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UID:riverbender-event-51427-20251206T170000@riverbender.com
DTSTAMP:20260927T070946Z
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251206T210000
SUMMARY:PARALLELS: PORTRAITS IN BLOOM
LOCATION:Mooneyham Art\, 305 State Street\, Alton\, IL 62002
DESCRIPTION:Mooneyham Art is proud to announce its Winter Showcase\, a
season of transformative storytelling through visual art. This dual e
xhibition features multidisciplinary artist Tai Davis and fine jeweler
Joe Bova Conti\, two creators whose life journeys and artistic practi
ces embody resilience\, reinvention\, and radical authenticity.\n\n \n
\nOpening Reception: December 6th\, 5:00&ndash\;9:00 PM\n\nExhibition 
Dates: December 6th &ndash\; February 13th\n\n \n\nTai Davis presents 
his most personal and ambitious work to date in //PARALLELS//: PORTRAI
TS IN BLOOM. The exhibition features 16 large-scale mixed-media portra
its that begin as digital self-portraits and evolve into hand-painted 
canvases layered with acrylic oil\, animation\, and archival textures.
Each piece is a meditation on identity\, memory\, and healing\, rende
red with emotional depth and technical precision. Davis&rsquo\;s hybri
d approach fuses photography\, digital design\, and tactile painting t
o explore trauma\, resilience\, and rebirth.\n\n \n\nKnown nationally 
as a celebrity chef\, creative entrepreneur\, and motivational speaker
\, Davis channels his philosophy of empowerment and artistic liberatio
n into visual storytelling. His work dismantles stereotypes and celebr
ates diversity across mediums\, from food to fine art\, making this ex
hibition a natural extension of his mission to inspire self-assurance\
, creative prowess\, and purposeful living.\n\n_______________________
_________________\n\nAbout Tai Davis:\n\nTai Davis is a nationally rec
ognized creative force whose career spans culinary arts\, motivational
speaking\, television\, and fine art. Dubbed &ldquo\;The Black Willy 
Wonka\,&rdquo\; Davis has appeared on the Food Network as the winner o
f Chopped\, launched the acclaimed Cooking with Creatives series\, and
been featured in Feast Magazine\, Sauce\, St. Louis Magazine\, Riverf
ront Times\, and Missouri Arts Council as a 2024 Featured Artist.\n\nH
is accolades include:\n\nBest Pastry Chef &ndash\; Feast Awards (2019)
\nCurator&rsquo\;s Choice Award &ndash\; Soulard Art Gallery\nArtist o
f the Year &ndash\; Alchemy Artist Collective\nFeatured Exhibitions at
Cedarhurst Museum of Art\, Missouri History Museum\, and Angad Arts H
otel.\n\nDavis&rsquo\;s work has been commissioned by Whole Foods\, Di
sney+\, Cedarhurst Museum of Art\, and numerous luxury brands. His aud
ience spans over 100K followers across platforms\, with a strong prese
nce in the culinary and creative industries. Through keynote speeches 
and community initiatives\, Davis advocates for mental health\, divers
ity in hospitality\, and creative entrepreneurship.\n\n&ldquo\;The wor
ld is never still. Neither is the art.&rdquo\; &mdash\; Tai Davis\n\n_
___________________________________________________________________\n\
nSecond Featured Artist:\n\nJoe Bova Conti: The Art of Survival\n\nThi
s season also honors the extraordinary journey of Joe Bova Conti\, a f
ormer vice cop who led one of the largest sex trafficking stings in th
e country. Bova Conti&rsquo\;s life took a dramatic turn when he was d
iagnosed with cancer and given just months to live. That was over five
years ago.\n\nIn September\, Bova Conti celebrated his five-year canc
er-free milestone\, a chapter marked by triumph and transformation. To
day\, he channels his strength into crafting high-end fine jewelry\, e
ach piece a testament to survival and beauty forged under pressure. Of
f the bench\, Bova Conti coaches hockey and mentors young athletes wit
h the same grit and grace that defines his artistry.\n\n&ldquo\;Joe&rs
quo\;s work isn&rsquo\;t just wearable\, it&rsquo\;s lived. It carries
the lightness of hope\, and the precision of a man who faced mortalit
y and chose to create.&rdquo\; &mdash\; Charles Mooneyham\, Curator\n\
n________________________________________\n\nResident Artists at Moone
yham Art:\n\nMooneyham Art is more than a gallery\, it&rsquo\;s a livi
ng studio and creative incubator. Our resident artists form the heartb
eat of our space\, contributing work that spans mediums\, philosophies
\, and lived experiences. From emerging voices to iconic international
talent\, these creators embody our mission to elevate authentic expre
ssion and foster community through art and promote resilience and well
ness.\n\nFeatured Residents Include: Natalie Welborn\, Rhonda Willman\
, Marty McKay\, Craig Downs\, Jon Ross-Mooneyham\, Stephen Scordias\, 
Claudia Ruth\, Jay Thompson\, Christine Lampe\, David Bailey\, Derek &
ldquo\;DEEK&rdquo\; Diedricksen\, Jen Fisher\, Jamie Geragosian\, Joe 
Bova Conti\, Candice Fulton\, Jill Haack\, GlamTrash Zodiac\, Melissa 
Lavitt\, Natalie Emmons\, Cathy Dudley\, Judy Ferris Edwards\, Christy
Motsinger\, Mindy Nickel\, Mike Nickel\, Mindy Cooke\, Tonetta Fredri
ckson\, Jennifer Rulo\, Ryan Scordias\, Tyler Clayberg&mdash\;and more
.\n\n________________________________________\n\nLeadership & Curation
:\n\n \n\nCharles Mooneyham\n\nArtist & Curator: Nationally recognized
for his surrealist-pop creations and community-driven exhibitions\, C
harles curates Mooneyham Art as both a gallery and a creative incubato
r. His work challenges perspectives and his events elevate artists whi
le fostering dialogue and social impact.\n\n&ldquo\;I can think of no 
better way to lift a community than through the empowerment of art.&rd
quo\; -Charles Mooneyham\n\n \n\nStephen Scordias\n\nArtist & Co-Curat
or: Supporting the curatorial vision is Stephen Scordias\, who brings 
over 30 years of award-winning experience as an artist and 20 years of
administrative leadership at the university level.\n\n \n\nTogether\,
Mooneyham and Scordias cultivate a space where art is not only seen b
ut felt\, lived\, and shared.\n\n \n\nMooneyham Art LLC is more than a
gallery\, it is a portal to bold artistic journeys\, a sanctuary for 
surreal storytelling\, and a cornerstone of Alton&rsquo\;s creative re
naissance. For more event details please visit the official event Face
book invite at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A92myfPhi/\n\n________
________________________________\n\nLive Music by Psychedelic Symphony
:\n\n \n\nInside //PARALLELS//: PORTRAITS IN BLOOM\, the atmosphere wi
ll be electrified by a live performance from Psychedelic Symphony brin
ging sonic surrealism to match the visual spectacle.\n\n \n\nFree Hot 
Cocoa & Warm Vibes: Guests are invited to step inside for sips -n- nib
bles and explore a gallery that is transformed into an immersive exper
ience\, finding the balance between our digital selves and finding gro
und in the tangible universe.\n\nEvent details: https://www.riverbende
r.com/events/details.cfm?seriesid=51427
URL:https://www.riverbender.com/events/details.cfm?seriesid=51427
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