Spark Rewind!! With Alex Acosta

According to Clint Eastwood, our next guest “is a young man with an old soul and a classic voice. He is a great new talent with a wonderful sense of humor to boot. And don’t forget, he plays a hell of a trumpet!” We’re talking to none other than Atlanta jazz staple, Joe Gransden!Trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader Joe Gransden has performed worldwide and released 19 acclaimed CDs. Known for his dynamic hard bop style and smooth vocals reminiscent of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra, Gransden has carved out a sound uniquely his own. Born into a family of musicians, Joe’s early career included touring with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller, and playing alongside legends like Aretha Franklin, Kenny Rogers, and The Temptations. His 16-piece Big Band, formed in 2009, is now one of the busiest in jazz, with their album It’s A Beautiful Thing receiving global airplay. A regular performer at top venues like The Blue Note and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe also leads a popular monthly Jazz Jam Session in Atlanta. In 2016, he received the Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Hero Award for his contributions to the Atlanta jazz scene and his dedication to music education.Hosted by: Solana Ramirez-Garcia, Partner Resource ManagerProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

We’re only two weeks away from the annual Atlanta Quilt Festival, and we’re checking in with co-founder O.V. Brantley! She shares the history of the festival as well as their new book Good Trouble Quilts, which celebrates the legacy of Congressman John Lewis.The Atlanta Quilt Festival is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of African American quilting and other textile art. It showcases some of the finest examples of African American quilts, dolls and other fiber art across the spectrum of all genres including traditional, art, modern and African American Heritage styles. At the same time, the Atlanta Quilt Festival provides a welcoming environment for beginners to introduce their work to the world.O.V. Brantley is a self-taught quilter who began quilting in 1999 to reduce stress. She has since created over 300 quilts, many gifted or sold to collectors. A founding member of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild, her award-winning work has appeared in exhibitions, publications, and the book Georgia Quilts: Piecing Together a History. Her quilts have shown at the International Quilt Festival and featured in Raising Dion on Netflix. She was commissioned by the UNCF to create a quilt for Oprah Winfrey. Ms. Brantley is also the former County Attorney for Fulton and DeKalb and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.Hosted by: Solana Ramirez Garcia, Individual Partner Resource ManagerProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

We’re midway through the year and we’re checking in with CREATE partner Madison Rengli! She gives us insight on the Anthologies Short Play Festival as well as information on how to enter.Madison Rengli is a seasoned actor from Seattle, Washington. She holds a B.A. in Youth Drama from Central Washington University and an M.F.A. in Performing Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Madison has toured the country with various children's theater productions, portraying memorable characters such as Charlotte in Charlotte's Web, Mama Monkey in Five Little Monkeys, and Bagheera in The Jungle Book. Outside of performing, she passionately engages in writing, directing, and teaching. The Anthologies Short Play Festival would not be possible without her incredible production team: Amy Eller, Jaryl Draper, Lizzy Phillips, and of course Onward Theatre.Hosted by: Solana Ramirez Garcia, Individual Partner Resource ManagerProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

We continue our deep dive into the CREATE program with printmaker Chloe Alexander!  She shares her philosophy behind her visual artistry, as well as info on her upcoming joint exhibition In Tandem at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum!Chloe Alexander is a printmaker who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Her most recent work focuses on using various printing techniques to create unique works and varied editions. She obtained a BFA from the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University in 2010. Since then, her work has been exhibited broadly, including at Kai Lin Art in Atlanta, the International Print Center in New York, and the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in London. Chloe has received several awards, including the Parent Artist Award at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, California and the Penland Summer Residency Fellowship at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. Her work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Harvard Museums in Cambridge, MA; The Museum of Fine Art in Boston, MA; The Fidelity Investments Art Collection; and The Petrucci Family Foundation for African American Art in Asbury, NJ.Hosted by: Solana Ramirez Garcia, Individual Partner Resource ManagerProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

Art in Action is right around the corner, and we’re taking you behind the scenes!! We talk with Deidre McDonald of Bronzelens, who is partnering with SFA and ArtsXchange on this free film screening highlighting 4 portrait documentaries from our Filmer series! Deidre McDonald is an award-winning producer, writer, and educator with over 30 years of media experience. She is the Founding Artistic Director of the Academy Award-qualifying BronzeLens Film Festival, a pioneering platform for diverse filmmakers and a charter member of ARRAY. A former Senior Producer at WXIA-TV, she has earned eight regional Emmys and over 25 nominations. McDonald led the Georgia Entertainment Media workforce initiative and served in key academic roles at Clark Atlanta University. Her leadership spans organizations including Women in Film and Television Atlanta, the Black Women Film Network, and multiple national and international film festivals.

We’re talking Create partnerships this week, and for National Mental Health Month we had to bring in Individual Partner Jaha Knight! She’s taking on teen mental health with a new arts workshop series titled Inkspirations, slated for the end of June.Ms. Knight is an accomplished art director with over 30 years of expertise and a passion for visual storytelling that enhances every project she undertakes. Her journey began at an early age; at just 22, she founded an African American newspaper, driven by a commitment to representation and impactful communication. Jaha's professional path also encompasses significant roles in education, where she has taught both graphics and art. These experiences have solidified her dedication to creativity and education, blending her artistic vision with a mission to empower others through the arts.Hosted by: Jennifer Bauer Lyons, Executive DirectorProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Associate

As we continue our lead-up to Exchange on May 14th, our latest episode features the multi-talented Trey Carlisle, aka Emcee Poetrey. Trey is a spoken word artist, singer-songwriter, mindfulness coach, and conflict mediator whose work blends rhythm, rhyme, and radical empathy. Through his platform, P.O.E.T.R.E.Y PRODUCTIONS, and his work with Music in Common and Soul Food Cypher, Trey is building bridges across communities using the power of music and storytelling. Tune in to hear how he’s helping us all imagine—and create—a world where everyone belongs.Hosted by : Jennifer Bauer Lyons, Executive DirectorProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

It’s National Poetry Month in April, but we’ve decided to extend the celebration! We’re less a month away from our next Exchange event on May 14th, and we can’t wait to see you there! Today we sit down with Spoken Word artist Theresa Davis about her artistry and her upcoming performance opposite Trey Carlisle or Emcee P.O.E.T.R.E.Y. Theresa Davis is an educator, poet, storyteller, author, and poetry slam champion. Host of the award-winning open mic Java Speaks, she has published seven poetry collections, including Rock Star Poet and Simon Says. A member of the spoken word group MoDaSo, she’s released two albums and collaborated with the City of Atlanta on anti-bullying poetry. In 2011, she won the Women of the World Poetry Slam. Honored with “Theresa Davis Day” by Atlanta, she was also named the 2012 McEver Chair in Poetry at Georgia Tech. She teaches poetry throughout Atlanta and is inspired daily by her children Imani, Tia, and Zion. Hosted by : Jennifer Bauer Lyons, Executive DirectorProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist

We're rewinding to one of our favorite episodes, just in time for National Poetry Month!This week we take a look back at Soul Food Cypher, and its Founding Executive Director Alex Acosta. Listen with us as he shares how SFC continues to make a mark with Atlanta children and with the community.

*Disclaimer: Due to the name of the project, this episode contains slight profanity. We are delving into our CREATE class for 2025, and first up is theatre griot Dalyla McGee!! She talks with us about her new project Pepsi Cola Bi***, embracing play in everyday life, and directing our playreading of 2Across!Atlanta born and raised, Dalyla has been a vested multidisciplinary theatre maker with a  deep love for the arts & culture as her roots.  She holds a B.S. in Anthropology & Human Biology with concentrations in Theatre Studies from Emory University where Dalyla combined her zeal for people, international cultures, and developing community into the theatre-making process. In addition to supporting a community of multi-media creatives as founder & CEO of HTD & Company, Dalyla’s works across local Atlanta stages including  Alliance Theatre, Hush Harbor Lab, Out Front Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Theatre Emory, 7 Stages Theatre, Working Title Playwrights, Theatre Du Reve, Essential Theatre, Horizon Theatre and South Fulton Institute. More broadly, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Workshop Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, and Pocket VR theatre along with professional ventures in Trinidad, Haiti, Holland, and Australia. She is passionate about engaging in community hosting frequent arts led discussions or sharing ‘a word’ in 3 minutes or less on her TikTok platform. Dalyla is also a proud board member of Working Title Playwrights supporting our local creative communities and intersectional sustainability practices. Her work always returns to the love of global community, compassionate bridge building, and a good story.Hosted by : Solana Ramirez Garcia, Individual Partner Resource ManagerProduced by: Loren Bray, Marketing Specialist