April 2025
SHE'S ROCKING IT in SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA!
Debra Muzikar
Photo Courtesy: Debra Muzikar Follow The Art of Autism on:
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As co-founder of The Art of Autism, what are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of the community and collaborations we've created as well as the many talented individuals we've been able to showcase over the years. When I started displaying my son Kevin's art, which he was creating in a therapeutic way over twenty years ago, I had no idea that his art would snowball and create all kinds of connections in the disability and art fields. I went from being a computer programmer to an author and art curator. What can arts organizations and galleries/museums do to be more supportive of artists on the spectrum? Art organizations and galleries can support autistic artists by displaying their art, using their art in promotional material, including autistic artists in presentations and workshops, and reaching out in collaborative ways to organizations that serve individuals on the autism spectrum. Are there any upcoming events you'd like to mention? We collaborated on a project with Posts for Peace and Justice that will be on display at Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) from April 5th through August 3rd. The exhibit is titled "The Art of Autism: A Different Lens." My son is one of 14 artists in the exhibit. |
About Debra
Debra Muzikar is the co-founder of The Art of Autism, a nonprofit with a mission to empower autistic people through participation in the Arts. Debra is the author of two books The Art of Autism: Shifting Perceptions and The Art of Autism: Shattering Myths. Over the years, she has curated over 100 exhibits of autistic artists across the United States and in several different countries. Debra is the mother of three children. Her youngest adult child, Kevin, is an artist who participates in the Art of Autism project. 
Click announcement for link to video about this exhibition.
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TIPS & TALES
Women in Business Provide their Expertise
Women in Business Provide their Expertise
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Claudia Bloom
Founder of Rock Locations Claudia shares "Three Ways to Promote Your Home or Business for Production" as well as her backstory, professional journey, and what she absolutely loves about her job!
Claudia launched Rock Locations in 2016. The company is based in The Rockaways, which is a hip, urban beach community in Queens, New York. Her career as a location representative for businesses and homes was fueled by her diverse professional background in media — film, television and print — as a casting director, acting coach, and women’s magazine editor. She combined her experience in production with her love for her community to drive her newfound passion. Claudia branched out beyond the Rockaways to include locations in other areas of New York City as well as some in New Jersey and Long Island. She represents home and business owners (along with some car and pet owners) for production in their locations.
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Claudia at House #25: Click Image to Learn More.
Photo Credit: Sebastian Sheppard Photography |
OUT & ABOUT
Leading the Herd in Laos
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Walking with Amazing Creatures
Fun Fact: Elephants have an incredible sense of smell, which is advanced enough to detect water sources up to 12 miles away
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March 2025
"During my month-long journey to Vietnam, I made a side trip to the lush neighboring country of Laos. Otherwise known as ‘the land of a million elephants,’ how could I resist? It was there, at the MandaLao Elephant Conservation Center, that I visited several amiable members of the species. At first encounter, I was a bit shy, but once they hungrily accepted my bunches of bananas and bamboo shoots, we became fast friends. Our guide led us on a trek to the nearby Nam Khan river where he snapped a photo, and we were able to record a bit of video." ~ Sandra Bertrand, Travel & Culture Editor, Reports Upcoming May Issue: Sandra's feature on Vietnam and Laos in our TRAVEL JOURNAL section.
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About MandaLao Elephant Conservation Center
Deeply rooted in the foundations of Buddhism and local folklore, elephants have attained an almost mythical status across much of their ancestral lands. Laos became known as the “Land of One Million Elephants” or “Lan Xang” from fabled accounts of a procession of them crossing the Mekong River not far from Luang Prabang. By all accounts humans and elephants have worked side-by-side in the region for nearly 2000 years. Ranging from 4 to over 60 years of age, MandaLao’s elephants have spent the majority of their lives working together in logging camps and low welfare tourist attractions. With new regulations limiting logging operations across Laos, and concern over elephant welfare, the staff at MandaLao has been able to bring these amazing creatures home to where they offer them a dignified and comfortable life in harmony with nature. |
Immersed in Nashville History
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Slideshow Photos: Myrna Haskell
Fun Fact: Belle Meade was an international thoroughbred stud farm. The horse on the farm with the most prominent lineage was Bonnie Scotland. Every horse that has won the Kentucky derby since the 1960s can trace their lineage back to Bonnie Scotland. Our mansion tour guide explained with pride that horse breeding and horse racing was established first in Tennessee, not Kentucky! In 1804, the first official horse race in Tennessee was held in Gallatin.
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"I have always been captivated by historic sites, and Belle Meade did not disappoint. There are several available tours. My husband and I opted for the mansion tour and the food and wine pairing at the Belle Meade Winery. We also spent quite a bit of time on the grounds.
I was most interested in the early 19th century refrigeration and smoking of meats, ways of preserving food in the days before electric refrigeration and smoking for flavor, rather than preservation. So, we spent some time at the Ice House and the Smokehouse. The Carriage House was impressive as well. And the wine and food pairing with delicious gourmet hors d'oeuvres was hosted by a delightful sommelier. We made friends with a couple from New Jersey. A big part of the history, of course, are the stories of the enslaved people who built most of the structures and lived on the property in cramped, barren quarters. The Journey to Jubilee Cabin was donated by the Donelson family in 2000. This space documents the stories of the men, women and children who were once enslaved there. The Journey to Jubilee Tour focuses on the history of enslavement through emancipation and then contracted labor. The staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. I recommend for those visiting Nashville." ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports |
About Belle Meade
The Belle Meade Plantation began in 1807 when Virginian John Harding bought Dunham’s Station log cabin and 250 acres on the Natchez Trace. For the next 100 years, the Harding family prospered, building their domain into a 5,400 acre plantation that was world renowned as a thoroughbred horse farm. In the early years, Harding boarded horses for neighbors, such as Andrew Jackson, and he was breeding thoroughbreds by 1816. He shipped grain to Charleston and New Orleans, and owned large tracts of land in Arkansas and Louisiana. In 1853 John Harding’s son, William Giles Harding, completed the mansion, doubling its size and adding the front porch and columns, which are solid limestone. The plantation stayed in the Harding family until 1906, when it was sold to the Dickinson family and others over the next several decades. In 1952, the State of Tennessee bought the property, deeded in trust to a nonprofit. In 1954, it opened to the public. In 2009, the Belle Meade Winery opened. Most of the expansive property was sold off by 1906 due to compounding debt. Today the site stands on 25 acres. |
Women's Conference in East Brunswick, New Jersey
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Slideshow Photos: Courtesy Carol Lippert Gray
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"My daughter, Holly, and I both graduated from Douglass College (which, at the time we were there was the women's college of Rutgers; it's since been absorbed by the University and now is known as Douglass Residential College). This year, the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College held a women's conference called ‘Taking Up Space’ that discussed empowering women to learn and lead. The keynote speaker was Stacey Abrams, a tax attorney by training, she served as Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives and was the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia (2018, 2022). She has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to protection of democracy; national and local voter engagement; social issues; and building a more sustainable future in the South. She's also an author, businesswoman, and host of a podcast called Assembly Required.
My takeaways: 'Instead of asking 'why' or 'how can this be?', ask. 'What would it take?' and 'My fundamental question in politics is, 'How can I help?'" And sharing this experience with my daughter — priceless! ~ Carol Lippert Gray, Associate Editor, Reports |
March 15, 2025
2025 AADC Women’s Conference: Taking up Space
Find out more about the organization hosting the conference: Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) The conference celebrates women’s advancement over the last 100+ years as well as exploring the work still to come. Included was a panel discussion about the importance of women-centered education and cultivating a brighter future for women’s leadership in higher education.
The AADC is an independent, self-supporting 501(c)(3) organization. The AADC develops and promotes connections among Douglass alumnae by providing programs, services, networks and lifelong learning opportunities that represent the interests and needs of its diverse alumnae. |
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Photo Courtesy: Jennifer Cook
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Jennifer Cook
Neurodiversity Expert & Bestselling Author Since her 2020 interview in Sanctuary, Jennifer has been the on-camera expert for Netflix’s 5x-Emmy-Award-Winning Love on the Spectrum (three seasons) and star of Joey Travolta’s Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum, a heartwarming and inspiring new reality TV show that follows a group of young adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate the outside world and new friendships. She has written two more award-winning books, and she also consults for companies like HBO Max, Twitch, Kaiser Permanente, and Amazon. Kudos to Jennifer for continuing her work as a passionate advocate and engaged educator for people on the spectrum! 
Photo: Jennifer's INSTAGRAM Page
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More About Jennifer
In 2011, at the age of 35, Jennifer Cook (then O’Toole) was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (autism) just after her three young children had been similarly identified. For the first time in her life, things made sense. Since then, Jennifer has been featured by The New York Post, The Guardian, and even the BBC. She has appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, and is a beloved presenter, winning AuKids’ Magazine’s “Speaker of the Year.” Her latest book is My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book About Autism. Among her titles are a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Autism Society of America’s Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly “Best Book” title winner, and six of BookAuthority's “Best-Selling, “Best Memoir,” and “Top Autism Books of All Time” picks. Jennifer sits on the Autism Society of America’s Board of Directors, is the Chair of the ASA’s Council of Autistic Advisors, and is on the Advisory Board of NEXT for Autism. She consults for Congress’ Autism Research Panel and is a multi-award-winning international presenter who has spoken everywhere from the White House, to the National Institutes of Health, to royal audiences in Europe. |
Derek Allan, Myrna Haskell, Leanne Weiss
Photo Credit: Kirk Haskell |
I bumped into this country duo in Nashville!
Since sharing their first single "Heartbreak Song" in Sanctuary in 2017, Leanne Weiss and Derek Allan, the talented country duo known as October Rose, got married, had a baby, wrote dozens more songs (several which went viral!), and moved to Nashville! They also appeared two more times in Sanctuary (in 2020, when they partnered with Shatterproof, a national nonprofit, to raise awareness about the Opioid Epidemic in the U.S., and again in 2023).
My husband, Kirk, and I met the couple and their adorable daughter at a Nashville coffee shop to see what they've been up to. Having just recently moved to Nashville, they are starting to record more music while navigating the challenges of juggling parenthood and their exciting journey in the music industry. We always wish Leanne and Derek well and will continue to follow their story! ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports LATEST SINGLE:
"Make Mama Proud" |
About October Rose Country Duo
With their unmistakable chemistry and a contagious, 80s rock-and-pop infused sound, October Rose is undoubtedly a formidable and unstoppable presence in country music. After social media connected the two, Derek Allan and Leanne Weiss formed their duo in 2016 after years of performing as solo artists in the Pittsburgh and New York City areas. Since their formation, October Rose’s momentum grows stronger by the day. “Heartbreak Song,” the emotional single that started it all, gained critical acclaim and traction on the country music charts. And with a rigorous schedule of performing all over the country, this duo continues to win audiences over with their energetic stage performances. Additionally, October Rose continues to maintain growth on TikTok and Facebook, with viral videos reaching over 25,000,000 viewers across platforms. |
GALLERY HOP
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Slideshow Photos: Myrna Haskell
About Red Arrow Gallery
This gallery, known for its museum quality exhibitions and contemporary artist program, features a diverse representation of artists. A significant platform for bold exhibitions locally and at select global fairs, Red Arrow values advocating for artists in the South and beyond. |
Artist Reception: "Wonderment"
April 4, 2025 This exhibition includes works by Brett Douglas Hunter and Jeremy Shockley, bringing together the whimsical worlds of two distinct yet complementary artists. "This is a woman-owned and led gallery, and I had the opportunity during the reception to speak with Gallerist Katie Shaw and Director Ashley Layendecker. Katie moved to Nashville from California, where she was also immersed in the art scene, and is passionate about representing artists near and far. By exhibiting up-and-comers with great promise as well as established, nationally-recognized creators, she is determined to excite both newbie enthusiasts and serious collectors alike. Ashley exudes enthusiasm for her role as director and plans to try to find time to paint again. 'The gallery keeps me very busy, and I absolutely love what I do, but I do think about finding some spare time to paint,' she shares." ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports Current Exhibition Dates:
Now through May 3 Open weekly: Thursday- Saturday 11:00 am-6:00 pm *Available for private appointments outside these hours. CONTACT |
The Women in Charge
Gallerist Katie Shaw founded Red Arrow in 2014 and leads the gallery with a passion for arts advocacy as well as savvy business acumen. With nearly 20 years of experience working with visual artists, including hundreds of curated exhibitions, Katie is dedicated to supporting artists' careers and continuing to grow her community. Under her leadership, Red Arrow is a vital platform for artists, showcasing their work locally and at global art fairs. Director Ashley Layendecker oversees daily operations, curates exhibitions, and drives the gallery’s strategic direction. A former practicing artist, Ashley discovered her passion for curating after earning her BFA from the University of Tennessee in 2016. Since joining Red Arrow, she has curated over 60 exhibitions in Nashville, New York, Mexico City, and Miami. In addition to her role at Red Arrow, Ashley is a member of The Warhol Society at The Frist Museum of Art in Nashville and previously served as Art Club Host for Soho House Nashville. Her curatorial work for Red Arrow has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Galerie Magazine, and W Magazine. |
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MaiYap's "In the Absence of Blood
Slideshow Photos: Carol Lippert Gray |
"The Frank C. Ortis Gallery is on one side of a sprawling civic complex in Pembroke Pines, Florida. During a recent visit there, I experienced a show called "Ebb and Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum" assembled by guest curator Pamela "Zee" Lopez del Carmen and Sophie Bonet. Viewers could examine work that explored identity, nurturing, female agency, personal history, and collective resilience, and how they relate to broader socio-cultural themes.
The piece that resonated the most for me was a massive floor-to-ceiling immersive installation by MaiYap called “In the Absence of Blood.” She handcrafted over 1,000 beautifully wrought individual flowers from sanitary napkins and 32,000 other elements. While the show closed in February, the memory of this piece lingers." ~ Carol Lippert Gray, Associate Editor, Reports Her work reclaims objects associated with youth and reproduction, transforming them into emblems of post-reproductive resilience. The blooms stand as symbols of renewal, inviting viewers to confront the silence surrounding menopause and to celebrate the vitality and wisdom that accompany this transition." ~ Show Catalogue |
About 'The Frank'
Named in honor of longtime Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis for his dedication to the arts, The Frank is a dynamic contemporary art space committed to fostering innovation, critical dialogue, and creative exploration. As a site for artistic research and interdisciplinary collaboration, The Frank champions groundbreaking exhibitions, experimental practices, and immersive programming that connect artists, thinkers, and communities in meaningful ways. With an evolving roster of regional and national artists, The Frank’s exhibitions push boundaries across disciplines—ranging from visual arts and design to performance, new media, and socially engaged practices. Current Exhibition
Adventum Floridana: Witnessing the Layers of a Vanishing Horizon Now through June 7 Solo exhibition by Andrés Cabrera-Garcia This exhibition explores the fragile beauty of South Florida's landscapes in a state of transformation, highlighting the tensions between nature and urban development. |
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Slideshow Photos: Myrna Haskell
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"I was pleased to be able to attend Ransome's 'Artist Talk' regarding his solo show 'Dark Was the Night' at CONVEY/ER/OR Gallery.
Ransome is a former featured artist in Sanctuary (June 2021), and it's always a pleasure to keep up with what our arts community is up to. Mary-Kay Lombino, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center's (Vassar College) Deputy Director and the Emily Hargroves Fisher ’57 and Richard B. Fisher Curator, asked Ransome questions about the works and the installation of the show as well as the connection to a haunting song with the same name by Blind Willie Johnson, 'Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground.' Ransome shared, 'Music is a large part of my work.' He also stated that he wanted the show to exude a sense of community, family, warmth, love and joy — all things one feels in connection with home. He added, 'But the show also speaks to those without homes.'" ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports More from Myrna's Musings.
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Comments from the Gallerist
“I opened this public art space on February 1, 2023. My goal for this space is to create a social, political and/or environmental ‘public art space’ that can be experienced by any passersby 24/7 on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, New York. I want to offer opportunities to local artists of all colors, ages and cultures. I want to open the door to hard conversations through art, spirit and eye-to-eye interaction. I exhibit solo shows, so artists can share a full body of work. And I am passionate about spreading love, light, and a sense of value to my beloved Main Street neighborhood.” ~ Suprina Current Exhibition
"This Land Ain’t Your Land" Images by Dan Goldman Now through June 1st Dan was featured in a 2022 Father's Day issue in Sanctuary. |
SNEAK PEEK RECOMMENDATIONS
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Photos in Slideshow: Carol Lippert Gray
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Dale Chihuly's Work at WMODA
Carol Lippert Gray was drawn to a glassworks exhibit while visiting WMODA. The museum's mission is to inspire appreciation and understanding of ceramics and glass as art forms. Dale Chihuly’s unique sculptures and installations have changed how people think about the medium of glass, and he has led the avant-garde in the development of glass as a fine art. After graduating in interior design in 1965, Chihuly enrolled in the first glass program in the country at the University of Wisconsin. He continued his studies and co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. In 1968, during a fellowship in Venice, he was introduced to the team approach to glass blowing, which he adopted in his studio. Car and sports accidents in the late 1970s left him with a blind eye and an injured shoulder. No longer able to blow glass himself, he has directed his gaffers and glass blowers, more like a choreographer than a dancer, more a director than an actor. Chihuly often refers to the mystery and magic of glass. |
About WMODA
The Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts was founded in 2014 by Arthur Wiener and family. The museum celebrates the fired arts of ceramics and glass, and visitors can see beautiful pottery and porcelain art from the 18th century to the present day. The Wiener museum introduces the work of British pottery pioneers as well as European designers from Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras. The glass galleries at the Wiener Museum showcase the art of French designer Renée Lalique and Venetian maestros from Murano, as well as local glass artists working in South Florida. The highlight of the Hot Glass gallery is a spectacular collection of Chihuly. Contemporary ceramic art from the Ardmore studio in South Africa is one of the favorite exhibits at the Wiener museum, which hosts a varied program of exhibitions and cultural events. |
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Slideshow Photos: Myrna Haskell
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"Christy Lee Rogers: The Muses"
Now through June 1st "I perused both the Parthenon's permanent collection, a group of paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan, and Christy Lee Rogers' solo exhibition "The Muses." It was Christy's photography that I'd like to highlight here. Her signature underwater photography was stunning in its fluidity, light, color and composition. I was particularly drawn to her work in the Luminescence Collection. My favorite: 'Sea of Tranquility.' I got lost in this image. The black walls as background highlighted her work extremely well and added to the mystical ambiance of the exhibition." ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports Also of note: In connection with this exhibit, The Muses Educational Series will encourage visitors to imagine, engage, and create based on inspiration gained from The Muses through a series of hands-on workshops and events connected with each of the nine Greek Muses.
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The Parthenon
Long before Nashville was known as "Music City," it had a reputation as a center of learning and culture, earning it the nickname "Athens of the South." The Parthenon, a building located in Centennial Park within Nashville's West End neighborhood, is a full-scale replica of the original found in Athens, Greece. Today, the building also serves as one of Nashville's art museums. About Christy Lee Rogers
Christy harnesses the untamable force of water to create ethereal worlds, where human figures are suspended in a ballet of fluid motion and raw emotion. She employs her original technique to a symphony of bodies submerged in water during the night, and creates her effects using the refraction of light. Christy is from Kailua, Hawaii, and is currently based in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. Her works have been exhibited globally from Paris, London, Italy, and Mexico City to Shanghai, Sao Paulo, South Africa, Los Angeles and elsewhere. |
PODCAST PORTAL
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Later this month: TEAM TALK conversation with Dr. Jenipher Cornelius, Business & Leadership Editor
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ANNUAL COMMUNITY PROJECT
Send us your recipe for our community cookbook . 
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READER RAMBLE
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It's Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month, and we are celebrating neurodiversity!
