You can tell a lot just by just looking at Alehra Evans. That she’s a joyful, creative person, for one. Wearing a puffy white peony in her hair, sporting a gold-toned animal-print jacket and multi-layered gold earrings, she's clearly into the art of fashion.
She’s also an award-winning painter and mixed-media artist. (Click through the slideshow, above, to see some of her art, including an "I Love Lucy" portrait with custom frame.) Evans, 28, makes and sells her work at the Turner Center for the Arts in Maplewood, an organization serving artists of all ages with any sort of disability.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in the podcast:
- Evans, on a portrait she created of Beyonce: “I’m pretty sure if she saw my picture, she’d go, ‘Wow, you did that? That is so special.’” Tweet #cutpastestl
- Evans, on the power of determination: “My life wasn’t always good. But life is what you make it. I believe you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” Tweet #cutpastestl
- TCA executive director Sheila Suderwalla, on Evans’ work in Turner’s supportive employment program: “So her job is to make art. And her paycheck is when that art sells.” Tweet #cutpastestl
Look for new "Cut & Paste" (#cutpastestl) podcasts every few weeks on our website. You can also subscribe to “Cut & Paste” through the "View all Podcasts & RSS Feeds" link.
Follow Willis Arnold on Twitter: @WillisRArnold
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Follow Turner Center for the Arts on Twitter: @TCA_STL
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