“The People’s Professor” was exposed to jazz and funk by his dad at an early age and his mom sang in the church choir. Then in high school, as a school newspaper editor and marching band member, he wa...

Creation, in its most basic form, can be defined as “an original product of the mind.” It begins as an inkling of an idea. An individual, or group of individuals, then uses their physical and mental toolkit to bring it into existence, where it can be consumed by themselves and others. Art, in particular, is where creation becomes more nuanced. For some, it can be healing. For others, it can be informative — an act of self-discovery. No matter the artform, community can be built and cultivated, which may help others to heal or discover oneself at a larger scale. Art can serve as a time capsule that forever connects you to a period of human existence.