• Read more about Violeta Barcenas

Violeta Barcenas |  Violeta Barcenas is a self-taught Nicaraguan mixed media artist and illustrator whose work is rooted in memory, and cultural identity.  As the founder of Violet Red Studio, Violeta creates bold, maximalist artwork that celebrates joy and connection.  Her work is shaped by the places she’s called home: Nicaragua, Bolivia, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and now the D.C. metro area. Her work is alive with the rhythm, energy, and emotion of Latin America, drawing from the landscapes, stories, and cultures that have shaped her journey.

• Read more about Taina Litwak

My work focuses on my concern with the damage humans are doing to the planet and where our culture is heading.  I do acrylic paintings with collaged newspaper and maps on. I am doing a series of installations relating to plastic waste.  The first was a 9x13 foot room at Artomatic DC, 2024, inspired by an installation I did in a Washington Project for the Arts show years ago.  The second site specific installation was at the Crows Nest gallery in Baltimore MD, in 2025.

• Read more about Simba

Zach Simms, 'Simba' as he is called by most close friends and peers, is based in the DMV and Eastern Shore of MD, where he grew up captivated by all things musical. While his prime instrument is Guitar, he performs and instructs on Mandolin, Electric Bass, Ukulele, and on the odd occasion, Banjo. While he spent his younger years focused on drinking in most genres, he spent his college years at Salisbury University studying under Master Guitarist Dr. Danielle Cumming, focusing on a more purist form of Classical guitar, and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sound Engineering.

• Read more about Pilar Ortiz

I am a Colombian artist whose work is deeply rooted in heritage, memory, and transformation. Thirty years ago, I immigrated to the United States, a journey that profoundly shaped my identity and artistic voice. Since then, painting and creating have been constants in my life: a way to process change, preserve culture, and explore the evolving relationship between past and present.

• Read more about Calyn Pickens (Dill Comics)

Calyn Pickens is a cartoonist, video editor and general multimedia maker from Paris, France. Calyn created the cartoon character "Dill" at the age of six, developing a world of "dills" which continues to evolve to this day. She holds a BFA in Critical and Visual Studies from Pratt Institute and attended programming school during École 42's inaugural year. Through classes, editing and translating work, she aims to open access for any and all art forms. 

• Read more about Jeff Muller

Jeff Muller is a musician, songwriter, and producer living in Silver Spring, MD who has an abiding love of roots music, especially the variety coming out of New Orleans. His musical career has taken him from Annapolis to New Orleans to Silver Spring, having played guitar and/or bass around the US and in Europe with more than 100 different acts over 30+ years. Over his career he has appeared with many legendary artists including Allen Toussaint, Cyril Neville, and Eva Cassidy.

• Read more about Bisagna

Bisagna Suh is a writer, filmmaker, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of narrative power and social impact. With a background spanning entertainment, strategic communications, and arts leadership, she brings a sharp, emotionally attuned lens to stories that challenge systems and imagine new possibilities. She is currently at work on The Dinner Table, a novel exploring power, exploitation, and survival through the eyes of young artists entangled in a cult-like nonprofit.

• Read more about Patagonia Winds

Celebrated for their “breathtaking precision” and “lovely long lines” (Composer Catherine McMichael) and "offering a sound both timeless and vital," (Jeff Scott, Composer, French Hornist and Educator), Patagonia Winds has captivated audiences across D.C., Maryland and Virginia since 2010. The quintet specializes in thoughtful, high-quality programming that celebrates living, local and historically underrepresented composers. With engaging commentary and educational outreach, Patagonia Winds brings depth, warmth and inclusivity to every performance.

• Read more about Jessica Carey

• Read more about Bianca Dove

Bianca Dove is a self-taught artist who started to paint in 2020 while homeschooling her daughter during the pandemic. She works exclusively with all forms of stick media – pastels, ink, watercolor and oil. Bianca is an eclectic artist who combines elements from various eras and movements. She paints a breath of subjects including portraiture, landscape, still life, figurative, and animal. She plays with boundaries, often merging the different components of her compositions. She finds unique ways to represent light, whether it be the sun or another light themed object.