November Unite Page 12
to start serving a lower income area,” Polly said. “I felt like the arts serve people in low income areas quite well by teaching skills and communication and things like that.”
Celebrating Eddie Murphy Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize airs nationwide on Sunday, November 23 at 8 pm
Eddie Murphy, Comedian/ Actor
JELLY, RAGS & MONK
TURTLE ISLAND
Eddie Murphy is the most commercially successful African-American actor in the history of the motion picture business and is one of the industry’s top-five box-office performers overall. Murphy is on the very short list of actors who have starred in multiple $100 million pictures over the past three decades, from Beverly Hills Cop to Daddy Day Care. He is also the voice of Donkey in the Oscar®-winning animated film Shrek and its sequel, Shrek 2, which is the top-grossing animated film of all time.
with SpEciAL GuESt
November 5
CYRUS Thursday, 7:30 pm
QUARTET CHESTNUT
All Seats $25
Teen Spa
continued from page 6 when you are an honor student, actress and entrepreneur. She loves to recharge at the spa, or have a mobile spa party experience with her closest friends. Therefore, it is only right that she expands her brand to include an upscale oasis just for younger ones to enjoy a fun and
rejuvenating spa experience, while checking out the latest fashion trends by Essynce Couture and other designers. The spa is located at: Essynce Couture Spa & Boutique, 71 Market Street Passaic, NJ 07055 For more details about the spa or her other ventures, visit www.essyncecouture.com
www.unitenewsonline.org
UNITE.
See column on page 12
Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community
Thirteenth Annual Youth Empowerment Summit Stor y on page 4
Jacob Lawrence American (1917-2000) The 1920’s...The Migrants Cast Their Ballots, 1974, serigraph, ed. 54/125 Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jacob Lawrence moved with his family to Harlem in 1930, where he attended the Harlem Art Workshop and the American Artists School under prominent artist Charles Alston. Lawrence became nationally known when The Migration of the Negro series was shown at New York’s Downtown Gallery in 1941. The first African American artist to be represented by a New York gallery, he was also the subject of a lengthy profile in Fortune magazine, which reproduced twenty-six of the series’ sixty panels. From his first published lithograph in 1963, Lawrence produced a dynamic body The Migrants Cast Their Ballots of prints exploring universal issues of equality, unity, and hope in a distinctive, personal style of bold colors and flat, overlapping shapes influenced by Modern art. This print is part of the Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence, which reflects and projects American Independence as interpreted by twelve of America’s foremost artists.
See African American Artists Collection at the Springfield Art Museum
Our Voice: Thanks to Francine Pratt and her work for our community Stor y on page 5
Black Land Ownership — Are You A Millionaire and Don’t Even Know It? Stor y on page 6
Eat Well, America, and Stop Diabetes!November Is Diabetes Month Stor y on page 10
A Passion To Create
Local artist focuses on the creative process and journey By Bon Tindle Unite Contributing Writer
Springfield, MO—Springfield has a new artist who is making waves with his approach to both art and life. Jason Jackson isn’t new to Springfield but he has only recently appeared in First Friday Art Walk downtown. An artist who works in all styles and mediums, Jackson insists on challenging himself. “I love to get out of my comfort zone, and try something new. See what I can do,” he said. He carries this attitude on to his students as well. Jackson teaches a class, and he lets his students start work on projects Continued on page 9
Photo provided By Bon Tindle
continued from page 9
Artivities also designs events for birthdays and baby showers among other events. Regular classes range from $7.99 for children to $35. To keep up with Artivities and their other events, follow them on Facebook at Artivities or Instagram at @artivities_studio.
Photo provided BySpringfield Art Museum
Rebekah Polly
November 2015 Volume 25/ Number 11 • A Monthly Publication by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc •
Jason Jackson displaying his work at First Friday Art Walk
Art teacher provides venue to practice creative expression By Beaunea McNeil Unite Contributing Writer
pay but, nevertheless, people are consistently trying to find Springfield, MO—As and do new things. Springfield continues While many people to grow, new businessdo yoga or simply es are planting their go to see a movie, seeds in the commuothers are trying to nity in hopes they will branch out and find also grow with it. other ways to express Spare time and money themselves. While not is something that a lot as popular as other Rebekah Polly of people don’t have, hobbies, creating art especially with the rising costs is becoming the popular in Afriof housing, amenities and bill can American communities.
From dancing to poetry to film, creative expression is becoming a part of the culture and this time, it looks like it will stay. Art is another way that people are beginning to express themselves. It was the summer of 2014 when Rebekah Polly, an art teacher, decided that she would help people with that choice of expression with her creation of Artivities. Continued on page 9