logo
Harlem art gallery showcases inclusive art by Scottish-born artist

Harlem art gallery showcases inclusive art by Scottish-born artist

Yahoo12-04-2025

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) — Can art change the world?
There is one art gallery in Harlem that is hoping the answer is yes. The name of this exhibit at Heath Gallery is called 'More Love Now' by abstract figurative painter Debbie Taylor-Kerman.
More Local News
The artist, born in Scotland and now living in Harlem, has created 30 pieces of acrylic on wood depicting people of all races and religions, immigrants and transgendered people.
The titles are often whimsical, like 'Sweet or Savory,' but the messages are deep.
'It's basically about three different transgendered people from different ethnicities,' Debbie Taylor-Kerman, the artist, told PIX11 News.
'In India, they are called the Hijra, and they accepted and celebrated.
Most Native American tribes also celebrate their transgendered,' she added.
According to gallery director Saundra Heath, this exhibition creates a space for dialogue about inclusion and acceptance and compassionate community-building.
'When you look at what's happening in the world, when you look at the fear and the divisiveness, her message of unity and acceptance, her celebration of many cultures and people, and that we can really coexist,' Saundra Heath, the director of Heath Gallery, told PIX11 News.
By naming her paintings with titles like 'What's your favorite flavor of Ice Cream?' Or 'I miss my dad's corny jokes', featuring a Muslim woman, a Christian man, and a Jewish man, Taylor-Kerman is hoping to start people talking to one another.
'Sometimes it's the simple things in life that connect us,' Taylor-Kerman told PIX11 News. 'I wanted to make that connection,' she added.
This weekend, there'll be a talk with artist Debbie Taylor-Kerman at 2 pm Saturday.
This exhibit will be here at Heath Gallery until May 3rd.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Choir to Cypher: 18 Rappers Who Have Ties to Church
Choir to Cypher: 18 Rappers Who Have Ties to Church

Black America Web

timea day ago

  • Black America Web

Choir to Cypher: 18 Rappers Who Have Ties to Church

Kya Kelly/Radio One Cincinnati Before they were spitting and rocking sold-out stages, some of hip-hop's most influential artists were at church sitting in pews or singing in choirs. The Black church has long been a foundational space, not just spiritually, but creatively. It's where storytelling is born in rhythm, call-and-response becomes second nature, and community means everything. For a lot of rappers, the church wasn't just the first stage: it was the first studio, the first audience, and the first school of performance, discipline, and identity. RELATED: 11 Living Legends Who Deserve Their Flowers While a few have strayed far from traditional religious paths and others have blended their faith directly into their music, the influence of the church remains clear in some of their work. Here are 18 rappers who have ties to church, and carry a piece of it with them into music: Choir to Cypher: 18 Rappers Who Have Ties to Church was originally published on Source:Getty Snoop Dogg was raised in the Baptist church and began singing and playing piano there at Golgotha Trinity Baptist Church as a child. His mother, a choir member, introduced him to gospel music and old-school R&B, which heavily influenced his musical journey. Snoop has spoken about how his church upbringing instilled in him a sense of community and family. He also credits the church with teaching him lessons that have lasted throughout his life. While he later explored other faiths, including Islam, he acknowledges the positive impact his church background had on him. Source:Getty Missy Elliott's journey began in a Virginia church choir where she sang and played instruments from a young age. Missy often credits church music with shaping her ear for melody and harmony. In 2017 when speaking on her then-newly public illness, she said: 'Not everybody believes in God but I'm a walking testimony.' Source:Getty Before he became a hip-hop legend, Christopher Wallace was raised as a Jehovah's Witness in Brooklyn. He attended St. Peter Claver Church and graduated from the parish's elementary school in 1982. His mother, Voletta Wallace, was devout in her faith and kept a tight grip on his religious upbringing. Ms. Wallace didn't listen to her son's music until after his death. Source:Getty Kanye West has never shied away from his religious roots. Raised by his mother Donda West, who kept him close to the church in Chicago, Kanye started rapping and performing at church events. Gospel music and the Black church experience heavily influenced his early albums and later became the core of his Sunday Service series. Source:Getty Tech N9ne's spiritual background is layered. Born and raised a Christian, he spent his early years attending church with his mother. At age 12, when his mother married a Muslim man, his spiritual path shifted. He began studying Islam and continued until he was 17. In his own words: 'Yes, I was born and raised a Christian. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12. I studied Islam from 12–17. I ran away from home at 17 because I didn't understand how my stepfather was trying to mold me. He was trying to make a man of me, and I thought he was picking on me. I was wrong.' Source:Getty MC Hammer's foundation in the church goes back to childhood. He was raised in a religious household and began preaching as a teenager. Long before the world knew him for parachute pants and pop-rap hits, Hammer was deeply involved in church activities, including music ministry. Many also don't know Hammer was also apart of a Christian rap group, Holy Ghost Boys. After his peak, he returned to his faith, becoming an ordained minister and starting a ministry show. Source:Getty 3 Stacks was raised in a Southern Baptist church alongside his parents. In his own words: 'I had a strict Christian upbringing, my parents and I were members of a Southern Baptist church. But with age I got closer to God all while moving away from the church.' Though he eventually distanced himself from organized religion, he never lost his sense of spirituality. André has said that his faith evolved independently, allowing him to connect with God without 'having to listen to those purveyors of nonsense.' Source:Getty Busta Rhymes was introduced to the teachings of Islam at the age of 12. While he didn't follow traditional Islam, he found a strong connection with the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths, also known as the Five Percent Nation (a movement that teaches that the Black man is divine and that a chosen 5% possess true knowledge of self). Busta has often incorporated that ideology into his music, using his lyrics to reflect on power, purpose, and elevation. While his lifestyle has never fit into rigid religious categories, he's remained vocal about the influence of the Five Percent teachings on how he views himself, his success, and his role in the culture. Source:Getty Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor) was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. He and Q-Tip met in their church in Queens, New York, and Phife's family strictly adhered to Adventist beliefs. So much so that he was initially forbidden from engaging with hip-hop. Source:Getty T.I. was raised in a Christian household and identified as a Southern Baptist. He's a known member of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta and has remained quietly but consistently devout over the years. Though he doesn't speak often about his faith in interviews, he's made it clear that church has always been part of his foundation. Source:Getty DMX was a 'born-again' Christian who openly credited his faith as central to his life, often sharing that he read the Bible daily. Even during difficult times, like his stints in jail, DMX believed there was a higher purpose at work. He once said, 'I came here to meet somebody… Don't know who it was, but I'll know when I see him.' His music frequently intertwined realities with spiritual confession, and his relationship with God remained a deeply personal part of his journey until the end. Source:Getty Lecrae is one of the most prominent examples of a rapper whose church upbringing is front and center in his career. He was raised by his single mother in a tough Houston neighborhood before moving around to Denver and San Diego. His early life was marked by hardship, including sexual abuse at age six and struggles with drugs and crime as a teenager. Lecrae carried his grandmother's Bible as a symbol of good luck. After an encounter with a police officer who urged him to live by biblical principles, he turned his life around, eventually earning a theater scholarship and graduating from the University of North Texas. At 19, a Bible study invitation from a college friend helped deepen his faith, which has since become the foundation of his music and mission. Source:Getty Nas was raised in a Christian Southern Baptist household in Queensbridge, New York. His upbringing introduced him to Christian values early on, though as he got older, his spiritual views broadened. While he doesn't claim a specific religious denomination today, Nas has often spoken about believing in a higher power and the presence of divine order in the world. Source:Getty J. Cole grew up in a Christian household, and he's never dipped away from acknowledging the impact it's had on him. In an interview with Complex , he shared, 'I grew up with a Christian foundation, so that's always going to be a part of me. It's always going to be instilled in me, whether I want it to be or not.' Traces of that foundation run throughout his storytelling. Source:Getty Joseph 'Rev Run' Simmons was raised Christian, but his spiritual path deepened after the height of Run-DMC's fame. Following the group's split in 2004, he became an ordained minister and fully embraced his role as a man of faith. Reflecting on that turning point, he shared, 'I was a little unhappy with what was going on, so I started going to church… I started to see that learning the principles of God was helping to shape my life better.' Rev Run found a renewed purpose in ministry. Source:Getty Bushwick Bill was raised with a Christian foundation but found a deeper connection to his faith later in life. Known for his graphic lyrics as a member of the Geto Boys, he experienced a spiritual transformation in his later years, becoming a born-again Christian. As his beliefs shifted, so did his music, moving toward gospel and messages of faith, redemption, and uplift. Source:Getty Cheryl 'Salt' James, one-third of the group Salt-N-Pepa, has long been open about her faith and Christian walk. Her journey led her to be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church during a mission trip to Ethiopia. Since then, she's used her platforms to share Bible verses, messages of encouragement, and glimpses into her spiritual life. Phrases like 'Church Flow' and 'Happy Sunday' have become part of her regular expression online, reflecting a lifestyle grounded in faith. Source:Getty Mase shocked the hip-hop world in 1999 when he walked away from music at the height of his fame, announcing that he had received a calling from God. He said he could no longer reconcile his lyrics with his faith, stating he felt he was 'leading people down a path to hell.' Trading in rap for the pulpit, Mase devoted himself to ministry and later became the pastor of Gathering Oasis Church, a non-denominational Christian church in Atlanta. While he's returned to music on occasion, faith remains central to his life and message. Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE

Tales N' Trails Museum wraps up another successful History Mystery Day Camp
Tales N' Trails Museum wraps up another successful History Mystery Day Camp

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Tales N' Trails Museum wraps up another successful History Mystery Day Camp

NOCONA (KFDX/KJTL) — It's been a week of hands-on history in Nocona, where kids at History Mystery day camp wrapped up their final day of fun and learning. From goat milking to ancient hunting tools, this camp brought the past to life in some unforgettable ways. Over the past week, kids ages 5-12 explored everything from farming and ranching to Native American survival tools. They milked goats, tasted goat's milk, planted flowers and even crafted their own pottery. One of the biggest highlights was learning how to throw an atlatl, an ancient tool Native American hunters used to hurl spears. Camp leader, Melanie Howington, said the purpose of the camp is to help bridge the gap between past knowledge and the way things are today and make it fun. 'Their toys are all electronics; they're all touch keypad. They don't understand slingshots and Slinkys. Up at Wichita Falls museum, Leanne brought us Slinkys and told us the history of Slinkys and they got to do that and play jacks. I want them to see how things evolve and how it's different now from back to when it was', said Howington. No matter the age, the focus remained the same, making the past feel real and showing how history still connects to their everyday lives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Local ‘Subway Doodles' artist displays works at the Banksy Museum
Local ‘Subway Doodles' artist displays works at the Banksy Museum

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Local ‘Subway Doodles' artist displays works at the Banksy Museum

SOHO, Manhattan (PIX11) — You never know what you'll see on the train. There are definitely some unique creatures. A big blue monster is making a name for itself on the subway and the creator has an exhibit with one of the most famous street artists. Things To Do Around NYC Commuters can draw a lot of inspiration from the ride or a walk around the city. An artist who uses an IPad to create multi-media art in transit is known as 'Subway Doodle.' 'I started drawing on the subway commuting everyday and I challenged myself to draw something during the commute,' he said. The artist says the pieces reflect life as a New Yorker, the things he observed, and the shared experiences. Subway Doodle is up at the Banksy Museum along Canal Street at Broadway. It features work by the famous street artist. A curator saw some potential in the space and invited Subway Doodle. The image took form in 2014 on Instagram. He has are also painted street murals. The larger than life cartoon characters and media display at the museum are his first solo exhibition. Keep your sense of humor. The commute can be a beast. 'Inspiration happens in many ways. Sometimes it's when I take the photo or I browse through them later. It reflects how I'm feeling on the inside. I take about 100 photos for every doodle I do,' he said. The Subway Doodle exhibit is free and on display through Aug. 24 at the Banksy Museum, which is billed as the world's largest collection of replica Banksy art. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store