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Time Business News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Andi Sklar: The Visionary at the Intersection of Art, Identity, and Experience
In a world increasingly divided between digital immediacy and physical disconnection, few creators manage to connect emotion, place, and memory as powerfully as Andi Sklar. A multidisciplinary artist, designer, and cultural storyteller, Sklar is recognized for crafting immersive environments and intimate fine artworks that capture more than just aesthetics — they capture a feeling. From contributing to global theme park experiences to creating tender watercolors that celebrate queer life, Sklar's career defies traditional boundaries. He is not merely a painter, or a designer, or a creative director. He is all of these things — and, more importantly, a visionary who bridges commercial design with personal truth. Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Sklar grew up in a midwestern town known for its tree-lined streets and proximity Andi Sklar to Chicago's vibrant cultural scene. He was a reserved but observant child, drawn more to museum halls and sketchbooks than to soccer fields. Family trips often revolved around cultural landmarks — the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. But one trip changed everything: a visit to Walt Disney World shortly after its opening. Sklar was mesmerized not by the rides, but by how everything — from the pavement to the lampposts — told a story. That realization planted a lifelong obsession: how to build a world that makes people feel something real. Following high school, Sklar enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). There, he explored everything from architectural rendering to theatrical lighting design. What made him stand out wasn't just his technical skill — it was his deep emotional awareness. His portfolio, even then, contained spaces that invited people to feel joy, memory, or introspection. During his time at RISD, Sklar began exploring themes of identity more openly, particularly his experience as a gay man. For his senior thesis, he created a conceptual exhibit titled Invisible Rooms , which combined architecture, lighting, and narrative to explore hidden queer histories. After graduation, Sklar joined Walt Disney Imagineering, entering the dream factory of themed entertainment. At Disney, he contributed to a variety of global projects, most notably Hong Kong Disneyland, where he worked as an Area Art Director. In this role, he didn't just design facades — he crafted emotional architecture. Everything from the curvature of pathways to the color of rooftops was carefully planned to evoke story. His work on Fantasyland was particularly noted for balancing classic Disney themes with Asian aesthetics, a subtle but powerful act of cultural adaptation. Sklar became known for his attention to detail and his ability to lead multidisciplinary teams with empathy and vision. While many would consider a career at Disney the pinnacle of success, Sklar saw it as a stepping stone. His passion for storytelling through space led him to projects with Universal Studios, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., and Sanrio. His work at Bollywood Parks Dubai was a standout. There, he helped develop attractions based on Indian cinema, such as Sholay: The Hunt for Bandits . Unlike other designers unfamiliar with the cultural source material, Sklar dove deep into Bollywood history and aesthetics to ensure authenticity. This commitment to research and representation set him apart. To Sklar, design is not just visual — it's anthropological. Despite success in commercial design, Sklar began to feel a pull toward more personal work. Themed entertainment was collaborative and large-scale — but it didn't always allow for introspection or vulnerability. He returned to painting, a medium he had loved since childhood. In 2018, he debuted a series titled 'Desert Trails', showcasing life in Southern California and the American Southwest through a queer lens. The watercolors were quiet but emotionally potent: a man lounging by a motel pool, two friends walking under desert stars, a couple having breakfast in a sunlit diner. These weren't grand statements — they were human moments made sacred through attention and care. Unlike much queer art, which leans into either political activism or flamboyant aestheticism, Sklar's work sits in a middle ground. His subjects are ordinary people in extraordinary lighting. His colors evoke 1970s postcards: teal blues, dusty pinks, and pale oranges. Sklar's art creates a queer nostalgia — not just longing for the past, but longing for the spaces where queer people have always existed quietly and beautifully. His piece The Sandpiper Inn features a retro beach motel, its sign glowing against a dusky sky. No people are present, but their existence is felt — towels hanging over railings, a drink left on a table. This subtlety is Sklar's signature. Throughout his career, Sklar has been an advocate for inclusivity in design teams. He emphasizes hiring creatives from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that narrative decisions in entertainment design include input from those represented. He believes that empathy is a design skill — one as important as drafting or rendering. Whether mentoring junior designers or consulting on DEI-focused design initiatives, Sklar uses his platform to make sure future creatives feel empowered, not excluded. As he once put it: 'It's not enough to build a world — you have to ask who gets to live in it.' Sklar's technical skills are vast. In themed design, he works with 3D software, architectural drafting tools, and digital painting. But in his fine art, he returns to traditional media — watercolors, pencils, ink washes. His watercolor process is loose and layered. He starts with a light pencil sketch, blocks in colors with translucent washes, and finishes with sharp details like signage, reflections, and textures. The final work often looks sun-bleached, as if it's been living in memory for years. He embraces imperfection, stating that 'a brushstroke out of place can tell the truth better than one that's perfect.' Though Sklar avoids the spotlight, his work has earned him growing recognition. His paintings have been featured in LGBTQ+ art festivals across California and the Southwest. Collectors often cite the emotional familiarity in his scenes, even if they've never been to the exact places he paints. He's also been highlighted in design circles for his contributions to themed entertainment, including guest lectures at design schools and panels on queer visibility in architecture and public art. Still, Sklar remains grounded. He maintains an online archive of his work not to promote himself, but to make his art more accessible to those who connect with it. Today, Sklar splits his time between consulting for design firms and working in his home studio. He lives in Palm Springs, surrounded by the landscapes that so often appear in his art. In the mornings, he paints. In the afternoons, he might review attraction blueprints or host virtual design critiques with students. On weekends, he visits vintage roadside motels and old diners, snapping photos for future inspiration. His life is balanced, intentional, and infused with the same thoughtful narrative that defines his work. Andi Sklar may not dominate headlines or flood social media with self-promotion, but his impact is profound. He has built worlds we've walked through, seen stories we've felt without words, and captured lives that rarely get portrayed with such dignity. His legacy is one of care, craft, and cultural empathy — values often missing in both commercial design and fine art. In an age of noise, Sklar's work is a whisper — but one that lingers, resonates, and redefines what it means to be both seen and felt. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Full WaterFire lighting being held to honor RISD graduates
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A full WaterFire lighting will happen in Providence Saturday night in honor of those graduating from Rhode Island School of Design this year. The lighting, sponsored by RISD, is the second full lighting from this year's schedule. Alongside celebrating this year's graduating class, the lighting will also celebrate the college's reunion weekend. READ MORE: WaterFire unveils 2025 season schedule The lighting will start at 8:30 p.m. Programming and vendors open at 7 p.m. The braziers will stay lit until midnight. There will also be a memorial ceremony starting at 9:30 p.m. More full lightings will take place this season until November. The next lighting will take place on July 4. NEXT: Special Olympics RI Summer Games continue Saturday Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RISD Collection 2025 Show
The RISD Collection 2025 show, featuring the senior thesis work of Apparel Design students, will take place on Wednesday, May 28th. The show will have two showings at the WaterFire Arts Center: one at 4 pm and another at 7 pm. Collection 2025 tickets are $25 for the 4 pm show and $35 for the 7 pm show. Tickets are available for purchase online at For more information, please email apparel@ or visit the Collection page on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roosevelt ISD's $58.5M bond package takes large early voting lead in Lubbock County
Roosevelt ISD voters have given the district's $58.5 million bond package a large early voting lead, with nearly 71% of early votes supporting the proposal, according to unofficial results released by the Lubbock County Elections Office on election night Saturday. The bond package, aimed mostly at campus facilities, received support from 339 RISD voters, with 139 against in early voting. Saturday's election results were still being calculated. Ahead of the election, RISD Superintendent Dallas Grimes told the A-J that the bond package comes as the district is facing aging and inadequate facilities that need some upgrades or that need to be completely rebuilt. "In the last 65 years, this community has not passed a bond for a brand new academic campus," Grimes said. "Now is the time, in our opinion, to maximize the growth that has moved into the district." For some, yes. Schools have two means of support funded through taxes. A school's maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate is set by the state and can only be used to help the district to pay salaries and daily operational expenses. The interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate is what the Texas school district can leverage for bonds to help pay for capital projects and improvements. Grimes said the proposal is asking residents to consider a 21-cent increase to the district's current I&S rate, which is set at 19 cents, according to the Texas Education Agency. For context, according to the TEA, RISD I&S tax rate has been dropping since the Fiscal Year 2020-21 rate, which was at 28.16 cents per $100 home value evaluations that fell to 21 cents in FY 21-22. However, this tax increase will not affect homeowners over the age of 65 who have filed for an "Over 65 Exemption," according to RISD. If the tax rate is approved, RISD stated that it would cost homeowners with a $150,000 home valuation approximately $8.34 per month. "If we're successful, we would build a brand new elementary campus," Grime said. With the growing size of the district, Grimes said the new facility would be able to house 600 students. He also said the need for the build stems from the average age of the district facilities being around 65 years old, with parts of the elementary being 90 years old. "It was built in 1935," Grimes said. "There's a (Works Projects Administration) plaque on there." For context, WPA was a New Deal initiative from the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidential administration. Grimes said that the new elementary school would be located directly behind the existing one, and once completed, the district will demolish the existing structure. Other projects would include upgrades to the secondary campus for the district, including interior renovations and expanding the dining hall. "We're out of space in our dining hall - our freshman class eats in the practice gym on the bleachers," Grimes said. The district would also fund upgrades to its septic systems, leach fields, and sewer lines, and expand the existing awning for buses to accommodate more buses, to better protect them, ensuring the district's investment in the fleet lasts longer. Grimes said the district has to wait 90 days after the Election day, given that it's approved, before it could start issuing bonds, but it would take about three years to complete every project on the district's to-do list. "The sewer septic systems, probably what we would turn loose first on just trying to get all that stuff out of the way so that we can tie into the new buildings," Grimes said. Grimes said it's because of the Leprino Foods factory that was recently built in the district's area just east of Lubbock. "That factory is valued so highly that they would basically pick up at least 50% of all these improvements - that's just how much valuation there is in that factory," Grimes said. However, Grimes said now is the time to do so because the factory will depreciate over the years, meaning their contributions will also shrink. "To get the max contribution from these recent industrial improvements, we really need to pass this now; otherwise, by delaying it, construction costs will go up and their contribution will go down," Grimes said. "Whether it goes thumbs up or thumbs down, the needs of the district will be here," Grimes said. With the district's aging facilities, the growth of Lubbock is impacting the district and capitalizing on Leprino to foot some of the bill, Grimes said, now is the time to make the necessary changes to facilities to ensure they last for the next 50 to 60 years. To learn more about the RISD 2025 Bond, visit This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How did Roosevelt ISD's $58.5M bond package do in May 3 election?
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where to vote in Lubbock County on 2025 Election Day? Here's what you need to know about
Election Day is Saturday, May 3, and the ballot is stacked only with local issues that directly impact you. There is also one thing different about this election cycle: not every voter in Lubbock County has something on their ballot to vote on. According to the Lubbock County Election's office, only around 32,000 voters have something on their ballot to vote for. The Lubbock County Elections Office reported that 8,704 people checked in to polling stations around the county to cast a ballot during the early voting period that ended Tuesday. That's about 4.5 percent of the 194,000 registered voters in Lubbock County. Dig Deeper: What is on the ballot in Lubbock County? Here's what to know about the May 2025 election The longest ballot includes three items, the shortest includes only one. With polls set to open at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, and close at 7 p.m. on the same day, here is what you need to know about voting in Lubbock County on Election Day. The State of Texas has seven approved forms of identification that you can bring to the polls to vote. Those include: Texas Driver's License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS. Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS. Texas Handgun License issued by DPS. U.S. Military Identification Card with photo. U.S. Citizenship Certificate with photo. U.S. Passport (book or card). If you don't have any of the seven IDs and can not reasonably obtain one, you may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and bring one of the following: Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter's name and an address, including the voter's voter registration certificate. Copy of or original current utility bill. Copy of or original bank statement. Copy of or original government check. Copy of or original paycheck. Copy of or original of a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter's identity (which may include a foreign birth document). You can also bring a sample ballot to the booth. Stinson advises voters to search for their sample ballot to make sure they have an item to vote on this election on There is one change in this election that is particularly affecting a specific group of individuals — those who reside in the Roosevelt ISD district. Those who can vote on the RISD school bond can only vote on it at RISD Gymnasium (Door A3)– 1301 CR 3300. Individuals who have other items to vote on can also use this polling station to cast their votes on those items, in addition to any other voting centers in Lubbock County that are open on that day. Voting in Lubbock County is voting center-based rather than precinct-based, meaning individuals can vote at any of the following places on Election Day for all other measures on their ballots: Abernathy City Hall – 811 Avenue D (Community Room), Abernathy, 79311. Anita Carmona-Harrison Elementary – 1910 Cesar E. Chavez Dr (Front Entrance), Lubbock, 79415. Bacon Heights Baptist Church – 5110 54th St (Door #3, The Family Life Center), Lubbock, 79414. Broadview Baptist Church – 1302 N Frankford Ave (Fellowship Hall), Lubbock, 79416. C. E. Maedgen Elementary School – 4401 Nashville Ave (Door G3 Gym), Lubbock, 79413 Casey Administration Building – 501 7th St (Room No. 104), Wolfforth, 79382. Celebration Christian Center – 8001 Upland Ave (Sanctuary), Lubbock, 79424. Copper Rawlings Senior Center – 213 40th St (Social Hall), Lubbock, 79404. Ed Irons Middle School – 5214 79th St (Front Entrance), Lubbock, 79424. Elks Lodge No. 1348 – 3409 Milwaukee Ave (The Lodge Hall), Lubbock, 79407. Evans Middle School – 4211 58th St (Door #17) Lubbock, 79413. Frenship Heritage Middle School – 6110 73rd St (Door #1), Lubbock, 79424. Frenship Heritage Middle School – 6110 73rd St (Door #1), Lubbock, 79424. Green Lawn Church of Christ – 5701 19th St (Entry Hall), Lubbock, 79407. Honey Elementary School – 3615 86th St (Front), Lubbock, 79423. J. A. Hodges Community Center – 4011 University Ave (Social Hall), Lubbock, 79413. Jayne Ann Miller Elementary School – 6705 Joliet Dr (Door #4, Gym), Lubbock, 79413. José S. Ramírez Elementary School – 702 Avenue T (Gym) Lubbock, 79401. Lauro Cavazos Middle School – 210 N University Ave (Door #2), Lubbock, 79415. Lubbock ISD Administration Office – 1628 19th St (Door #2), Lubbock, 79401. Mae Simmons Senior Center – 2004 Oak Ave (Senior Citizens Center), Lubbock, 79403. Maggie Trejo Supercenter – 3200 Amherst St(Rodgers Community Center Social Hall), Lubbock, 79415. Monterey High School – 3211 47th St (Cafeteria), Lubbock, 79413. New Deal Community Clubhouse – 309 S Monroe Ave (Community Room) New Deal, 79350. Parsons Elementary School – 2811 58th St (Door G2 Gym), Lubbock, 79413. Patterson Library – 1836 Parkway Dr (Community Room), Lubbock, 79403. Ransom Canyon City Hall (Council Chamber) – 24 Lee Kitchens Dr, Ransom Canyon, 79366. Roscoe Wilson Elementary School - 2807 25th St (Door 5 Cafeteria), Lubbock, 79410. Roy W. Roberts Elementary School – 7901 Avenue P (Door # 8 Gym), Lubbock, 79423. Rush Elementary School – 4702 15th St (Gym), Lubbock, 79416. Slaton Community Clubhouse – 750 W Garza St. (Community Room), Slaton, 79364. South Plains Church of Christ – 6802 Elkhart Ave (Door 1 to Family Life Center), Lubbock, 79424. Sutherlands HomeBase – 3701 50th St (Near Lighting Section), Lubbock, 79413. YWCA – 6501 University Ave (Event Room), Lubbock, 79413. For those who voted in the November 2024 Presidential Election, nothing has changed in the voting process since then. However, for new voters, here is a brief overview of how the voting process works. Check in at a polling place with your form of ID to get your machine access code and ballot slip. Go to a booth and insert your code and ballot as the machine directs. Vote. Once, done. Print your ballot from the machine and double-check that it printed correctly. If an error is found, flag down a poll worker for assistance. Once correct, head over to the insertion machine to insert your ballot to be counted and complete your voting process. For any questions or concerns, visit or call (806) 775-1339. Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How, where to vote early in the Lubbock County May 2025 elections
