FSU Art Therapy Professor David Gussak has written the definitive book on the strange connection between creativity and chaos: “The Frenzied Dance of Art & Violence.” He talks about how works of transcendent beauty can come from tortured, flawed personalities, while the creations of so many murderous psychopaths lack anything resembling human emotion ..read more

After 2 years of COVID restrictions, the LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival returns to its historic grandeur on April 23 and 24 in downtown Tallahassee. To talk about this nationally-recognized event are: LeMoyne Executive Director Arielle Raff; Festival Chair Kelly Dozier; Festival Manager Powell Kreis; and one of the 150 participating artists, Tallahassee jewelry creator Quincie Hamby ..read more

In recent years, attempts to capitalize on hemp as a commercial farm crop are floundering in Florida. But advocates hope that will change in the wake of the “850 Hemp Conference” in Tallahassee April 27 and 28. To provide a preview, are Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier (speaking in her role as chair of the Apalachee Regional Planning Council;) Ryan Kelly of Mobile Hemp Drying Company; and Travis Green of New Green Organiks/North Florida Hemp Farms ..read more

For the first time, the Capital City will have an open-air festival celebrating the past and its impact on the present on Saturday, March 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Kleman Plaza. To talk about it, as well as the larger implications of today’s controversy about history and how it should be taught, are: David Proctor, head of TCC’s Department of History; TCC History Professor and President of the Tallahassee Historical Society Bob Holladay; and TCC English Professor Teresa Paliwoda ..read more

For months, the Tallahassee community has been roiled by a proposal to allocate $20 million in Blueprint funding for repairs and “enhancements” at Doak Campbell Stadium. Now, on the day of the Intergovernmental Agency vote on whether or not to proceed with a bond issue for the money, the pros and cons are discussed by: Tallahassee NAACP Chapter President Mutaquee Akbar; and Leon County District 5 Commissioner Kristin Dozier (both opponents); and project advocate Jared Willis, vice president of Grow Tallahassee ..read more

With each passing year, the story of Florida’s first human residents reaches back earlier and becomes more fascinating. The Jefferson County-based Aucilla Research Institute has been tracing that story for years and will present its latest findings during an open-to-everyone in-person and online conference, March 4 and 5 at the Monticello Opera House. To provide a sneak peak are members of the Institute’s leadership team: Tim Dunbar; Jack Carswell; and Andy Hemmings ..read more

Since the pandemic arrived nearly 3 years ago, Florida A&M and Florida State universities have combined resources to mitigate the impact of the virus, for students, staff and the community at large. To talk about the hundreds of thousands of people who have received testing and vaccines through those efforts are: Tanya Tatum, director of FAMU’s Health Center; and Emily Pritchard with the FSU College of Medicine ..read more

New initiatives and partnerships in North Florida are in place to help the victims and prosecute the purveyors of human trafficking as a new year gets underway. The discussion includes: Robin Hassler Thompson, executive director of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center; Marsha Crowle with Capital City Bank; Kristin Keen, founder of Jacksonville's Rethreaded program; and Leon County Sheriff's Detective Hanna Perry ..read more

The recollections of a mother and daughter who witnessed the death camps of both the Nazis and Soviets in World War II later found powerful artistic expression in the daughter’s paintings and sketches, which were based on those experiences. The art works, discovered decades ago under a house in Greenville, Florida, are being restored to form the heart of a powerful educational initiative for Florida schools. To talk about it are: Mimi Shaw, discoverer and co-owner of the collection; Kelly Bowen, also a co-owner and the collection’s curator; Foundation for Leon County Schools CEO Eric Clarke, w ..read more

Some activists, lobbyists and even local elected officials worry the upcoming Florida Legislative Session may not take all critical needs and voices into account. To talk about it are: Tallahassee community activist and advocate Stanley Sims; Leon Classroom Teachers Associations President Scott Mazur; and Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlowe ..read more