​                     Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

​I arrived at the Faith Ministries Church a few minutes early. I have been attending gospel concerts for over 30 years in the Columbus, Ohio area. This was my first time attending a Raise Productions concert. It seems odd because the choir has been in existence for about 33 years.

​Sidebar: The excitement and the fun the group members were having during this song was contagious. I almost forgot that I was there to take pictures…

Sidebar: During the early part of the concert, I concentrated on making sure I stayed out of the video team members way and taking pictures. I started really listening to the choir on a cappella song, “Were you there”. The harmony was amazing!

​Sidebar:  A few of the lyrics of this song are “He could have chose another way to show he loved us, He could have chose another way to show He cared, yet he chose to die on Calvary. Just to think that he did it all for me”. I could have listened to this song for about 15 minutes more. Enough said.

​Raise Productions has been around for a while. Tell me what is going on.
We started in 1985. It has been 34 years since Raise has been in existence. We are still moving. Initially, we started with the school and teaching private lessons in a house on 22nd Street. Then, we moved to the King Arts Complex and were there several years. Then, we moved to our own facility on Cleveland Ave. We taught classes in the arts. We had a vision to develop an accredited program. We had 5 or 6 teachers at that point. Most of the teachers went back to school to start getting their master’s Degree or additional degrees to be able to teach. I went back to school and got my Master’s and doctorate and started teaching at Ohio State, and at Dennison and now I’m teaching at Indiana University. We still have the publishing company. It still provides music for choirs and people all over the world. Brother Frank Lane runs Raise in Columbus. I promote Raise from Indiana and all over the world. The choir is still together and still sings. The choir is 33 years old and still has some of the original members.
 
A Raise Resurrection is an Easter concert which celebrates the story of Christ from Palm Sunday through the resurrection with anthems, spirituals, gospel songs, narratives, scriptures etc.
 
We don’t sing as often because I am all over the place. When we come together, it is always a blessed time. It is a reminder of how pleasant it is for brethren to come together in unity, to sing and experience the power of God.
 
Any projects coming soon?
We have been working on a project for a little while. We just haven’t been able to get it finished. The project is called, “Still Raising Gospel Music Higher.” On our first concert and album over 30 years ago we had a song called “Raising Gospel Music Higher”. That was our motto for Raise.  We have beautiful music that the Lord has given us. We are just waiting to get it out.
 
Do you write most of the songs the group performs? Toot your own horn for a minute.
I have been composing since I was 9. I have written over 600 compositions. With Raise choir, I write all the music. That is primarily because the Lord has gifted me as a composer. They are a group that we developed to be able to share the music that God gave to me.
 
Tell me more about the progression of Raise.
We started teaching lessons in a house, but always had a vision to have an accredited school. Having come through traditional classical training in undergraduate school, I realized that gospel music did not mix with classical music and it was not welcome in the academy. That burned in me a vision that people need to learn how to do gospel music in an academic setting and not be made to feel that gospel music is inferior. When we started the community arts school, we were trying to develop the courses and curriculum to teach people to do what we do in African American churches through gospel music. We were blessed to do that, then the Lord called us to a higher platform where He gave us the arena. We were able to take our programming into academic settings and now we literally teach in college and universities all over the world.  A lot of choirs perform this music all over the world. If you search for Raymond Wise on www.youtube.com, there are over 400 pieces posted. Not even one did I post.  There are choirs from all over the world performing this music. The Lord is blessing this ministry to be a worldwide ministry in terms of the curriculum, music, products and sheet music.
 
What should I have asked that I didn’t ask that you are dying to tell me?
We are blessed to have been here for this many years, the longevity that the Lord has given us but there is still more.  While we are expanding, the Lord is opening new doors in other arenas. There is still that vision to be able to train and help musicians in non-academic as well as church settings to learn how to do this music in a wonderful way. We still have a vision that one day there will be a center for the gospel arts where people can come from all over the world to do this music.
 
How do we contact you?
All our products and contact information are on www.raiseonline.com. We don’t sing as often, but we still do sing. If people want us to do specific things, we just need to know in advance. We do clinics, workshops, etc.

How long have you been a member and why do you participate?
I have been a member since I was 19 years old. It has impacted my life by helping to enlighten me to pray for people and lay my hands-on people while I am giving them a massage. I am a professional massage therapist. It has taken me out of a dark place in my life.  About 30 years ago, I considered committing suicide. The music and the words to the music lifted me up from that dark place and encouraged me to go forward.
 
The group is unique in that we sing 6-part harmony. By that I mean first soprano, second soprano, first alto, second alto, first tenor, second tenor, and bass. Usually you don’t find that in groups from Columbus Ohio. You get soprano, alto, tenor. Half of the tenors are baritones and they are screaming their part. Screaming impacts your voices.
 
We also sing in different languages.  We sing in German which is wild to me. It is a gift that Raymond has given us to be able to interpret gospel music in German.
 
Years ago, we had the opportunity to sing at a Jewish synagogue with a choir from Renalt Israel. They had a piece of our music, we had a piece of their music. When we came together as family, it was phenomenal. We were so much on one accord that both groups wore royal blue without planning it. We have been exposed to many arenas that most African American choirs do not get the opportunity to be exposed to.
 
Why do you sing in Raise?
The impact of his music. His music is all scripturally based. I love the arrangements of his music. You don’t find his music being played over and over on the radio. It is a totally different style. One person said they don’t know whether to clap or sit and listen.
 
The group exposes my vocal range.
 
Are you trying to tell me you can “blow”?
I won’t say that. Someone else might say that, but I won’t.
 
What part do you sing?
Second soprano. My vocal range has changed. I used to sing first soprano.
 
If you are singing with Dr. Raymond Wise , we know you are hitting the correct notes.
His second soprano is most choirs first soprano range. Raymond writes very high, but he gives you the training and breathing techniques, etc. We warm up properly all the time before we sing. We don’t stress that in the black choirs. We just sung 10 songs and I am not hoarse. In other choirs, I would have been hoarse by the fourth song. With this group he demands excellence and unity, the musicians are not out playing one another, The musicians want to hear what we are singing.
 
My take: I completed the group piano lessons offered at the school in the mid-1990s. I knew Dr. Raymond Wise was a talented musician and singer prior to attending the concert. I didn’t know what to expect. This concert told the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scriptures were not only read by narrators but displayed visually on screens in the front of the sanctuary. A few of the members gave their testimony of how the group and/or songs has impacted their lives over the years. This was a concert that was more than singing and playing instruments in excellence. It was ministry in excellence.  “Just to think that He did it all for me” …. Enough said. 

Categories: Music, People and Things

Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

​This was the first annual Westerville Art Hop. It consisted of about 30 locations in Uptown Westerville where artists were creating art live and/or displaying their work.

Why water colors?
The dirty secret is water color is easy to clean up. Oils are a pain. With soap and water, you are done. The fact that you can use transparent color. In water color you can put on layers. It is like having sheets of colored glass, one on top of the other. Plus, the flow of the water can give unexpected mixtures of color. Some unexpected bad. Some unexpected good. To an extent you must give up control. You can plan and then throw the plan in the trash can because it doesn’t work out that way. I find it to be a beautiful medium. It is difficult, but not impossible and easy clean up.
How long have you been doing it?
I got started with this because I was retiring in 2016. I got started a little before that, so about 3.5 years.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
The watercolor pans you get when you are in the third grade…. Forget it! Those are impossible. Nobody could paint well with those. Get decent equipment. Most of the classes that I am aware of are designed for older people but Westerville Arts Council Youth (WACY) offers painting classes for young people.
Anything else?
Westerville has a lot of artists, and no cultural arts center. If there is anything that is missing in this town, it is a cultural arts center.
 

What is your medium?
It is acrylic.
Why acrylic? How long have you been doing it?
I have been doing it (painting) all my life. Acrylic is the easiest paint medium that I ever worked with. I tried water color, oils, etc. It is the easiest because it is permanent, and it doesn’t need to dry for a long time like oil. It is very flexible. You can change it, blend it, and pick bright colors.
Are you a full-time artist or is this your side gig?
More like a side gig. 
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
If they really love doing it, they need to do it part time. Find a design job or something that they can do for profit. I have a lot of artist friends. None of them are really making it.

How did you become a trained Art Therapist?
I went to college at Cal State Los Angeles for two or three years and received a Master’s in Art Therapy.
What is art therapy?
Art can be a therapy. The act of doing art is therapy. For anyone, it can be an alternative means to express yourself.  Some people feel more comfortable with the visual than the verbal. It is just another way to express yourself.
What is your process to tell a story with art?
I start with a story. Then I illustrate it, or I allow the story to evolve out of the art. It is about intuition, living in the moment and seeing what will unfold. It is like taking a walk in the park. We don’t plan to see two squirrels, a tree fall, and a bunch of flowers. At the end of the walk if we saw seven squirrels we don’t say, “Well that was a waste of time”. We go for the experience. Usually when we do art, we have a plan and execute the plan.  We rarely step into a blank canvas and see what happens. I have explored that in my own work, and I work with artists to do that. To be in the moment, and have the confidence to trust our intuition, then express it. There is no wrong way to do it that way. Whatever unfolds, whatever happens happens, but you need to accept it.  It’s when we have an expectation and we don’t meet it, then are disappointed, then we judge our art and ourselves. It is one and the same. When we accept our art, we accept ourselves.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Be themselves. Explore who you are. Embrace and develop your gifts even more. You can learn from others but do it from your own filter.

Tell me about the medium you are using and how long you have used it.
This is acrylic. I have been doing this for about 9 years. I’m 17.
Is this the one thing that you are passionate about?
I am passionate about a lot of different areas in the arts. This is where I started out. In the realm of the arts is my passion.
Any advice for a young person (younger than you) who wants to do what you are doing?
It is all just practice. I think there are people who think it comes down to talent, or that person was born with it. You must not be afraid to make mistakes. 

Tell me about the medium you are using and how long you have used it.
I have been painting forever. I took 7 years of private lessons with David Myers (middle school through high school). In 2015 I got a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the Rhode Island school of art and design. I am mainly a painter.
Why painting?
Why not painting? Of course, I love painting. I am drawn to it. I do draw and do other stuff. I love the way it feels to work with paint. I love 10 layers of gesso.
What is gesso?
It is a sealer. You put it on raw canvas to prime it.
I am particular about the surface area. I want it to be smooth. I sand it down.
Tell me about your process. Share your secrets.
I am teaching a class, “Intro to Painting for beginners to intermediates” at the Bryn Du Art Center in Granville. For my process, I usually have an object that I want to put in a scene or an abstract sense of the type of scene I want. For example, the kitchen. Then I do a bunch of sketches. I play around with the composition. Once I find something that I like, I draw it out. I know a lot of people are not going to like this because they feel it is a secret magic trick. But I trace a lot of stuff directly on the canvas. Some people feel that is cheating, but I am working smart. I like to work with Procreate, it is an iPad drawing app. Sometimes I take a picture of my painting then put it in Procreate, then draw over the photo. It allows me to change colors of objects. It is a way to get some distance from the painting that I am working on, and to visualize something.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
You got to love it. Quantity is a huge thing. Make as much stuff as possible. Paint every day. Draw every day. If you make ten paintings, one of them is going to be good. Get out of your head and go for it. You are never going to truly be original. Everything comes from something else. You know what you like. Pick artists you like and copy them. Not one to one. Change something.

Tell me about your preferred medium and the tools you use to create art.
We use chalk paint by Annie Sloan. It is a decorative paint that she developed in 1990. We paint furniture, floors, walls, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, etc. It is a decorative paint that can go on any surface with little prep work.
How did you get started doing chalk paint?
I went to school and graduated with an art degree. I opened my shop. My aunt found out about Annie’s paint. We started using it and fell in love with it. Then, we started selling the paint ourselves and teaching people how to use it.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Just open a can of paint and get right to it. It is easy and fun, and anyone can do it. 

Tell me about your experiences doing rock concert photography.
It was a blast back in the day when you didn’t need a photo pass to get credentials to be at the stage. You could take a big bag of gear into a show. They would just check to make sure you weren’t bringing in contraband. I would get to my seat even if I wasn’t close, then I would just roam get as close as I could, get my shots, then move to the other side. I would do that all night long. That was from 1975 to 1978 I didn’t do anything for about 13 years. Then, I got an opportunity to shoot professionally for a few local magazines. Then, I started getting the photo passes where I was right at the stage. That began in 1991 with Siouxsie And the Banshess, the first big show was the U2 show of 1992 for Achtung Baby which was the Zoo TV Tour. I would pick and choose who I wanted to shoot. It was a blast being at the stage.
Wow! being right at the stage is a little easier right? Less heads to avoid getting a clear shot.
You still must be able to operate a camera. Most of the pictures you see on the wall were done with manual focus. The only ones that are not are Chrissie Hynde 1998, the Stones and Ringo.
How did you get started?
I was at a famous rock show in 1974 in Cleveland stadium at the Emerson Lake and Palmer Brain Salad Surgery tour. We were close to the stage on the infield. This guy had all these 35 mm cameras with lenses around his neck. I was totally transfixed with what I saw. I thought, “what in the world kind of camera is that? I have to get one of those.” That was the beginning of it. I saved up for my first camera. After that it was all over. I knew I wanted to become a photographer. I went to photography school and got a degree from Ohio Institute of Photography. I eventually became a corporate photographer for Columbia Gas for 12 years. I travelled to 5 states, sometimes on a Learjet for corporate communications. The company filed chapter 11, so I lost that gig. I never lost my love for photography.
What is your favorite memory?
Wow there is just so many. Queen (rock group) is up there. I saw them 4 times back in the day. I have a shot of Freddie (Freddie Mercury was a British singer-songwriter, record producer and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen) looking right at me, Phil Collins and Genesis 1978. I snuck in to see the band before they let people in. I got shots of a whole mini set. The U2 show is another highlight because I got a cover and a 2-page spread out of that.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Get the degree, so you can compete. Find what you love in photography and pursue it. Shoot a lot. I shot every day after school for about 2 years before I did anything. I wanted to get familiar and the love of shooting. Feed your mind images. You can’t create from a vacuum. Zero in on how you want to specialize. Pursue it! Don’t give up! Keep shooting!

Tell me about the medium reverse painting on glass.
I start with a drawing; then, I paint what I have drawn on one side of a piece of glass. When I show the piece of art, it will be on the other side. I find a backing for it. Hopefully, it comes out with something that pops. The contrast between the flower, the backing and a frame that brings it all together. Sometimes, I need to paint a second coat.
Tell me about the background.
It is a piece of vinyl that looks like metal that is kind of shinny. It gives a nice contrast to the soft flower. I found them online for kitchen and bathroom renovations. I assume they are used for back splashes.
How did you get started?
I started about a year and a half ago. It was an idea that my wife had. It has been about a year and a half trying to find the right frames and backgrounds. I am not aware of anyone else who is doing this; so, I don’t have anyone that I can ask. If I make a mistake, I just take a razor blade and scrape all the paint off and start over.
How long does it usually take to complete one piece?
About 2 or 3 hours. One coat, then wait for it to dry and do another coat. If a third coat is needed, it takes about half an hour to dry.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
I don’t know that a young person would have much fun doing this. If they wanted to try, I would have them draw first. I think that if you are trying to do art, sketching and drawing is where you start. Without a sketch, I wouldn’t have any idea what to do with the paint.
 
Sidebar: I love the repurpose component!

Tell me about your preferred medium and your process.
I worked in the corporate world for almost 30 years. I developed multiple sclerosis. I retired from work because of that. I needed a hobby, so I started doing photography. One day, I took a picture of a light bulb that I needed to buy a replacement for. People loved the picture. I started to play around with photography. I am now the president of the Westerville Art league. I show my work at a couple of places in town. I’m just having fun.
Westerville Art League has been around 61 years. I feel honored to be the president.
How would you describe your work?
Anything from abstract to real. We will travel and find pictures like in Norway. Light, reflection, and shadows.
What tools do you use to create your art?
My cell phone and my tablet. I also use free apps: toolwiz and snapseed.
 
Sidebar: I can’t believe Rob is taking the images with a cell phone and only using free apps to increase saturation in his images. I thought he used Lightroom at a minimum to process the images.
 
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Don’t listen to what everybody else says. Play, enjoy, have fun. See what you want to see. If you are not having fun, it is not worth it. 

Katie Graves: IG: @katiegravesmusic
How long have you been playing acoustic guitar?
8 years.
Where are you going to school?
Berkley College of Music in Boston.
If you can do anything with music what would you do?
Write and arrange my own songs and other people’s pieces and perform them.
If there is someone younger than you who wants to get to where you are, what advice would you give them?
Listen and practice.
Do you play by ear?
Yes, a lot of the time.
Can you read music?
It is getting there. I can read tabs, but sheet music, I am still working on.
Do you primarily perform by yourself? Are you in a band?
I play by myself most of the time. That is why I have a looper pedal.  I am kind of a one-man band.
 
Sidebar: She was able to demonstrate the looper pedal. It is a way to lay down live tracks. To have sequences of tones, loop or repeat so a person can either solo or chord over the loop.

What do you use to record your original pieces?
My phone (Voice memos). I don’t have a lot of the good recording stuff. That is why I want to go to music school because I know they will have that accessible to the students.
Is there anything that I should have asked you, but I didn’t?
What makes a good audience member?
A good audience member will get involved. I love when they get involved and clap and sing.
 

David Stichweh
Tell me about your process, how long you have been doing it, and why you do it?
I started this photo transfer process with canvas, then I tried scraps of stone and granite.. I dumpster dive at a company that installs kitchen countertops to get stone that I can use. Otherwise, they are going to pitch it in a landfill somewhere. I don’t change the shape of the stone. I look through my photographs to see which image will match the shape of the stone. I coat the image with acrylic, scrape off the paper backing, coat the stone with the acrylic, put the image on top and let it dry.
How long does that process usually take?
Beginning to end it takes about a week. I work on 4, 6, 8 or 10 pieces at a time. It doesn’t take  long per piece.
Tell me about the images you use.
They are all nature forms. When I am out walking I look for weeds that have interesting shapes and patterns to photograph. I don’t manipulate anything. I take it as I see it. I don’t want to impose myself on it.
Are you a purist?
I am a purist. The only imposition is framing it and from what camera angle I take the picture.
You mentioned you take the granite as it comes but surely you clean it.
The only thing I do is clean it with water and dish detergent.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Dumpster diving is a treasure hunt. You can use any type of flat stone, glass, wood, etc. Find what interests you. The process is simple.
Anything else you want to add?
It’s an exploration. It’s a discovery in finding the image, finding the photograph, and finding the stone. I am interested in the process more than the final product. I do work for other people using their photographs.
 
Sidebar: This process seems like it would be a great hobby! I love the repurpose component!

You said you are a fashion designer. Tell me about your background and describe your fashion.
My background is in music. I went to college for music. I have always liked fashion. I focus on men’s fashion. I find elegant fabrics and turn it into a tail coat, a vest. I want men to know they can branch out from a black and blue suit.
What is your design name?
Nothing Right. If you have nothing right to wear, then I can provide something.
Where can we find your stuff?
On Facebook
Do you work for all sizes?
Yes. It is very easy to tailor something. To bring it in or bring it out. I focus on the average person because the average person is not thin. I tend to focus on all different sizes.
Any advice for a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
Be like Nike and just do it. It is a lot of fun and it is easy. The only person holding you back is you.
 
My take: The Westerville Art Hop was wonderful. There was ample free parking close to the event. I might have walked a total of four blocks the entire time I was there. The event had a friendly vibe. There were so many locations (about 30) where artists were creating art and displaying art. Although well attended the event didn’t seem overly crowded. It was great to hear people share their passion and how they arrived where they are currently. I think it is remarkable that the young people were articulate, confident, and gave sound advice to the next generation. I enjoyed hearing about the different processes of creating art.

Categories: Art, and Things

​Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

​This is my first year attending the Arnold Sports Festival. I arrived a little after 10:00 am on Friday with my highlighted daily schedule. I was overwhelmed by the number of people in the “free” area (that doesn’t require a ticket). 

I sat towards the back of an area (C-Pod) where Xtreme Powerlift Coalition (at least that is what the sign said) was holding a competition where men were doing what appeared to me to be squats. People were everywhere. It seemed like every time I lined up to take a picture someone jumped up in the way. Then everyone stood up. I asked the guy next to me what was going on. He said, “Arnold is over there”. I just started snapping pictures in the direction where everyone seemed to be looking.

​I walked around the corner to a stage area (Concourse Stage) where women were competing in Armlifting. (I only knew the name after I interviewed the participants).

Tell me why you love Armlifting. How do you train?
I train by doing this stuff. I love it because it is the best of all.
Where are you from? The accent is not from Columbus, Ohio.
I’m from Finland.
How long have you been doing this?
A year and a half.
What is your personal best and how much did you lift today?
My personal best is 62 kg(kilograms). Today, I lifted 57.5kg. It depends on the day and the situation.
Do you have to follow a special diet?
No. I eat normally. Nothing special. 

What were you just doing?
They call it armlifting. It is a grip competition. It is how strong is your hand.
How long have you been doing it?
About a year.
What is your personal best and what did you do today?
My personal best in this event is what I did today 55 Kg. I hold the world record in the country crush, and I am hoping to break a world record tomorrow in the axle deadlift.
Do you do any specific training for this event?
No. I broke my arm a couple of months ago, so I haven’t done anything. I found grip on accident. I am a MAS wrestler. It is a Russian sport. It translates roughly into stick wrestling.

Sidebar: Lifting one hundred something pounds with grip strength is amazing. On Saturday I caught the end of the men’s MAS wrestling competition. It was so crowded that I could only see the competitors before and after the winner was holding the stick. It was very interesting. I made a mental note to see MAS wrestling next year.
 
Anything that I didn’t ask you but should have asked you?
Grip strength is exactly what it sounds like. They make us pick up odd objects with our hands. They make us measure in kilograms to try to confuse me. I think 130 pounds sounds a lot better than some of the things they say I lift.
 
I took a break from the crowd and walked toward the food court. 
​
In the Eisenman & Trott Rooms, people were preparing for a Foosball Competition.

​Around the corner was a fencing competition.

I returned to the Concourse stage to observe poll dancing.

How long have you been doing this?
I have been poll dancing for ten years.
Are you local?
I’m from a studio in Cincinnati called Dimension Fitness. We are an aerial arts studio. We have pole fitness, aerial silks and aerial hoop. The workout involves a lot of musicality, upper body strength, and flexibility. It is a whole-body workout.
Tell me about pole dancing.
Pole dancing incorporates so many kinds of fitness. We must be acrobatic, like gymnast. We must be like dancers and ice skaters. We need yoga. We need all these different aspects. On top of that, you must be brave. It is very dangerous. We are up in the air holding on by just our skin and muscles.
 
Sidebar: Her pole dance presentation lasted for what felt like five minutes. I think it was the extended radio version of a song. I was tired just watching. a person must be in great shape to pole dance for as long as she did. I didn’t think about the danger until Danielle mentioned it.
 
Across the hall there were amateur weight lifting competitions:

​There were a lot of exercise classes offered. ​The most unique class I observed was one involving Kangoo boots.

​Ritsa Mazur, kangooclubohio.com
Tell me about the unique thing you have going on?
They are kangoo jump boots. They started in Europe in the 1990s. They are originally designed to help with rehabilitation of knees, ankle, and foot injuries. They absorb 80% of the impact of your joints. It then became a fitness craze of people doing aerobic exercises. We have four different types of classes: Kangoo power, Kangoo boot camp, Kangoo dance, and Kangoo punch. They also have Kango discovery for children that require the same type of boot. They are only made for kids, so their lighter weight can compress them.
 
Most facilities have boots for rental for people to try them out. The boots are a little expensive. They range from $250 to $300 depending on the setup you want. Each setup varies on the person’s foot size, weight and the power they put behind their jump. Some one who weighs 150 may have the same boot setup as someone who weighs 230 pounds because of the power they put behind it. Over time, the T-spring needs to be replaced (its what gives you the bounce). If the T-spring stretches out too much, you will end up breaking a shell. You usually replace the T-sprint once or twice a year depending on how often you use the boots.
 
 
Sidebar: I tried the boots. It was hard to balance when I was not in motion. When I was walking, it felt like trying to walk and not glide in a pair of inline skates. I didn’t have the courage to try to jump or run because I felt like I was one second from a fall.

I listened to a gospel rap performance by @iamprophocey. To see the interview of iamprophocey, click the following link: https://www.614whats2love.com/home/arnold-sports-festival-usa-2019-a-splash-of-color

To see the interview of Solana Lewis, click the following link: https://www.614whats2love.com/home/arnold-sports-festival-usa-2019-a-splash-of-color

I encountered a few people in the hall:

To see the interview of Dyon Holmes, click the following link: https://www.614whats2love.com/home/arnold-sports-festival-usa-2019-a-splash-of-color

What is the art form called?
I am a professional living statue entertainer.
How long have you been performing? What is your background? i.e. How did you prepare to do what you are doing?
With over 85 different characters, I have been performing for 43 years. I started with classical mime Marcel Marceau style.  I trained under him for a short time. I have been performing living statue for the last 23 years. I started at age 13 after seeing Marcel Marceau on tv. After seeing him perform, I kept trying it in front of a mirror. My mom encouraged me to enter talent/variety shows. During high school it turned into a side job. While in college, I started using my talent in ministry, and continue to do so. I have been an educating artist with Ohio Arts in Education as an artist-in-schools.
What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you do?
Obey your parents and sit still!

To see the interview of Sammica Cash, click the following link: https://www.614whats2love.com/home/arnold-sports-festival-usa-2019-a-splash-of-color

The art competition was also in the free area. To see the pictures and interviews with a few of the artists click on the following link: https://www.614whats2love.com/home/arnold-sports-festival-usa-2019-art-competitions
 
My take: There is a lot to do at the Arnold Sports Festival that is free (on the cheap). I didn’t scratch the surface of what was offered. I felt like there was so much to do with so little time. It is easy to get overwhelmed with all that is offered. It is good to have a game plan of what you want to see prior to arriving, but my advice is to also be open to just hanging out in the hall.  Take a chance and introduce yourself to some of the participants. Everyone I talked to was friendly and willing to explain what they love. I enjoyed seeing the results of their passion and dedication.

Categories: Art, Sports and Things.

​Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

​This is my first year attending the Arnold Sports Festival. Prior to looking at the schedule, my friend, Andrew Livelsberger (wwwe.vistualohio.com), told me that the art and body paint were a must see (he knows I love art). The art competition was in the “free” area (didn’t require a ticket), and the body paint was in the EXPO ($20 in advance, $25 at the door).

​The art competition work area was closest to the North entrance to the Convention Center near High Street and Goodale Street. The artists were working diligently both days. On Friday, I primarily snapped a few pictures; but, on Saturday, I was invited to their work area and conducted a few interviews.

​Are you local?
No, I’m from Washington, Pennsylvania.
 
Why participate in the Arnold? What medium are you using?
I am doing acrylic. I was supposed to do colored pencil, but I decided to do something bigger. There is no way I am doing a 26 by 34 in colored pencil. I came here last year. I have always been obsessed with Arnold movies. It was fun last year, even though I was not prepared. This time around, I have all my ducks in a row. I brought my art work. Arnold has already been here; so, the trip paid for itself. I love painting. I have been painting for a long time.
 
What are you doing today?
I am painting a body builder that I was watching. She was lifting 320 pounds which was like three times her weight. I felt that was inspirational. I like the way the barbell caught the sheen of the light behind her. I decided to paint her because she was beautiful while she was lifting 320 pounds. I want to be that.

Tell me what you are doing today.
I am working on a painting of Sebastiana from Team Some Assembly Required from the prosthetic competition yesterday.
 
What is your medium? Why paint at the Arnold?
I was painting all through high school. I quit for about 7 years. I just came back to it this year. My medium is oil. I have some acrylic on the bottom. I am here because it is a cool opportunity. I used to be a body builder. I love all this stuff.
 
Sidebar: I never heard of Team Some Assembly Required. I went to their website: https://www.teamsomeassemblyrequired.com/ This is their mission, “We use and display the relentless spirit of the American adaptive athlete to promote and instill, in ALL Americans, a fundamental belief that athletics, camaraderie and competition organically grow a sense of confidence, independence and purpose.” Enough said.

​Are you local?
No, I live in South Carolina.
 
What medium are you using today?
It is pastel on paper.
 
How long have you been doing it? Why the Arnold?
I have been an artist my whole life, but I went to school for nursing. I love to do figure drawing, and this gives me great opportunity to paint these wonderful physiques. The human body is awesome. 

​Here are a few other pictures of those who participated in the body paint competition:

​Tell me what you are doing.
I am from Montreal; so, excuse the English. I speak French. We do body paint, prosthetics, head piece, and shoulder piece. Everything.
 
Sidebar: Her English is much better than my French! I enjoyed talking to her. It is interesting that people who speak English as a second language apologize for not speaking better, when I don’t know 3 words of French. Enough said.

​Why body paint? How did you get involved?
I got involved with body painting because I became a model myself. Even though I am a professional artist for a living, I fell in love with the art form. Once I saw it, I felt it, it turned into a living art piece. It rang true to my soul. This is my calling as an artist. Ever since then, I have been traveling the world participating in competitions. I filmed GSN (formerly known as the Game Show Network) skin wars and came in fourth place there., I came in third place at the worlds, North American champion 2015, and the emerging artist champion 2014. This August, I am going to Korea to compete. Body painting is an ability to express myself in an art form that is as ancient as civilization, but as modern as it could be. It is incredible to be at the forefront of that.
 
What was your preferred medium prior to body paint?
I am a classical painter, so I apprenticed under different master artists. I did oil painting, acrylic painting, water colors, illustrations, murals, and portraits.
 
Why the Arnold?
It is a fitting mixture; body builders look at their bodies as fine art sculpting. It is more difficult for the body builder because they must go through the pain to sculp their body. As an artist we can appreciate bringing our art to a level of world champion artists. The level of art is going to be spectacular. The Arnold is a fitting place to have those two worlds combine.
 
What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
They must wait until they are 18 years old. Up until age 18 they should practice makeup. The products that are used are the best makeup in the world. They use makeup for movies, for theaters, and performances. Watch all the free makeup tutorials on YouTube. Educate themselves, take any type of art class and all the drawing, and painting classes.

Why body paint? How did you get started?
I have been a professional body painter for about 15 years. and a professional artist for about 22 years since I was roughly 18 years old. I have been air brushing for about 22 years. and a professional face painter for about 12 years. It all kind of went hand in hand. I participate in a lot of competitions and exhibitions.
 
Are all body paint competitions similar? How do you prepare for the competition?
They usually all give you a time. For competitions, it is usually about 6 hours. To prepare for the competition, you will make headpieces, props, and accessories to add to it. Most of it is all body paint. Some painters plan out everything. I plan about 20 to 25%. The rest, I like to create in the process.  I usually know what my color schemes are going to be. I want it to be spontaneous. It changes and it transforms when you paint the art work. Art is a creative process.
 
Was there a theme for the body paint competition?
This year the theme was Arnold Cinema. Arnold was involved in over 51 movies. Some of the ones that stand out are “Total Recall”, “Predator”, and “Terminator”. There is a lot of different types of art that you could incorporate and be creative.
 
Tell me about your piece for Saturday.
She was a female predator. She had a huge predator on her back. The head piece and shoulder piece were very elaborate. I custom made it with cellophane; EVA foam and it was covered with gems. She had a staff that lit up (LEDs).
 
What is EVA foam?
It is versatile. It can be sculpted, carved, and painted. You can make different types of props with it.
 
What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you are doing?
In the state of Ohio, I give about a 35-minute motivational speech to young people at schools. I talk about being a professional artist and overcoming challenges. People are going to tell you no, and you are not able to do something. I have failed more times than I can count. My speech is about all the times that I failed and all the times that I wanted to give up. I was raised by a single mom. My high school art teacher didn’t know I existed. I didn’t go to art college. I tried to work doing air brush many times. I’d fail, and I get back up and try again. Here I am 22 years later. If you really want to do something, you have to do it you can’t let anyone tell you you can’t. If you fail, you must get back up and start painting.
 
Anything else?
I think it is important to do what you love to do for a living. There are not enough people in the art field that show other young artist that they can do this. I shook Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hand this weekend. I have a long list of things that I have done that I never would have done if I had given up.

My take: I LOVE watching artists create. The area where the art competition was held seemed to have adequate space. The body painting was in the Expo which was CROWDED. I found it challenging to return to the area due to the number of people. My suggestion is to have a bigger aisle surrounding the booth so people can stop and view without constantly being bumped.

Categories: Art, Sports and Things.

​Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

This is my first year attending the Arnold Sports Festival. I heard horror stories of the lack of close parking, and the number of people who attend (over 200,000). I decided to park and walk. No issues. On Friday I stayed in the free area and on Saturday I bought a ticket for the Expo ($20).
​
I encountered several people of color competing and performing. Here is the order in which I talked to them.

Tell me about what you do.
I’m a Christian hip hop man. I love to be able to put this out for the family. There is a lot of music out there that isn’t positive. I decided to take this to the next level and put it out there for people to enjoy.
 
How long have you been doing this? Where do we buy your music?
I wrote my first song when I was 14. I attended a Christian camp and learned the basics of Christian hip hop from my mentor. I have been writing ever since then. I went national about five years ago. I have been performing throughout the city and across the states. I am the four-time Ohio hip hop award winner for best holy hip hop artist in Cleveland in the Ohio hip hop conference.

You can buy my music anywhere digital, i.e. iTunes, spotify, etc.

​Advice for the next generation?
Stay original. There are too many copy cats, too many trendy things. Be consistent and persistent in what you love to do.
 
Anything you would like to add that I didn’t ask you?
Real Music Records is a Christian Hip Hop record label based in Columbus Ohio.

​What did you just do and how long have you been doing it?
I have been a power lifter for about three years. I am in the 63 kg weight class.
 
Kg? How many pounds?
138.6 pounds.
 
Powerlifting is squat, bench, and deadlift. You lift as much weight as you can for one repetition. You get three tries for each lift. You want the third attempt to be your best lift. The goal is for that lift to be the highest you have ever done in your life.
 
I have been doing this for three years. My biggest meet thus far has been this past June. I competed in the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) World Championship. That is where they take one person from each weight class from the country and you compete against other countries. I became a world champion this past summer. We competed in Calgary, CA.
 
Today I did my best squat thus far 358 pounds, a 182-pound bench press, and a 420-pound dead lift. That is almost my best. My best dead lift is 425 pounds.
 
Tell me about your workout and nutrition.
Power workouts take a long time. You lift a heavy weight and then, recover for three or four minutes. A typical workout is between two hours and two hours and forty-five minutes. I work out between four and five times a week.
 
There is some leniency for eating as a powerlifter. If you are not too much over weight, it is easy to make weight with a water cut. I count my macros. I am lenient. I have pizza and fried food, and I drink alcohol sometimes. You must watch what you eat; but, not be strict.
 
Sidebar: I had to look up macro. It is short for macronutrient. It consists of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
 
Tell me about the weight fluctuation.
If you are over 138.6 pounds, you don’t compete.
 
Are you local?
No, I’m from northern New Jersey.
 
Do you work out alone, are you part of a team, a specific gym?
I workout by myself. I have an online coach that gives me the workout to do. He checks in on me. I send him my lifts via recording. I did used to work out at a gym called East Coast West Coast, then I moved to Powerhouse gym. I lift by myself but there are a lot of power lifters around me.
 
Is this an all-natural competition?
There are two divisions. There is a Raw division. You must be all natural. Raw also means all you have for equipment for the squat is knee sleeves (the thing covering our knees) and a belt. In the multi ply division, the shirt or the deadlift suit gives you assistance so the lifts should be heavier. USAPL (USA Powerlifting) in general is an all-natural federation. There are different federations that are not USAPL where they don’t drug test.
 
Anything else?
I love you mom. My mom has been the most supportive person my entire life, especially as it relates to power lifting. This is the first meet she hasn’t been to in three years. She couldn’t be here because she had to take care of my dad who had surgery.
 
If you came by yourself, you must at least be an adult. What is the age limit?
I am junior division and open division. The junior division is between ages 19 and 23. Once you pass 22 years old, you must be open division. Today, I won first place overall open in my weight class.
 
Sidebar: I didn’t realize she won. I watched different parts of the competition and came back after she was awarded first place. It is remarkable that a 138.6-pound young lady can squat 358 pounds, bench press  182 pounds and dead lift 420 pounds. Enough said.

​What were you doing out there?
It is an actual deadlift. What makes an actual deadlift different than a regular deadlift is the actual bar deadlift is stiff. It doesn’t bend with the weights when you pick it up. That means you pick up all the weight at the same time. You must pull it quickly off the ground. We were doing reps at 450 pounds.
 
How do you train? Do you have a special diet?
There is no special diet. Anything put in front of my face, I eat. All the weight I can gain is a good thing.
 
I train heavy days; but, not too often. We do a lot of banded deadlifts to help with speed.
 
Tell me about the whole competition.
Yesterday we did two events, and we just finished the deadlift. Next we have the medley which is a malteser block (a big square block) that weighs 220 pounds. We will carry it 50 feet; then, we pull a rope that is connected to a 350 pound sled. That is a timed event. Then, we have two more events tomorrow (if you make it to day 3).
 
What is a good time?
A good time for the medley would be below 20 seconds.
 
How long have you been doing this? Any advice for the next generation who wants to do strongman?
I have been doing strength training for about 10 years. I was a track athlete in college. After college I went to a powerlifting gym. I was told that I was too athletic to do powerlifting and that I needed to do strong man. I have been doing strong man for the last two years.
 
My advice for anyone who is looking to do strong man is to get started as early as you can. The longer you can train, the stronger you will be. Stay healthy and eat well.
 
Anything else?
It’s a great event. Come out and have fun. It is a community. The athletes understand everything that you go through. Some of the competitors have been my best supporters all weekend.

​What were you doing? How do you train for what you were doing? What do you eat?
It is called strong man, but we are strong women. I have been doing strong man since the summer of 2017.  I started because my mom had a lot of health issues. I started training in the gym for powerlifting; then, switched to strongman. I train five days a week. Four of those days are a mixer of event and power lifting with accessories. The fifth day is more event work. My training cycles are usually fifteen to twelve weeks. My eating is a work in progress. It is clean for the most part. I try to get veggies in. I eat meat and cheese. I try to watch the sugar and alcohol. I haven’t had a drink since Christmas because I want my body to be in the best shape possible and for recovery. The biggest thing is making sure I get eight hours of sleep. This training cycle I learned for my recovery process to do more massages and stretching.
 
What advice would you give a young lady who wants to do what you are doing?
Do it at your own pace. We don’t see enough women of color doing strength sports. Andrea Thompson is one of the pro women from UK. She just won world’s strongest woman. She is dominating the competition at the Arnold. Seeing women like her doing it, inspires me. It is so easy to get caught up into the “so and so just got her pro card” in two years or three years. Have fun with it. When I am not having fun, that is when I over think things and make mistakes. Get to know your community. Shaun (Shanice Harriston) and I went to the nationals.  We talked to people and made friends. Coming to the Arnold, we know a bunch of people. It made this competition so much more fun. If you can get a training partner, get one. Shaun lives two hours away from me. It has been great having Shaun as a training partner. I can call Shaun every week. With Shaun being a person of color too, it makes it easy to vent about things going on at the gym or in life. We hold each other accountable. We are like the dynamic duo. Which makes it so much easier to get in the gym. Find your community.

​I compete at middleweight women. My normal division is 160 but for here I’m at 180. I had to clock in under 180 pounds which was nice. Normally, I must weight cut and that puts a whole another ball game on it.
 
How heavy was the dead lift?
It was 405 pounds.
 
How do you train?
At ten weeks out 405, was a life time PR (personal record) for me. Three weeks ago, I pulled 405 for the first time, and I pulled it twice.  When you don’t know if you are able to hit a weight, you must do a lot of strength building. I do a lot of repetitions at lower weights. For example, 365, 375, 385 to get that volume. Once you feel like you are ready, you let loose. We did a lot of little things like deficit deadlifts, deadlifts on a higher platform to get the different angles. That way if you get stuck in a competition when you are pulling, you have practiced at those different heights and you will be able to push through it.
 
How long have you been doing this?
I have been doing strong man since 2016. I went to the nationals for the first time after my first competition and won that one. I went to nationals and placed seventh. I didn’t really know what I was doing; but, it was fun to be there. I took the whole year off in 2017 to get stronger. In 2018, I went to nationals again and finished in second place which punched my ticket to this.
 
Why do you do it?
I like to lift heavy. If I can empower other people to lift heavy, that is the best. People think you are going to get big and bulky when you lift heavy. That is not the case. Lifting also changes you on the inside. If you know you can lift 405 you can do anything. I channel that through life. It is also like therapy. My dad was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) a few years ago. He is my role model. I do this for him. He got me into this sport. It is nice to do the things I know he wants to do and show him his baby girl is still throwing down.
 
Anything I didn’t ask you that I should have asked you?
There are three total days. Each athlete is guaranteed two days. There are two events the first day. Then, they divvy up the points. On day two, they place you out for your heats. After the two events today, the top four ladies will go to day three. That is the stressful part of this. Everybody wants to go to day three. You must be able to edge people out and be smart throughout the entire process. It is important to stay as consistent as possible. The next event is a carry medley. We must pick up a block that is 190 pounds, run it 50 feet, drop it standing up; then, we stay on the mat and pull 290 pounds on a sled with a rope.
 
How do you prepare mentally?
I ran track at UDUB (University of Washington). I was a sprinter. I grew up with this type of mindset. You must believe in yourself. You must know you can do it. You must visualize you getting that trophy on day three. Five minutes before I go to bed, I visualize myself going through each event, the good, the bad, and the ugly, that way there is no surprises on game day.
 
What advice would you give the next generation?
Don’t be afraid to try. A lot of this stuff is functional fitness. If you do one trip with grocery bags, that is farmers carries. There is a big community in this space. If you have never done it before, go online (strongmancorporation.com) to find a gym. At our gym, we love it when new girls come in. Everyone becomes your best friend. You are throwing down with each other. You are going through the same stuff. It’s hard, but at the end of the day, everybody loves it.

​How long have you been a fitness model?
I’m not a fitness model per say. I don’t compete or train for fitness competitions. Sad to say; but, unless I know I am going to be painted (I usually know a month in advance) that is the only time that I am serious about training.
 
How do you prepare for a body paint session/competition?
Preparing for a 6-hour paint day… The anticipation of being able to express the artist’s imaginary vision come to life… As a model, my job is to complete and deliver the masterpiece of 3D (three-dimensional) to life. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and every other world-renowned artists were only able to express so much because the vision was stationary.
 
What got you involved with body paint modeling?
I was comfortable in my skin and felt like I was expressing a living piece of art work. The 3D aspect mesmerized an inner tingling sensation that was quickly addictive! I was able to create my own art fantasy with two other female artists. Artistically.
 
What advice would you give a young person who wants to do what you are doing (model for body paint)?
Be comfortable in your own skin. Know that the viewer will typically appreciate and gaze 75% of the time over the artists transformational designs in admiration versus 25% of the time of your body/scape of the self/personal flaws (you) see of yourself. Body self-confidence is 75% and the other 25% is gained from the admiration from the viewers.

​Sidebar: I bumped into Dyon briefly in the hall on Friday. He was “done” up and on his way somewhere. He gave me his contact information.  I stopped by the body paint area several times during the competition (Saturday). Each time, Dyon was on display! I will include pictures of the process in a future article. Dyon is FULL of personality. After a while, I had to be creative to get pictures of him because whenever he saw me, he was making faces or sticking out his tongue (full of personality). 

​Sidebar: This is what is great about the Arnold. In the hall, I walked up to the following ladies and they allowed me to take their picture and Sammica Cash agreed to an interview.

​How long have you been working out?
Since 1998. I have been competing since 2014. I became an IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) Pro in women’s physique. In 2017, I went pro on my 46th birthday. I will be 48 this year.
 
Clearly you can’t eat everything you want to eat. Tell me the sacrifices you must make to look like this.
Clearly… This is off season; so, I’m not in stage ready condition. I can eat whatever I want right now. I still don’t eat bad because I try to practice a healthy lifestyle whether I am competing or not. When I am getting ready for a show, I can’t have any pizza, pasta, fruits or dairy products.
 
Well, tell me what you can have it seems like you have listed just about everything most people eat.
 
I eat a lot of fish. If you eat meat, it needs to be lean meat. My beef of choice is bison. I eat a lot of ground bison and ground turkey. My vegetables of choice are asparagus and spinach.
 
How long do you just eat fish and vegetables?
You might prep for 20 weeks. 20 weeks without alcohol would be the biggest thing for me. I like to drink. 20 weeks without tequila, that is the sacrifice right there. I can go without the pasta, and I can go without the spaghetti; but, that alcohol, that’s rough on me.
 
How many competitions do you do in a year?
I usually do two competitions a year. I haven’t picked a competition yet this year. I have been giving my body a rest. The body goes through a lot due to the deprivation of carbs. Getting ready for a show involves a lot of water manipulation and different things that you must do to get dry on stage.
 
Ok are you the competitors that do the poses?
We do a routine in women’s physique.
 
Are there many women of color that participate in Women’s physique?
Much more than when I first started. We kick cuss word and take names now. We command the stage. When I went pro in 2017 at the North American Championship, there was me and another black lady. We went one two the whole night. To be honest, it is more difficult for us as far as diet is concerned. I’m not racist but white girls have been eating salad all their lives.  We have been eating corn bread and beans. Many times, we would get beat in the kitchen (meaning having a disadvantage due to diet). When you begin to understand the importance of our diet and want to live a healthier lifestyle, you incorporate that. When you are a champion, you don’t want to lose. You must win in the kitchen too.
 
Is there a weight limit?
Not in women’s physique. When you go pro, it’s everybody competing against everybody. In the amateur level it goes by height and sometimes by age. When I step on the stage at 47 years old, many times I am competing against younger girls. 

Clearly, you are some type of body builder, tell me what you do.
Last night, I did the biggest competition in the world, which is the Arnold classic. I lost by one point. I am very happy with the achievement that I have made. That is not what the fans wanted; but, I still give respect to the champion. I felt great sleeping on my bed last night because I know the media and the fans had my back. The division is called classic physique. I have the smaller waist the V taper that everyone wants for the industry. I displayed well. I did my best.
 
Is there a weight class?
There is no weight class in classic. You get measured by height. I am 5’10”, my weight limit is 215 pounds. A shorter guy has a lower weight limit. All the guys were different heights; but, they were the best in the world.
 
How long have you been doing this, and what is your advice for someone else who wants to do what you are doing?
I have been doing it for two years. It is about taking your time and polishing your look.
 
My take: Seeing people passionately pursuing what they love is inspiring. It was clear all are dedicated and committed or else they would not have been invited to perform/compete at the Arnold Sports Festival. I observed a spark when each person explained their event or what they do. Watching the performance/competition is great; but, the connections/interactions are priceless.
 
Categories: Sports and Things