Telling Stories Through Visuals (“TSTV”) Art outreach program came about in 1993, created by Center for Folk and Community Art “CFCA” artists/educators Stewart Stewart and Dena Stewart. TSTV began as a themed, project-based process in which individuals ranging in age from five years to senior citizens share their stories (relating to the specific project issue) in writing and illustration. In 2011, CFCA artists added a video component to its Art programming. In doing so, the focus grew to include filmed conversations with successful people in creative professions and in-person forums to review the information and what was learned from it.
CFCA’s Community Art projects include, but are not limited to:
What It Feels Like to Grow Older –Part II – a follow-up to What It Feels Like to Grow Older – Part I, produced 30 years Ago. Part II will use modern technology to bring senior citizens and youngsters together to learn from one another. Seniors have experiences and wisdom to share. Youngsters are tech savvy. But more importantly, this project will provide a platform for participants to express their feelings and be relevant. A video documentary is planned. (2026)
Visually Speaking – Conversations With …: –In-depth on-camera conversations with Visual Artists, Writers, Performers, Musicians, Actors, etc. who share behind-the-scene stories about their creative profession. Their revelations are insightful and inspirational. The in-person audience is led through an interactive dialogue, also caught on-camera. The videos are posted for world-wide appreciation of Culture and Art. (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Bullying Still: “The Pink Bluesman” story – a fictional tale that covers real life, current issues such as bullying, racism, brutality and the resilience and spirit of the human soul and the importance of friendship. It introduces the Blues music genre as well as folk or outsider art. Includes a 30-minute video using the artwork (40+ original paintings) and voiceover narration to tell the story. (2021-2022)
My Side of the Story … Letters and Art – Provides participants with a cathartic method to express feelings they had in certain situations with a specific person or group of people, that they were not able to express at the time. (2019-2020)
Civility – What constitutes “civility” and when does rudeness cross the line to become uncivil and hurtful.(2018-2019)
Unfairness – Provides participants with constructive methods to handle unfair situations or treatment. (2016, 2017)
Bullying – Project name changed to Let’s Be Nice – From the perspective of bullies, victims and those who watch but do nothing, this project encourages behavioral analysis, empathy, and positive change. (2015 – 2016)
Teen Relationships – Reasons for dysfunctional relationships are discovered and teens explore ways for themselves to have positive relationship experiences that build self-esteem. (2014)
Teen Relationships Part II (2015)
Prejudice – An expansion of Culture Clash project – the root of prejudicial feelings are delved into and resolved with more tolerant attitudes (2013, 2014)
Prejudice 2 – Culture Clash – Feelings are explored and attitudes change as participants express their views about people who don’t look like them or share similar values. (2012, 2013)
Civility … or the Lack of It! – In writing and illustrations, teenagers tell how they would like to be treated and suggest ways to lessen their anger when they don’t receive the respect they expect. (2011, 2012)
Earthquake in Little Haiti – Miami Haitian community uses art to reveal impact earthquake in Haiti had on their lives. (2011)
Art to Cope – Non-artists of all ages experience the creative process and learn to use art to handle stress. (2010)
I Can’t Forget … But I Don’t Remember What – Alzheimer’s awareness project involves individuals with early-stage dementia, family members, friends and caregivers who write stories and create illustrations to relate their own experiences. They also learn an art process to stimulate communication. (2010)
The ART of Manipulation – Youth learn to consider how art influences thoughts, feelings and consumerism. (2009)
I’m an Artist, Too! – Developmentally challenged adults use art to describe their lives. (2009)
Gang Culture & Violence – Teens use art to describe their personal involvement with death, guns and criminal behavior, providing insight into the complexity of their lives, their values and dreams. (2008)
Bullying – Bully-victim dynamics are explored, utilizing writing and related illustrations to explain behaviors. (2006, 2007)
A Picture of the County – A series of tapestry panels that focus on prevalent issues affecting each of the 13 districts in Miami-Dade County, FL. Issues include gentrification and change; and diversity in a mixed socio-economic, racial and ethnic community. (2004, 2005)
Art from the Heart – An American Tapestry – People nationwide related how their lives had changed after the 9/11attacks. This Tapestry debuted at the New York City Public Library on the first anniversary of 9/11, followed by exhibitions at the Capital Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., and at the Miami-Dade Library and Government Center. (2002, 2003)
Abuse and Violence in a Teen Dating Relationship – An empowering project for young women and men to write about and illustrate experiences they had with verbal, physical and sexual abuse. (2001, 2002)
When I Look Out My Window – An environmental awareness project for elementary school children. (2000)
Everyone Should Have A Home – People who have lived on the streets relate their experiences and feelings to help others understand their plight and ease their situation. (1999)
LIVING With HIV/AIDS – People of all backgrounds and ages infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS use art to describe the impact of the virus. Used as a prevention program in Miami-Dade County’s public schools. (1997, 1998)
AIDS Tour Interview With Kevin Winn • AIDS Tour San Diego B Roll • AIDS Tour Dallas B Roll •
AIDS Tour Miami Proclamation • AIDS Tour San Diego News Clips
Building Bridges-Healing Our Community – Members of diverse ethnic and racial groups relate their personal experiences with and feelings about people who do not look like them. (1996, 1997)
Tobacco, Alcohol & Substance Abuse – Youths relate their own experiences with first- and second-hand substance usage and learn how their actions are influenced by ad campaigns, television and peer pressure. This project, and our All About Crime project were featured in “Artworks! Collaborations That Change Lives”, published by the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community. (1997)
All About Crime – At-risk youth and juvenile offenders relate their experiences with crime. This mural was first previewed for Attorney General Janet Reno during a National Youth Crime Watch conference. This project was featured on the nationally-syndicated TV show HARD COPY in November 1996. The project/workshops were brought to Lima Ohio by Bluffton College Lion & Lamb Peace Foundation. (1995, 1996)
The Pledge: An Earth Anthem Mural – Children visually interpret peace, friendship and harmony. This mural was a backdrop for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s nationally televised Summit of the Americas address. (1995)
Growing Older – A collaboration of senior citizens and youngsters ages 10-13, designed to bridge the generation gap. This mural was unveiled during a White House Conference on Aging. A video documentary of this project, co-produced by WLRN-TV (PBS) was used as a training film by the Chicago Department of Health. (1994, 1995)
Love Can Build Anything, Trauma from Natural Disaster – Depicts the emotions of children before, during and after Hurricane Andrew. A backdrop for President Clinton’s nationally televised town meeting in Homestead, FL in 1993, it was signed by the President to support this community project which helped youngsters cope with their personal traumas. The mural toured the Miami Youth Museum, Miami Museum of Science, the Miami-Dade Library system, Museum of Science and Discovery in Fort Lauderdale, the Town and County Mall, South Dade, FL., and the National Hurricane Center in Dade County. The Points of Light Foundation displayed the mural at its Heroes of the Hurricane event. This project is featured as a Lesson Card entitled “Rebuilding Lives Through Art” in the SRA/McGraw – Hill Curriculum Connections Open Court reading and language arts program – Imagine it!, a comprehensive literacy tool used in schools in more than 50 countries around the world. The mural was displayed at the Early Warning Hurricane Museum in Deerfield Beach, FL and was on display at the Frost Museum at FIU. Several panels are currently displayed at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, FIU in Washington, DC (1992,1993)
Train the Trainer programs: CFCA artists have facilitated “Train the Trainer” workshops at: Arts at St. Johns – Art & Healing Conference, Miami Beach; The Mayor’s Women’s Conference, Miami Beach; Academy of Educational Development, Ford Foundation Symposium on HIV/AIDS Stigma, Wash., DC; Voices for Violence-Free Commission Conference, Hilton Head, S.C.; First Steps Beaufort County Conference, S.C.; FIU Learning/Beyond Conference, Miami; Lion-Lamb Peace Foundation Conference on Crime, Bluffton University, OH; New World School of the Arts, Miami; U.S. Conference on AIDS – Miami, San Diego, Dallas; FL Department of Health, Disease Intervention Conference, Orlando, FL; No. Miami Senior High School Counselors and Teachers, NAF Academy of Health Science, No. Miami
CFCA Highlights and Recognition:
● Telling Stories Through Visuals is featured as a Lesson Card, “Rebuilding Lives Through Art” in SRA/McGraw-Hill Curriculum Connections reading and language arts program – Imagine it! a comprehensive literacy tool used in schools in more than 50 countries around the world. (2008)
● Telling Stories Through Visuals is one of six programs featured in “ART WORKS! Collaborations That Change Lives,” a publication of the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community. (1998)
● Telling Stories Through Visuals was featured as a model program in “National News Reports” and “AIDS/STD News Reports,” nationally-subscribed newsletters published by CD Publications. (1999)
● CFCA received The Key to the City of Miami Beach in recognition of their continuous community service. (2009)
PROCLAMATION AWARDS
Sep. 11, 2013, Alliance for Aging Positive Living Award presented to “Dena & Stewart Stewart
in recognition and appreciation of your outstanding commitment to making our community a better place to live.”
Jan. 16, 2006, Picture of the County Day, Miami-Dade County,
Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners
Jan. 14, 2002, Teen Date Abuse Awareness Day, Miami-Dade County,
Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners
Sep. 26, 2000, Building Bridges-Healing our Community Day, Office of the Mayor, Miami-Dade County
Sep. 23, 1998, What it Feels Like to Live with HIV/AIDS, Office of the Mayor, San Diego, CA
Oct. 28, 1998, What it Feels Like to Live with HIV/AIDS, Office of the Mayor, City of Dallas, TX
Dec. 1, 1998, What it Feels Like to Live with HIV/AIDS, Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County
May 7, 1996, Folk & Community Art Day for All About Crime outreach project, City of Miami Beach
May 7, 1996, CFCA Day, Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County
Oct. 11, 1994, Deco Echo Day, Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County
ALIVE ON SOUTH BEACH®™ began production on the Syndicated News Network (“SNN.bz”) platform, an International news & entertainment-gathering website in operation for more than 20 years. Alive on South Beach®™ has been associated with SNN.bz since 2011. Dena Stewart and Stewart Stewart head the Miami Bureau for Syndicated News Network.
ALIVE ON SOUTH BEACH®™ and IT’S JUST A CONVERSATION are Center for Folk and Community Art programs.
Contact Information: AliveonSouthBeach.com
Stewart Stewart | 786 269-6392 | AliveOnSouthBeach@gmail.com
Dena Stewart | 786 269-3606 | write.2.Dena@gmail.com
Ruth Ditucci | 321 506-4054 | News@SNN.bz | Skype: syndicatednews