Sam is a painter, writer, and curator living in Richmond, Virginia.

Ryan is a painter and educator working in Richmond, Virginia.

Nikki is a Richmond-based painter. Her work has been featured in several galleries and shows throughout the region.

Garreth Blackwell is a designer and a strategist. He is currently an assistant professor at the VCUarts Center for the Creative Economy where he teaches courses in design thinking, innovation and creativity. He has taught design (in its many forms) for more than a decade. When not teaching, Garreth operates Wide Open Air Consulting & Design, a design firm focused on service to customers and clear communication. His clients range from small businesses to international corporations.

He is the co-author of Design Your Own Magazine, a book that deconstructs the process of magazine design into 15 simple steps. He is the co-editor of The Roads of Broken Dreams, the Robert Kennedy Award winning publication about the shrinking communities of the Mississippi Delta. 

Blackwell holds a PhD in Media, Art and Text from Virginia Commonwealth University where his dissertation focused on the changing definitions of goodness and social value within modern design. Blackwell also holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi where his research focused on entrepreneurial media production.

Nick is a photographer and videographer based in Richmond, Virginia.

Josh Williams is an illustrator, painter, and UX designer living in Richmond, Virginia.