As a child, Jennifer Barrett remembers “building something” as her favorite classtime activity. Today the founder of Ruthy’s Metal Works sculpts an array of items for clients, such as wall planters, visual sculptures, and even furniture made with metal and reclaimed wood. Barrett’s introduction to metal arts began at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas. …
Although Fran Powers studied theater in college, she decided to leave the industry after graduating. She believed theater could not make the drastic changes she wanted to see in the world. Despite those misgivings, Powers still loved the art form. That affection eventually brought her back to the stage. Today Powers is the founder of …
From a young age, 3D chalk artist Jan Riggins knew art was in her essence. She had grown up in a home filled with creations by her mother, a prolific artist who painted a Christmas card for every person on her list, and a grandmother who sculpted and worked with watercolors. Although Riggins focused mainly …
In 2013, a group of women banded together to create The Kilroys, a grassroots collective of playwrights, directors, and producers advocating for gender parity on American stages. The name Kilroy was derived from a World War II graffiti tag “Kilroy Was Here,” which soldiers left in unexpected places to make their presence known. Playwright Caroline …
Eco-feminist artist Mira Lehr is famous for using nontraditional media and exploding fuses to create fire lines across her paintings. Her nature-based work encompasses painting, sculpture, and video, with Lehr’s solo and group exhibitions numbering more than 300. Now in her sixth decade of artmaking, she is creating more new works than at any other …
Ryoko Kaneta, a leading figure of Japan’s up-and-coming generation of artists, recently made her U.S. solo debut with a show at Corey Helford Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. The Tokyo-based artist paints according to ancient Japanese philosophies and uses the female figure to personify elements of nature. These include the phenomenon of weather and dramatic …
Jacque Aye did not look up to a Disney princess as a young girl. She instead admired the Japanese manga character Sailor Moon, feeling empowered by the skirt-wearing superhero. “I loved seeing super-feminine characters being cute and kicking butt,” Aye said. “They’re emotional, quote-en-quote, but they still get the job done.” As a manga creator, …
Growing up in Los Angeles, Dori Berinstein made countless trips to see live theatre with her family. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was a frequent destination. On one excursion, young Berinstein saw a production of “Hello Dolly,” starring the legendary Carol Channing. Channing’s performance made a huge impact, and from that moment on, Berinstein was a …
Jennifer Orkin Lewis fulfills many different creative roles as an artist, illustrator, author, and teacher. As seen on August Wren, Lewis’s predominately nature-inspired paintings have been featured in collaborations with Anthropologie, Kate Spade Home, Seattle Chocolate, and more. After studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, Lewis decided to start her creative career in …
Before becoming a children’s book author, Sasha Graham worked as a publicist, television writer and producer, and an executive for Walt Disney Studios. In the four years since Graham pursued writing full-time, she has written two children’s books, both part of her Tiny Ninja series. Using the character of the “Tiny Ninja,” which represents the …