Afro Inspired

July 5-20, 2025 FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY CHAMPIONS THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF MUSIC TO ENRICH THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND CREATE A THRIVING, HEALTHY, AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY. USA TODAY Reader’s Choice Awards: Festival Napa Valley: No. 5: Best Musical Festival Festival Napa Valley is a celebration of music, art, and culinary excellence in the heart of Northern California’s Wine Country. The festival features world-class performances across genres, from classical to jazz to opera and contemporary music. It is held in stunning venues—vineyards, estates, and outdoor and indoor stages. Attendees can enjoy gourmet food and wine pairings, exclusive tastings, and meeting prominent artists. What’s not to like? Right! BRINGING THE ARTS TO ALL Festival Napa Valley enriches lives through the power of music. With a focus on youth and education, the festival proceeds…

On a rain-soaked afternoon in New York, I ducked into the Museum of Arts and Design and emerged into SayaWoolfalk’s kaleidoscopic realm—an intoxicating collision of whimsical color and shamanic ceremony. What began as a playful wander through pastel-clad mannequins morphed into a journey steeped in Afro-Brazilian spirituality: I could almost hear the rhythms of Candomblé echoing through the gallery, each sculptural form a totem in a living ritual. Woolfalk’s “Empathic Universe” channels the elemental power of shamanism—earth, water, plant, and spirit fused into one vibrant, otherworldly tapestry. At the heart of the show, the Empathics—Woolfalk’s invented sisterhood of planthuman hybrids—embody cultural hybridity as sacred alchemy. Their botanical limbs, adorned with feathers and shells, recall the ritual garb of West African and Brazilian practitioners, while video projections pulse like trance-inducing visions.…

Calais Easton: A lifestyle. A quiet, disciplined resilience forged through years of pain, pressure, and persistence. Calais Easton doesn’t fit the mold. He’s not chasing six-pack perfection or gym-bro bravado. What he’s building isn’t just a physique it’s a mindset. A lifestyle. A quiet, disciplined resilience forged through years of pain, pressure, and persistence. His journey didn’t start in a gym it started in recovery. Two major hip surgeries before he could even legally drink. Screws in his joints. A body that constantly rebelled against movement. “There were mornings I couldn’t even stand up without bracing myself,” Calais says. “Training wasn’t about aesthetics. It was about surviving.” But somewhere in the rehab, the mindset shifted. What began as recovery became obsession. What began as pain became precision. He wasn’t just…

“Every world-class city needs a thriving heart, and for San Francisco, that’s Union Square.” At the heart of this resurgence is Marisa Rodriguez, the CEO of the Union Square Alliance, who has been instrumental in the district’s revitalization. A San Franciscan, Marisa’s connection to the city is both personal and professional. “I grew up here, met my husband here, and built a wonderful community in this city,” she shares. “San Francisco has given me so much, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give back, especially through the work to revitalize downtown. We can all lend a hand or play a part in the comeback story.” Her decision to take on a leadership role was driven by a deep commitment to restoring the vibrancy of Union Square, a…

Growing up in a culturally diverse environment, Turner was profoundly influenced by the variety of artistic expressions he encountered. He recalls a childhood infused with creativity, where observing differences in style sparked a deep desire to explore his own artistic potential. “I wanted to embrace it all,” he shares, emphasizing how these early experiences laid the foundation for his artistic path. Turner’s artistic calling took root as he found inspiration in the vivid use of colors within artworks. He offers a memorable anecdote of his father walking him through the art galleries of San Francisco when he was just seven or eight years old. “We priced various artworks and sculptures. I was captivated by how much people valued creativity,” he recalls. His father’s encouraging words—“One day you will create art…

Credits: Lenny Kravitz is not just making music he’s making history, one timeless moment at a time. Lenny Kravitz – Timeless Style, Unmatched Soul Few artists embody the perfect fusion of music, style, and authenticity quite like Lenny Kravitz. With a career spanning more than three decades, the multi-talented musician, songwriter, and actor has become a true cultural icon captivating audiences with his distinctive voice, soulful rock sound, and an effortless sense of style that has made him a fixture in both music and fashion. A Life Shaped by Art and Diversity Born on May 26, 1964, in New York City, Lenny Kravitz grew up surrounded by creativity and cultural diversity. The son of actress Roxie Roker and TV producer Sy Kravitz, he was exposed early to both the entertainment…