This painting depicts a group of multi-talented artists, members Black Gate Studios in Chicago as they announce a music video debut. They had created this video on a nearly zero budget and through combining their unique gifts and talents to collectively make it happen. As a first-time visitor to their humble but inspiring space in West Chicago in the winter of 2010, I was blown away by the quality of the video that was played after this personal presentation, as well as by the line-up of hip hop performances following the screening.

I was deeply inspired by her encounter with these passionate people who accomplished incredible things through collective creative effort. I returned to Florida with intensified faith and eagerness to create something with similar grassroots, co-created, artistic energy and output in my hometown. I was able to find other artists with a parallel vision, and so began Uprise Arts Collective (www.upriseartcollective.com).

Portraits in this piece include hip hop artist SKBROK, director Arturo Lizalde, and visual/musical/video creatives Marco Antonio Catalan and Luke Sequeira.

For the story behind the painting, visit http://www.aprildoner.com/why-i-painted-%E2%80%9Ccollective%E2%80%9D/

Acryilc on canvas, 2010. www.aprildoner.com