Last week, thanks to the weather, I had to extend a business trip to Chicago by two days. In a sheer twist of occurrences that often make you wonder how much is really left to coincidence, I attended an art opening at the State Street Gallery. It’s not often that one gets to see the creative side of collegiate faculty and presidents.

Michael Hayden’s encaustic works, recently on display at the Art.Life show in Los Angeles, draw you in with their intricate play of texture and color. Michael’s successful career as an artist is an inspiration for anyone to follow their passion. . . . Originally from Memphis Tennessee, he started an apartment painting business in New York, then went on to San Francisco to hone his decorative painting skills at The Day Studio with JoAnne Day.

Hollywood and fashion, from present and bygone eras, all came together for one night at Raleigh Studios as costume designer Greg Lavoi debuted his Fall/Winter 2013 collection for the House of Irene.

International Pillow Fight Day celebrates its 6th year in 2013. Happening on the first Saturday in April, it has now taken over the world, with pillow fights in over 30 cities around the world.

It was an energy-filled day when Oleander band members Thomas Flowers, Doug Eldridge, Ric Ivanisevich, Rich Mouser, and Steve Brown showed up at Ash Gupta’s studio while they took a break from recording their new CD, Something Beautiful.

Paper Farms’ publishing debut features three novellas published under the Black Hills Press imprint. Defined as “a distinctive, mid-length fiction often overlooked as a literary genre,” the novellas have often fallen out of place, being too long to be a short story, and too short to be considered a full-blown novel.

Romain Court, founder of USeduce.com, is a Seduction Coach who trains his willing students in the art of French Seduction. He discusses his work and overall philosophy in the following interview, ending with some useful seduction tips for both men and women.

In February 2013, the Pan African Film Festival, America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival, celebrated its 21st anniversary, as it screened more than 150 films representing 34 countries: U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific, and Canada, with entries from Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia, Tanzania, Guadeloupe, South Africa, Kenya, and Brazil. The films include 23 documentaries, 13 short documentaries, 67 narrative features, and 51 narrative shorts.

I have been in the publishing industry for over 10 years. It started with ISM. We had just graduated college and were searching for something to inspire us. What began as a concept with simple business cards developed into an internationally recognized movement and arts non-profit, welcoming all to share their creative ideas, giving a voice to many who shared a passion for art with no avenue to explore their talent.Our mission is to support collaborative creativity by producing international art experiments and providing free public programs.

My past training and education affects who I am today, and I express who I am today through my design choices and fashion creations. The passion, expression and emotion I experienced through my training in theater, television; painting and ballet comes out with my fashion creations. The work discipline from being a practicing dental surgeon affects my strong work ethic.