"My love for God and the gifts that he has given me is what inspires me to sing and direct in the church. Other inspirations come from watching movies and television, listening to a vast array of music, gaming, and reading books. Going forward, I want to release several creative projects that I have been holding in for a long time."- Edwin Sherman
Violinist Luna Muni
"My influences are Maya Angelou growing up I read her book How the Cage Bird Sings. She engulfed me into her world she created in this book and I fell in love with writing even more after reading her work and see how she inspired a generation. The gifted singer Stevie Wonder inspires me as a singer because he was born to do music. His gift inspires me to sing through every situation in life and knowing that I’m able to praise God through the gift of song with my voice is the blessing I am proud give back each day. My inspiration comes from my experiences growing up a black gay man from Shreveport, Louisiana who knew my family was poor and wanting to create a platform for myself to showcase my gifts and talents."- Jerrick Thomas
"In February of 2020, right
before the world shut down, I became a Cancer survivor. I had beat
Ovarian cancer! Now my experience with cancer and treatments
combined with my love for others and gift of makeup artistry lead to
me founding A Sincere Experience NPO. This organization was created
to empower and uplift woman of color who had experienced losing hair
because of medical conditions. Throughout the process of discovering
my purpose, God has allowed me to walk into the true calling of this
Non-Profit. Through this, I am able to teach women that look like me
skills that helped me find beauty through some of the toughest
moments in my life, while we all share stories of pain, triumph, and
hope."- Charleste Cotton
before the world shut down, I became a Cancer survivor. I had beat
Ovarian cancer! Now my experience with cancer and treatments
combined with my love for others and gift of makeup artistry lead to
me founding A Sincere Experience NPO. This organization was created
to empower and uplift woman of color who had experienced losing hair
because of medical conditions. Throughout the process of discovering
my purpose, God has allowed me to walk into the true calling of this
Non-Profit. Through this, I am able to teach women that look like me
skills that helped me find beauty through some of the toughest
moments in my life, while we all share stories of pain, triumph, and
hope."- Charleste Cotton
"I love Andre 3000. And because I love Andre 3000 it was essential in my youth to watch every Andre 3000 interview; As well as listen to every Andre 3000 feature, respectfully. But it was one interview in particular that changed the way that I approached the creative process and left an indelible mark. Andre, we're on first name basis, was asked what advice he had to offer young artists. Andre said, "Make what you wanna' hear."
So if Miss Hansberry wrote "What's Going On" while "Sing About Me" cradled the silence, or Miss Simone scored "A Raisin.." with the prepubescent voices of a southern baptist youth chorus. My art would be the fruits of such progenitors."
- Rachard Dennis (Contemporary Artist)
- Rachard Dennis (Contemporary Artist)