[ MUSIC ] WITH ME TODAY IS SHERRY NEIL, FOUNDING MEMBER OF MAROON ARTS GROUP.

HI, SHERRY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

I'M EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAROON ARTS GROUP AND MAKE A SNACK.

>> YES.

>> SO TELL US, GIVE US A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION.

>> WELL, MAROON ARTS GROUP IS A FOLLOW 1C3.

THIS YEAR, WE WERE CELEBRATING A BIG TEN YEARS OF EXISTENCE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE KIND OF SAID WE WANT TO PLANT ROOTS HERE AND ALSO KEEP THE RICH TRADITION OF THE BLACK CULTURE AND CULTURAL PRODUCTION THAT IS BEING DONE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ALIVE.

SO WE STARTED THERE, AND WE HAVE BEEN GROWING.

WE HAVE TWO ACTUAL SPACES.

ONE THAT WE MANAGE, ONE THAT WE OWN.

THAT WILL BE THE IMPACT AT MOUNT VERNON, AND IT IS A 440- SEAT THEATER THAT WE PURCHASE IN THE NAME OF PRESERVATION AND CULTURAL PRODUCTION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR BLACK ARTISTS AND CULTURES.

>> WONDERFUL.

SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER FOR THE COMMUNITY?

>> YES.

WE DO EVENTS ALL YEAR LONG.

OUR BUSY SEASON IS MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

>> OH YEAH.

>> BUT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE WITH THE BUILDING COMING ONLINE.

AND WE ARE BUSY FROM YOUTH PROGRAMMING IN THE SUMMER TO COMMUNITY LEARNING GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE FALL AND WINTER.

>> AMAZING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> SURE, SURE.

I'M EXCITED TO SAY IT.

>> YEAH.

WE ALSO GOT TO DO A LITTLE WORK OF OUR OWN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR QUICK BITES.

SO THE REST THAT WE CHOSE TODAY IS AN EASY, FLAVORFUL SNACK MIX.

YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE INGREDIENTS.

YOU CAN REALLY MODIFY THIS ANY WAY YOU WANT.

IT'S GREAT FOR ROAD TRIPS, IT'S GREAT FOR MOVIE NIGHTS, AND IT'S KIND OF ELEVATED.

IT'S GOT SOME HEAT, AND A NICE COMPLEX FLAVORS, SO I'M EXCITED TO MAKE IT FOR YOU.

>> COOL, I'M EXCITED TO BIG IN.

>> THE INGREDIENTS ARE TWO PUMPERNICKEL BAGELS, THREE CUPS OF CHEX CEREAL, ONE CUP BROKEN PRETZEL STICKS.

ONE STICK UNSALTED BUTTER.

SIX CLOVES OF GARLIC, ONE SMALL ONION, QUARTER CUP OF WORCHESTER SAUCE.

LET'S GET STARTED.

>> THIS ONE STARTS WITH MELTING BUTTER.

WE'LL PUT OUR BUTTER, ONION, GARLIC IN A SAUCE PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT.

>> OKAY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO MELT THE BUTTER AND COOK IT WITH THE ONIONS AND THE GARLIC.

WE'RE KIND OF STEEPING, FLAVORING THE BUTTER WITH THE GARLIC AND THE ONION, AND YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THAT.

WE'LL GET ALL THAT IN.

>> I DO, I THINK IT WILL BE FINE.

YOU REALLY CAN'T SCREW IT UP.

WE JUST GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

I MEAN, IT TAKES 10, 15 MINUTES TO REALLY GET THE BUTTER MELTED, AND YOU WANT YOUR GARLIC TO BE ALMOST BROWNING.

WE JUST WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT, SO IT DOESN'T BURN.

SO YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> WE NEED TO LET IT MELT, AND IT WILL FLAVOR THE BUTTER WITH THOSE DELICIOUS -- >> OKAY.

>> GARLIC.

>> I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SMELL AMAZING.

>> YES.

SO WHILE THE BUTTER IS MELTING, TELL US SOME OF THE WAYS THE MAROON ARTS GROUP PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY IN ARTS AND LEARNING?

>> SURE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE OUR ARTS WAY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM WE DO FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO SCALE MURALS, AND LEARN WAYS THEY COULD BE AN ART- ENTREPRENEUR.

BUT IT SHOWS THEM HOW TO MAKE A LIVING AS BEING AN ARTIST, BUT THEN ALSO GIVES THEM A SKILL AS IT RELATES TO SCALING MURALS.

BUT THEN THE AR STANDS FOR AUGMENTED REALITY.

WE DO THAT FOR 9th THROUGH 12th GRADERS FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS IN THE SUMMER, AND HAPPY TO DO THAT --HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, I THINK THIS IS SIX YEARS.

>> WOW.

THEY MUST LEARN SO MUCH FROM THAT INTERSECTION OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY IS CRUCIAL NOW?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE OTHER WAYS IS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY LEARNING GROUPS.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY LEARNING GROUPS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

TRY TO DO THEM AT LEAST TWICE, SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR, BUT IT REALLY IS ABOUT COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AROUND A SUBJECT MATTER AND LEARNING TOGETHER.

THAT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM WE'VE BEEN DOING, PRETTY MUCH SINCE THE BEGINNING.

PRETTY MUCH SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I THINK THE BIGGEST WAY THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THAT PLATFORM IS BY THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE EXAMPLE INTO THE CULTURAL LAB.

BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, FIRST OF ALL, THE BUILDING THIS YEAR.

IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1926.

SO WE ARE 100 YEARS THIS YEAR.

SO TAKE YOUR TEN BY TEN, MAROON ARTS GROUP, AND THE TEMPLE NOW THAT MAROON, THAT ONE WILL BE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR.

BUT WITH THE THEATER, WITH THE BALLROOM SPACE, WITH US DOING A RENOVATION AND TURNING THE FOURTH FLOOR INTO A MORE, OH YEAH, LET'S GET THIS.

YES.

INTO A COWORKING AND KIND OF LABORATORY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO COME AND BE IN THE LAB, RIGHT?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COOK UP WHAT YOUR DREAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF, I THINK, THE BEST WAY FOR US TO JUST OFFER PLACE OF SPACE FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO HONE THEIR SKILLS.

>> YEAH.

I'M GOING TO TURN DOWN THE HEAT A LITTLE.

>> SURE.

OKAY, THIS, AS YOU CAN TELL, UNFORTUNATELY OUR AUDIENCE CAN.

IT SMELLS AMAZING.

>> YES, YES.

>> MELTED BUTTER, GARLIC AND ONION.

THIS IS GOOD TO GO.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS TURN OFF THE HEAT.

THEN I'M GOING TO SET A STRAINER OVER THE SMALL BOWL.

>> OKAY.

>> IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST POURING THAT IN.

SO WE'RE GOING TO STRAIN OUT THE ONIONS AND GARLIC.

AND THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE THAT LOVELY SEASONED BUTTER.

I MIGHT TAKE THAT SPOON AND JUST SMOOSH, JUST TO GET ALL THAT LIQUID.

THERE WE GO.

SO I'M GOING TO SET THAT RIGHT HERE.

>> OKAY.

>> WE'RE BASICALLY DONE WITH THAT.

IF YOU WANTED TO SEE THESE THREE THINGS, THESE ARE OUR PEPPER, AND THEN WE'LL POUR IT IN WITH THE BUTTER AND WHISK IT.

THAT'S THE GLUE THAT HOLDS ALL THE SNACKS TOGETHER.

>> OKAY.

MIX IT UP, SO IT COMES TOGETHER.

I'M GOING TO START PUTTING TOGETHER ALL OF OUR DRY SNACKS TOGETHER FOR OUR CRISPY CEREAL, THE BROKEN PRETZEL STICKS, THE BREAD STICKS, AND THEN THESE, WE KIND OF SKIPPED A STEP, BUT THIS IS THE PUMPERNICKEL BAGEL.

YOU JUST CUT THEM INTO PIECES, LAY THEM ON THE SHEET PAN AND BAKE THEM UNTIL THEY'RE CRISPY.

THAT WAY THEY ARE CRISPY WHEN THEY ALREADY GO IN.

>> COOL.

>> THE WHOLE THING.

GOES IN.

THIS IS WHAT WILL GIVE IT THAT DEPTH OF FLAVOR.

A LITTLE HEAT FROM THE HOT SAUCE.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO MIX IT, SO THAT IT GETS ALL COATED.

SO I'M GOING TO TRANSFER IT TO THE BAKING SHEET.

>> OKAY.

>> I'LL TRY NOT TO MISS ANYTHING.

OKAY.

GIANT BOWL GOES DOWN.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO GET IT IN AS MUCH AS ONE LAYER AS I CAN.

AND THEN WE'LL POP IT IN THE OVEN.

IF YOU ALREADY CRISPED YOUR BAGEL ROUNDS, YOU CAN KEEP THE OVEN ON AT 350.

YOU THROW THIS IN, I LIKE TO PUT IT IN FOR 15 MINUTES, CHECK IT, AND GIVE IT A TOSS, AND IT WILL BE STARTING TO COME TOGETHER, IT WILL START TO CRISP, BUT IT WON'T BE ALL THE WAY THROUGH, AND THEN PUT IT IN FOR ANOTHER FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

OKAY.

I'M GOING TO POP IT RIGHT IN THE OVEN.

OKAY, SHERRY, WHILE OUR SNACKS ARE IN THE OVEN, TELL ME ABOUT MORE WAYS THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> OKAY, SURE.

ONE OF THE OTHER WAYS, ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE SUPPORTING IS BY OUR PROGRAM.

AND THAT SUPPORTS ARTISTS AND I THINK COMMUNITY PRETTY MUCH EQUALLY.

IT'S A WALKING ART GALLERY THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE AT LEAST UP TO 40 ARTISTS THAT WE COMMISSION TO DO A FOUR-FEET BY FOUR-FEET BOARD, AND THEY PAINT A MURAL ON THE BOARD, AND WE HANG THEM ON THE GATE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PARK.

IT SERVES AS A WAY OR TOUCH POINT FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO ACCESS ART EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT COME BY AND TAKE PICTURES WITH IT OR MAYBE IT'S EVEN THE ARTIST THAT THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THEIR WORK KIND OF IN THE WILD.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR ARTIST RESIDENCY AT THE BOX PARK, WHERE WE GIVE ARTISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAGE A SHOW IN OUR SHIPPING CONTAINER GALLERY.

THAT'S A VERY INNOVATIVE, I THINK, WAY TO ALSO LET THE COMMUNITY ACCESS ART, WHILE ALSO GIVING AN ARTIST, AN UNDERSTANDING OF MAYBE THEY NEVER --IT MIGHT BE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEIR FIRST SHOW.

WE GIVE THEM ALL OF THE THINGS TO HELP THEM PRODUCE THEIR FIRST SHOW.

BECAUSE WE'RE IN GREEN SPACE AT THE GREEN SPACE, WE HAVE GARDEN BOXES THAT WE TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW TO GARDEN AND GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.

AND THEN WE ALSO HOUSE IN OUR HOME, THE BROWNSVILLE GROWS MARKET, WHICH HAPPENS EVERY YEAR FROM JULY THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND SO THEY ARE FRESH PRODUCE, BUT ALSO ARTISTS, CRAFT PERSONS THAT ARE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR WEARS AT THE MARKET AS WELL.

WE HAVE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AND ALL KINDS OF FUN THINGS THAT GET TO HAPPEN ALL SUMMER THROUGH THE BROWNSVILLE GROWS MARKET, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT.

I LOVE TOO HOW YOU'RE REALLY MEETING THE COMMUNITY IN WHERE THEY ARE.

I MEAN, IT'S EASY FOR SOMEONE TO SAY I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO A MUSEUM.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ART, BUT THERE IT IS.

THEY DON'T HAVE AN EXCUSE.

THEY'RE WALKING RIGHT BY IT.

>> YOU GO OUT THE DOOR, WALK YOUR DOG, TAKE A SUNDAY STROLL WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER OR YOUR KIDS, AND YOU'RE WALKING PAST.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF VIBRANT ART THAT SPEAK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>> YES.

[ MUSIC ] >> WELL, WHERE SHE A BOWL FULL OF DELICIOUSNESS.

>> WE DO.

I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO THROW TOGETHER.

IT'S DELICIOUS.

SO I'M EXCITED TO TASTE IT.

>> OKAY.

>> FULLY DIG IN.

WHAT'S ONE FINAL THING YOU'D LIKE FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT MAROON ARTS GROUP?

>> SURE.

ONE FINAL THING, SO WE'RE HEADING INTO OUR WARM SEASON.

SO YOU KNOW, THE PARK WILL BE THERE.

WE CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH IN A VERY BIG WAY EVERY YEAR.

SO WE HAVE JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS ALWAYS HELD THE THIRD SATURDAY IN JUNE.

AND WE DO SOMETHING CALLED FREEDOM WORKS.

WE HAPPEN TO BE HERE IN COLUMBUS STATE, AND THAT'S A BIG PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH COLUMBUS STATE, AND WE DO OUR FIREWORKS FOR JUNETEENTH ON THE CAMPUS OF COLUMBUS DATE.

SO JUNETEENTH, AS IT GETS DARK, COME ON DOWN TO COLUMBUS DAY, AND WE WILL BE SHOOTING OUR FIREWORKS.

WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THE COMMUNITY, WE JUST SHOW UP AS WE ARE, AND WE JUST CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE MILESTONES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY.

>> THAT'S LOVELY.

>> YEAH.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A FUN TIME.

>> YES.

>> THIS WILL BE A PERFECT SNACK TO BRING.

>> YES.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE IT UNTIL THEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, SHERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE, LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

[ MUSIC ]