ArtPop: Accessible Art, Open Experiences

It’s a Saturday morning, and I’m riding down a busy road as my mom drives - the only visible scenery outside my window is the bland repetition of business signs and advertisements when I spot something out of the corner of my eye that brightens the entire road. On a billboard high in the sky is a beautiful abstract work of art; it takes my mind off the road for a moment and allows me to enjoy a sight that I haven't been able to view for a while: public art. 

ArtPop (Art + Public Outdoor Project) Street Gallery, a nonprofit organization based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, is known for investing in artists and public art. The organization was launched in 2014 and has reached 16 cities and 12 states since.

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Breaking Barriers: 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

This year the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will induct rappers Jay Z and LL Cool J along with several other groups and solo acts. They will respectively become the 8th and 9th hip-hop artists or groups to be honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is an honor, and while it may not be a focal point for some artists to achieve, it’s one that’s only given to hip-hop royalty. 

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Pat Morita: More to the Story

“The idea of a Japanese comedian was not only a rarity, it was non-existent.” -Pat Morita.

The late Noriyuki Morita was the embodiment of an entertainer and knew exactly how to get a laugh from any audience. His love for comedy and performing in front of audiences led him to become one of the most beloved actors of the past century. However, often overlooked is the uphill battle that Morita faced not only with alcohol abuse but also as an Asian-American actor in early Hollywood cinema. With a career spanning from the 1960s to the early 2000s, Morita experienced first-hand the various racist and stereotypical portrayals of Asian people in American television and film. 

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Jerry Lorenzo: Fear of God

Fashion has a stereotype. Expensive, fancy, untouchable. What happens when that stereotype is broken? When fashion becomes accessible and even casual? 

From streetwear to fashion Jerry Lorenzo has made a name for himself with his famous “Fear of God” collection that has been thriving for over seven years and seven sets now. The seventh collection on “Fear of God” came out earlier this year and was an immediate success as well as the kids’ collection that came out earlier this month on May 12th. 

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