YOU DON'T FIND MANY LIKE HIM.

I MEAN, HE'S A MASTER OF SINGING AND HE CAN ALSO TEACH IT.

OKAY.

SHE'S A REAL JOY TO TEACH.

YOU CAN'T MAKE SOMEBODY PERFECT AND YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY AS AGILE AS SHE IS, AS ADAPTIVE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND OF MOLD AND SAY, OKAY, TRY IT THIS WAY, TRY IT THIS WAY.

IT'S THE LITTLE REFINEMENT THINGS.

WHEN YOU TAKE A BREATH, YOU KNOW, OR WHEN YOU SING A LINE, WHAT'S BEHIND THAT?

WHAT'S THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT?

[SINGING] YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE END OF THE PHRASE IS AS GOOD AS THE BEGINNING OF THE PHRASE BECAUSE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO HEAR IS THE END, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO STICK IN THEIR EARS.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF SET RP CORRECTLY.

THE STORIES WE GET TO TELL ARE SO VERY HUMAN.

I OFTEN FIND THAT THE ART FORM, REALLY HONESTLY LIKE THEATER IN GENERAL, GIVES PEOPLE PERMISSION TO FEEL AND THINK THINGS THAT THEY WOULDN'T OTHERWISE FEEL AND THINK.

SINGERS IN THE OPERA WORLD TODAY ARE SINGING ACTORS.

[SINGING] I HAVE BEEN OUT OF BREATH RUNNING AROUND SINGING ON RECENT PRODUCTIONS.

I LOVE THAT IT'S SO ACTIVE NOW.

[SINGING] IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUNG SINGERS.

IN IT'S NEVER THE TOP NOTE.

JUST ENJOY WHAT I GOT TO ENJOY ALL THESE YEARS.

IT'S THE BIGGEST JOY OF MY LIFE.

THAT FEELING WHEN I FEEL LIKE I HAVE DONE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE, SOMETHING I LOVED AND ENJOYED.

[SINGING] IT'S COMMUNICATING THE STORY.

TELLING THE STORY, KEEPING THAT MUSIC ALIVE, PUTTING BEAUTY IN THE WORLD THAT REALLY NEEDS IT.

WHEN I'M HAVING MY REALLY DOWN DAYS AND I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN DO THIS, THIS IS HARD.

LIKE GETTING REJECTION AFTER REJECTION, OR I'M NOT GETTING THIS, THIS MUSIC ISN'T COMING EASILY TO ME.

I'M ON A DEADLINE, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT'S WHERE MY MIND GOES BLANK AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE I WOULD RATHER DO.

WELL, LET'S GET BACK TO IT!

[SINGING] TWO JEWELRY DESIGNERS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, USING A MINIMALIST APPROACH TO MODERN JEWELRY MAKE TO COME UP WITH SOME INSTANT OFF-BEAT CLASSICS.

BY MARRYING PRECIOUS MATERIALS WITH CLEAN, MODERN DESIGNS EACH HANDMADE TREASURE IS A GLITTERING INSPIRATION.

WE ARE IN OUR SWEET LITTLE LIFE-STYLE SHOP WE CALL IT IN CLINTONVILLE, RIGHT ON HIGH STREET.

SO WHEN PEOPLE COME IN WE LIKE TO TELL THEM WE MAKE ALL THE JEWELRY IN THE BACK HALF AND WE CAN CUSTOMIZE STUFF AND IF YOU NEED A DIFFERENT SIZE WE CAN MAKE IT WHILE YOU WAIT, WHICH PEOPLE LOVE.

WELL, WE MET WHILE WORKING AT A BOUTIQUE IN THE SHORT NORTH WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE STUDYING JEWELRY.

SHE WORKED THERE FULL-TIME.

SO I WENT TO COLLEGE FOR PSYCHOLOGY.

MY LAST QUARTER IN SCHOOL I TOOK A TEXTILES CLASS AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

AND WAS LIKE, WHY WASN'T I DOING THIS THE WHOLE TIME?

BUT OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T GOING TO CHANGE MY MAJOR IN MY LAST QUARTER SO I FINISHED UP AND THEN ENDED UP WORKING FOR A YEAR AND GOING BACK AND GETTING A MASTERS IN TEXTILES.

I WAS GRADUATING AND WANTING TO MOVE ON FROM WORKING THERE AND DO MY OWN THING.

I THINK SHE WAS FEELING LIKE HER TIME WAS AT AN END THERE AND WE WERE BOTH JUST READY TO DO SOMETHING.

LIKE LET'S, JUT DO IT.

LET'S START A BUSINESS.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER MY MOM'S HOME ADDRESS, WHICH IS IN DELAWARE.

SHE HAS SINCE MOVED AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF AN IMPORTANT HOUSE FOR US.

SHE DIDN'T ACTUALLY LIVE THERE THAT LONG, ONLY FIVE YEARS, RIGHT AFTER MY PARENTS DIVORCED AND IT WAS KIND OF WHEN HER AND I BECAME REALLY CLOSE IN THAT HOUSE.

I JUST WANTED THE BRAND TO BE KIND OF A NOD TO HER BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO NAME IT ANGIE SHRIGLEY.

[LAUGHTER] WE LIKE TO MAKE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN WEAR EVERY DAY SO THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SAVE THIS FOR A SPECIAL OIS CA.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO WEAR THE STUFF ALL THE TIME AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF.

THAT'S WHY WE USE HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE, OH, I'M TAKING A SHOWER, I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OFF.

I'M GOING TO WORK OUT.

LIKE, WE WANT IT TO BE LIKE PART OF YOUR BODY, LIKE AN EXTENSION.

THEN WE ALSO TRY TO DO A QUIRKY LIKE REGULAR THING LIKE FOR EXAMPLE THESE EARRINGS.

THEY ARE LIKE A HOOP SHAPE BUT THEY HAVE THE WAVINESS TO THEM WHICH I THINK IS REALLY COOL AND MAKES IT UNIQUE.

THERE'S ALWAYS HOT NEW TRENDS IN THE JEWELRY WORLD, AND WHEN WE FIRST STARTED IT WAS ALL ABOUT RINGS, TINY LITTLE RINGS IS WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED.

NOW IT'S GOING TOWARD EARRINGS, BIGGER AND BIGGER, BIGGER EARRINGS EVERY SEASON.

WE ALWAYS WATCH THE FASHION SHOW IN NEW YORK.

YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ALWAYS OVER THE TOP EXTRAVAGANT.

LIKE THEY HAVE EARRINGS TO THE SIZE OF DINNER PLATES.

SO WE TAKE THOSE KINDS OF IDEAS AND BRING THEM DOWN TO THE EVERYDAY CONSUMER.

THE.

THE NEW COLLECTION HAS SOME ACRYLIC, WHICH IS A NEW MATERIAL FOR US.

WE JUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WANTING TO INTRODUCE COLOR INTO THE COLLECTION BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR BRAND IS SO COLORFUL, SO LIVELY.

WE WANTED TO TRANCE TO THE JEWELRY, SO THIS SPRING AND SMUR YOU WILL BE SEEING SOME COLORFUL PIECES.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A DAY HAB ILL TAKES PROGRAM?

WELL, AT ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,'S ARC OF MONROE IT'S A SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO VARIOUS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE EXPRESSION, SOCIAL BONDING AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING.

THE GOAL, TO PROVIDE LOCAL PEOPLE WITH CHANCES TO LEARN NEW SKILLS, BUILD LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

DANCE AS A HUMAN BEING IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT HUMANS EVER STARTED TO DO.

IT IS SO EVOLUTIONARY, BUILT INTO US.

IT'S ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS THAT CONNECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN.

SO NATURALLY, PEOPLE ARE DANCERS.

AS A HUMAN RACE, WE'RE CREATIVE PEOPLE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A NEED AND A WANT EVEN IF THEY DON'T REALIZE IT TO CREATE AND TO MAKE ART.

IT ENHANCES THE INDIVIDUAL'S LIVES AND I THINK IT'S JUST AN OUTLET TO JUST BE WHO YOU ARE.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT MY STUDENTS AS MUSIC STUDENTS.

MUSIC EDUCATION ITSELF HASN'T CHANGED IN 3,000 YEARS, AND I BELIEVE EVERYBODY CAN DO MUSIC OF SOME KIND REGARDLESS OF ANY BACKGROUND, ANY PHYSICAL OR SUPPOSED LIMITATION.

COMMUNITY ARTS CONNECTION IS A DAY HAB ILL TAKES PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THEY ARE SERVED BY THE ARC OF MONROE COUNTY.

AT COMMUNITY ARTS CONNECTION WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE A JOB READINESS PROGRAM AND THEN WE HAVE THE ART SPACE PROGRAM AND WE UTILIZE VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, FIBER ARTS, LITERARY ARTS TO ALLOW THE INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME EITHER PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR FOR THEM TO TAKE HOBBIES OR INTERESTS THAT THEY HAVE AND LEARN SKILLS THAT WILL EITHER GET THEM EMPLOYMENT OR THEY HAVE HAD EMPLOYMENT AND NOW THEY ARE READY TO JUST HAVE FUN.

I'M IN CHARGE OF THE ART STUDIO, SO I TEACH TEN DIFFERENT CLASSES A WEEK AND IT RANGES FROM JEWELRY MAKING TO CERAMICS TO PAINTING AND WORKING WITH RECYCLED OBJECTS.

WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES.

I THINK ART IN ITSELF IS GOOD FOR ANYONE.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH FIBER ARTS.

I LIKE WORKING THINGS WITH MY HANDS LIKE DRAWING PICTURES AND PAINTING.

AFTER I WAS COMING HERE I HAVE BEEN FEELING GREAT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE RELAXED AND MORE ENJOYABLE DOING THINGS.

AS WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A CREATIVE OUTLET AT HOME, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE MATERIALS AT HOME OR HAVE THE SUPPORT TO CREATE ART OR MAKE MUSIC OR DANCE SO KIND OF GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY MORE HERE AND COMING TO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND IT'S TEACHING THEM THE SKILL THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE LEARNED IN SCHOOL.

BE CREATIVE!

YOU CAN COPY YOUR NEIGHBORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED GROW UP BEING TOLD A LOT THAT THEY CAN'T DO SOMETHING OR THAT THEY CAN'T DO LOTS OF THINGS.

I TRY TO DO THE OPPOSITE.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO?

SHOW ME.

SOMETIMES THERE ISN'T ANYTHING MORE, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THERE IS.

MY NAME IS BRENNA GLAN, AND I'M AN ARTIST IN A DANCE TROUPE.

MAKES ME FEEL HAPPY THAT I'M ABLE TO DANCE MORE.

I THINK BY GIVING THEM THIS OPPORTUNITY WE'RE TAPPING INTO SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T DO OR PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE A CURIOSITY ABOUT.

CAN I DO THIS?

AM I DANCER?

WHAT I WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE DANCING?

WILL PEOPLE STILL LIKE ME IF I GET OUT THERE AND DO MY GROOVE THING?

AND THEN THE RECOGNITION THAT COMES WITH THE SKILLS YOU LEARN WITH YOU BECOME A DANCER.

NOW I KNOW MY RIGHT FROM MY LEFT.

NOW I CAN IDENTIFY MUSIC SKILLS LIKE PEOPLE TEMPO AND MUSIC.

AND EVERYONE CAN DO THE SAME DANCE AT THE SAME TIME BUT IF THEY WANT TO.

THEY MAY BE DOING A DANCE THEY HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE SO IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH BUT TO THAT PERSON THAT COULD BE EVERYTHING.

I HAVE STUDIED MUSIC FOR 13 YEARS.

I PLAY TROMBONE.

I LIKE ALL MUSIC.

I LIKE THAT THERE'S JAZZ STANDARDS, BLUES, ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK, AND MOTOWN.

WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING THEY'RE TO A VERY PROFESSIONAL LEVEL NOW IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF PLAYING WITH EACH OTHER, SO I THINK SOCIALLY IT'S ADDED DIMENSION, INTELLECTUALLY IT'S ADDED DIMENSION AND TO ME THE BOTTOM LINE IS FUN.

ARTS BENEFITS ANYONE WHETHER YOU HAVE A DISABILITY OR NOT.

EVERYONE HAS ABILITIES.

HAVING A CREATIVE OUTLET IN LIVEN RICHES ONE'S LIFE SO WHEN THEY HAVE FOUND AN INTEREST WHETHER IT'S ART, DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER, WE'RE HELPING THEM HONE THOSE SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN SHARE THEIR LOVE OF THEIR HOBBY WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WITH THEMSELVES, AND IT GIVES THAT CREATIVE OUTLET THAT I THINK ALL HUMAN BEINGS WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE IN.

SO THAT IS THAT FOR THIS EDITION OF ART REMARKS.

AS ALWAYS, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE AND SHARE SHOW EPISODES AT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT BE MISSING, COUNTRY ROADS MAGAZINE MAKES A GREAT RESOURCE FOR FINDING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ARTS AND CULTURE ALL OUT THERE IN THE PELICAN STATE.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK I'M JAMES FOX-SMITH, AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

"ART ROCKS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.