The daughter of Maisha Safari, our youngest artist, both her parents are talented artists and Ne’emah has that same interest. She has been expressive through art from the age of three.

Donnell Adams grew up in Southern California. He started drawing as a child, influenced by cartoons that he watched. Donnel has developed his own distinctive style, which exaggerates shape and form. In 2018 Donnell won first prize in the Crealde School of Art’s, 37th Annual Student Juried Art Show.

Bushman #1 was born in London to Nigerian parents. At the age of one, his parents brought him to Nigeria, where he remained until age 21. His passion for art started at an early age, abstract being his favorite. He is basically a self-taught artist but did attend one year of art college in London. He first put his talent to use, in Orlando, Florida, where he designed his own line of ethnic t-shirts and began selling them at work and at art shows.

Bushman #1 loves to tell stories about his home, through his artwork.  In 1996 he opened his own shop in Orlando, first located on Church Street, near downtown. Three Masks is stocked with treasures from Africa, such as statues, masks, jewelry, clothing, instruments, and his original artwork. His art expanded with the discovery of Sculpey Clay. First came The Bushman necklace and then other larger pieces.  His other mediums include pen on paper, oil on canvas, watercolor, pastels, acrylics, and wood.

It was the dawn of the 1970s the peak of Black Pride Awareness where African expression, dress, music, and culture adorned every facet of the Black experience; an Awakening, a rebellion of sorts:- Black Power. That was the backdrop that framed my welcome to New York City and the America of the day.

Although I have lived in the United States for the greater part of my life my Afro-Caribbean heritage remains indelible throughout my artistic expression. It finds itself in my poetic verses as much as it does back in the blocks of wood I mold into sculpted pieces of art. Though the origin of Black Art is African, there cosmopolitan influence through the migration in the one form or the other that has transcended the expression of the artist as well the art. It is from this premise I create.

Alexandra Antoine is an interdisciplinary artist based in Chicago, IL. Her work examines traditional artistic practices throughout the African Diaspora with a focus on healing traditions, identity, and culture through the use of collage, portraiture, and most recently, farming. She uses the portrait as a tool to re/present individuals of the African diaspora while exploring her relationship to them within the larger narrative of her Haitian identity. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts and Arts Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited at Rootwork Gallery, Hyde Park Art Center, Roman Susan Gallery, Chicago Art Department, and Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, IL and is part of the Arts in Embassies

Joy is a versatile artist having explored many different mediums and styles but is best know for producing pastel illustrations and portraits. Joy studied fashion and pictorial illustrations at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art.

http://www.Joyce-Hayes.pixels.com

Sandy is a modest artist.  She is extremely talented and paints for the sheer joy of painting. Sandy has a talent for capturing the eyes of her subjects, giving us a view into their souls. She and her family own and operate the local Carpet and Flooring store, also located on Park Drive. We can’t wait to experience her continued growth as an Artist. 

Bee is a self-taught mixed media artist, originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She made her home in Orlando, in 2014.  She picked up a paintbrush in 2017, finding it to be a healing tool from traumatic experiences. Bee often expresses herself using other art forms including poetry, writing, music, and photography.

Born into a military family, Constance (Maisha Safari) credits her family for diverse experiences.  The gift of art and music was passed down and continues to influence her creative nature. Maisha started taking her art seriously after creating many intricate pieces that served as therapy during difficult personal times. In 2016, she entered those pieces into her first juried art show.

She was later inspired to rebrand her work beyond art creation, calling her new way of presentation, AOM-Therapy. She now offers therapeutic opportunities through coloring and creating custom Coloring pages to help heal the body, mind, and spirit.

https://aom-therapy.com/

At 21 years of age, Alijae is one of our youngest Artists. She is a certified Pharmacy Technician. She enjoys painting, traditional drawing, digital drawing, and sculpturing. Born in Savannah, Ga, to military parents Alijhae’ has lived in Germany, Texas, and currently resides in Alabama. Alijhae enjoys sharing her talent by showcasing Black men and women in vibrant optimistic light, to express their beauty.

http://www.alijaearts.etsy.com

Owner/Operator Park Drive Gallery

Owner/Travel Advisor NonStop Images and Travel LLC

Born and raised in Sanford, CaSandra is a proud graduate of Seminole High School.  She is also a Law Enforcement Veteran, (Sgt. Retired) and Non-profit Management graduate, of the Edyth Bush Institute at Rollins College. She has served as a Resident Missionary in Ghana, West Africa, and throughout the Family Islands of the Bahamas. following a 30 year absence, CaSandra returned to Sanford and completed a 3-year term as an Americorp National Service member with Heart of Florida United Way. She served as a VISTA Leader and helped to coordinate public School Mentoring programs in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties. She is currently Coordinator for Seminole County Public School’s Family Engagement program for Senior Citizens at Midway Safe Harbor. An avid photographer and member of Photographers Without Borders, (PWB)  CaSandra continues to travel and writes about her experiences.
“My life has purpose. I can hardly stay asleep at night, anticipating how God will use me for His good on the next day”. –CaSandra Williams

http://nonstopimagesandtravel.com/