ART IS… Show & Tales is led by Ta-coumba T. Aiken and three gifted artists: Angela Davis, Christopher-Aaron Deanes, and Yijia Li. Their ambition? To tell nothing but the truth through their own particular aesthetics, experiences and points of view. From very different backgrounds, these artists will share their storytelling talents to heal the hearts of people and their world by evoking positive change. Their goal is to create a patchwork of visual voices, a story cloth of woven truths in a safe and fun space.

What is ART IS…

In collaboration with TPT, ART IS… is a series of four events in which exceptional artists from St. Paul curate the work of three emerging artists of their choice to create a unique, arts-centered experience before a live audience.

More about our artists

Ta-coumba T. Aiken is a public artist dedicated to building and beautifying community. He gives his audience a continuous experience, both subtle and dynamic. Aiken believes that his role is to listen, interpret, inspire and be a weaver of ideas. Fondly known as the “Mayor of Lowertown,” Aiken has received numerous awards and honors including The BUSH Visual Arts Fellowship, Pollack Krasner, MSAB Cultural Collaboration grant,  Knight Arts Challenge Award with Walker West Music Academy. He has exhibited and lectured internationally including the USA, Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana and China. Presently he serves on the Board of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Christopheraaron Deanes is a renowned artist in the Twin Cities. Through his art his goal is to create conversations and environments that challenge perceptions and assumptions. A St. Louis native he moved to Minneapolis to attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Deanes has an extensive art resume that includes multiple public art installations and several current work hanging in restaurants and galleries around the Twin Cities, most recently gracing the walls of the new CHS Field. Deanes currently works as an Assistant Principal at Perpich Arts High School.

Angela Davis is an acrylic painter born and raised in North Minneapolis. She has drawn and painted for as long as she can remember. Davis’s subject matter usually centers around African American culture, local landmarks, and social justice art. She draws inspiration from her family, friends, her community, and music. Davis has participated in numerous exhibits, art fairs, markets, music festivals, art projects, murals, including: Art-A-Whirl, Art Crawl and the McKnight Foundation Celebration of Life Exhibit.

Yijia Li is a painter who uses female figures as main subject matter, applying pigments and moving brushes to admire their sexuality and human desire. Li was born and raised in Shanghai, China, attended Shanghai University and received a B.A. in Studio Art in 2012, and a M.F.A. in Studio Art from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2017. She believes in a common experience that moves beyond a single person’s experience and embodied in each person’s life in thousands of ways. Her art making process is not only a process of exploring painting and drawing techniques, but more importantly a journey to achieve that common experience.

More Info:

• All Ages
• Doors at 4:30 p.m.
• Show at 5 p.m.

Funding Provided By: