[000:00:00;00] good morning. this is news 4 your sunday. >> and good morning. i'm wendy rieger. artistic expression is one of the glories of being human, and coming together as artists is one of the building blocks of community. next weekend, october 7th in prince georges county there is an arts festival called the rated pg black arts festival which will combine expression with community to hopefully expand and rock your world. the other thing very cool about this is this is the first-ever female-centered arts festival. so joining me to help motivate you to put it on your calendar are adrian gagter, one of the artists featured. we will be talking to her about

that. also we have m he is the -- you're now the -- >> interim executive director. >> you're interim executive director. >> yes. >> of the prince georges african-american museum and cultural center. >> yes. >> next to me we have angela alwaysbrooks which you know aspirins georges states attorney but she will be the keynote speaker. talk about the importance of arts in our community. malik, i'm going to talk to you first about what was the idea, the concept behind this festival and how long has it been in the works to come to fruition. >> the previous executive director, chanel compton, this was her child. she came up with the idea. she collaborated with the staff at the museum and they've been in talks earlier in year. it has been a year in the making. we hope it will be an annual festival.

the idea is to only the black women of prince georges county but for all of the residents of prince georges county. >> is this the first year that you will be focusing on black women artist or is that the theme every year? >> we hoping it will be the running theme. women by far and large are not represented at the same level as men, and in particular black women and black trans. we want to be clear that the space is welcoming of it all. the performing artists are black women, ambulanblack transgender gender non-conforming. we also will be unveiling our outdoor patio space, so we have construction going on up to the day. >> of course. anyone who has renovated a house knows it is always up to the hour the door opens. >> they're moving fast and i'm excited for the community to use the space.

>> what is it going to be like? if i go there, what will the >> glorious. >> i love it. i love that! >> amazing. we are opening two exhibitions in the actual museum, and adrian's work is featured there. outside we have about 12 performers going all day. we are starting at 12:00 and ending at 8:00. we have a vendor market. we will have food and beverage also. we have a pop-up beauty shop. >> oh, my. >> something very new and innovative that we're quite excited about housing here at the museum. there's a lot of activity. again, it is an eight-hour festival. come in whenever is best for you and i'm sure there will be an activity you can partake in. >> the museum will be a pabeaut paf the museum? >> for one day only. you will have an opportunity to get a man cure and pedicure. >> i love that. >> yes, indeed. >> talk to me about when you started to become an artdist and how difficult it is for a woman

to break into this or at least get atio a graphic designer. i moved into painting from doing graphic design, and i didn't -- i mean i just jumped in and was pretty fearless about it. as i started to, i guess, carve my space out as an artist, definitely a little more difficult being a woman and being black and being an artist, like moving -- moving forward but i mean we have to keep going. we think this show and this festival will -- it is essentially a platform for us to kind of lift each other up and push forward with that. >> why is it so difficult do you think for women to break in or just get that attention? how did you feel that? >> i thank just the art world in general is very male dominant, and so there's always a focus on men and like patriarchy is definitely a part of that structure.

so w general. >> do you feel like the other female artists, that you guys are forming a tight tribe, if you will, that's to help push this in? do you guys network with each other to try to overcome this? >> yes. all of tarhe artists in the sho we have some sort of contact or networking association with each other and that network is constantly growing and branching out. like most of the artist of the dmv but we also -- you know, we know people in other places as well. so this network of black women artists is expanding beyond the d.c. area. >> you started as a graphic artist. how did you know that's what you wanted to do and that that's flowed from you? at what age do you -- i'm not artistic, so i'm always curious when people are, you know? >> art has always been a part of my life.

it's been li or just to, you know, to just pass the time. so as i got older it was the one thing that i knew that i would do whether i got paid for it or not, and so that was -- my family basically pushed me to pursue it because it was something that i found joy in. >> do you hope to make a living as an artist one day? >> i do make a living as it is. >> you do now? >> yes. >> that's wonderful. >> yes. >> has that been a struggle, is it a struggle to do that? >> i think off break, just like being noticed, so i have to put in the work. but like building my confidence and being fearless and just knowing that i'm worth it is what -- is my path. >> and people are going to be able to see what you're doing at this festival this weekend. we're going to take a quick break, and then we're coming back to talk to angela alsobrooks who will be the key

n we know when budgets are cut that's one of the first things to go. see you in a bit.

♪ about we're talking about something really cool, an arts festival in prince georges county. it will be held at the prince georges african-american american museum in cultural center next weekend on october 7th. we want to show you some images of some of the artists that will be there. this will be a female centric festival, to give women a chance to strut their stuff because they're often overlooked. maleke, can you talk about who this artist is? >> yes, actually the festival and exhibition curator as well as a performing artist. she will be on the stage on the 7th and she's also the individual responsible for curating and organizing this festival and exhibition.

>> you went to school with her? >> no, i think we have a of ott mojo. >> okay. it is the next that you went to school with. >> yes. this is odd mojo, mahogany jones. she was a classmate of mine, a prince georges county native. she is a great rapper, emcee. she will be performing on the 7th. we're excited to have her be a part of the festival. >> you have a lot going on there. >> yes, a great variety of artists as well. >> that's what you want. is that what the word rated in this mean, r-a-t-e-d, rated? >> we were being very clever because we're in prince georges county because it is sometimes referred to as p-g. >> oh, rated pg, i need to put the emphasis on it different. you need to direct me. joining us is prince georges county states attorney angela alsobrooks who will be the keynote speaker.

what kind of message do you want toin arts? >> first of all, i am overjoyed to have a chance to be here with adrienne and maleke, that's the message we have here in prince georges county. we have so many gifted. very often you see me when i talk about the worst in humanity. i think it is important to salute, highlight and talk about the talents our young people have in prince georges county. i will talk about the arts as healing. it is something that heals us. it is a unifying force. it is something we have an opportunity to really celebrate all that is great about prince georges county. i'm glad to be vieted. even today hearing from adrian and maleke, looking at the art and talking about the images it is so fantastic. it is a message we have to send to our young people, what's possible. this is what is possible. >> why is it that arts is first thing that gets cut, art and music gets cut when we have

budget issues? you know, that s you as a states attorney who has to deal with what happens when people run off the rails and their lives go into a ditch, and you think if only they -- >> an outlet, you know. >> an outlet or something that inspire them or gave them something to pump through their hearts. >> i think you're right. it is a misguided strategy that says we should eliminate the things that make us human. when we see how often it is to dehumanize an individual, to commit a crime against a person, and we find that hurt people hurt people. there has to be a way to heal the things that hurt us, especially in childhood. what is it we have to turn to? art tends to be that sort of healing force, a place toes express themselves, to express everything about life, that which is great, that which is troubling. heart does that and it heals. it is unifying, a universal language that connects people of all backgrounds and cultures and socioeconomic status. it is fantastic. we need more of it and we are

seeing more of it in prince i'm so glad about that. >> as a woman who came up through law school and became a prosecutor, you know the struggle that women in all walks of life have in trying to just take the stage. >> and you're right, all walks of life. i think that's the amazing thing to speak. again, it is not racial. it is not socioeconomic. it is something that is experienced by women of every field, not just artists that we're seeing with adrian. lawyers, doctors, women still struggle to be recognized, to be seen as good as. so a chance to celebrate women and african-american women in prince georges county is so appropriate and powerful. my own daughter i will take to this festival, and i hope she will be able to see adrienne and the other artists to know what is possible. for her and other women, it is very empowering, very empowering. i can't wait to see the other ladies and hear from them, the artists, and see their works. >> how old is your daughter?

>> 12. >> time to get them. >> yes, it is an interesting time. >> exactly. we will take a quick break and be right back to talk about this. i want to show you what adrienne

created. ralphcandidate for governor,rtham, and i sponsored this ad. they're studying for 21st century jobs. but ed gillespie supports donald trump's plan to take money out of virginia public schools and give it to private schools. as a washington dc lobbyist, ed gillespie worked for lenders trying to keep student loan rates high. and ed gillespie's plan to cut taxes for the wealthy could cut virginia school funding, too.

ed doesn't stand for education. welcome back. we are talking about the rated pg black arts festival that opens on october 7th at the prince georges african-american museum and cultural center. i have artist adrienne gaither with me and director malik glee and angela alsobrooks who is prince georges state's attorney who will be keynote speaker. we were talking about adrienne and her work, and she said, i have this water bottle. can i please, can we just please take this out? how cool is this? this is her design that pepsi put on its life water. this is adrienne's work, and she

had it just taking zips from it. she was like, just did this. like, girl, what? you're good. how did this happen? >> so like pepsi reps reached out to me and told me that they were focusing on doing a campaign to highlight women in art and wanted to know if i could -- if i was interested in collaborating with them to produce a product, and i figured water is a very accessible way for, you know, folks in general to be introduced to art. i thought that it was just a really cool collaboration to be a part of. >> they reached out to you. what was that phone call or e-mail like, to see that pop up in front of you? >> it was very strange and mysterious because i had to go through like this process of signing ndas in order to even know what the project was about.

so this was keep-your-mouth-shut work on the project type of collaborate. it was really fun in the process and the making. i have learned a lot working with them. >> did you design this specifically for this bottle or was it one of your designs? >> i designed it specifically for the bottle. why don't i hand you the bottle and you can walk us through that. >> okay. i am a geometric abstractionist as far as my painting technique and craft. for this design i wanted to -- >> hold it up. there we go. >> for this design i wanted to kind of highlight like the interaction of color and just think about movement and rhythm. there's a lot of fluidity within the bottle, so that's why i have the circle there, to kind of give that -- reinforce like infinity. >> it is almost like a window into it. >> yeah. so, yeah. i was just -- i don't know. i thought about the actual

bottle and then tried to into an interesting way. >> how cool is it to walk into a 7/11 and see your art there? >> it is pretty trippy, but i keep quiet and i go. oh, that's me, and i head back out. >> well, and you were paid for this, correct? >> of course. >> you were compensated for this? >> yes, yes. >> good. it wasn't like hey, we're going to do that and then -- is your name on it? >> yes, on this side. it says series two, women in art, adrienne gaither. >> did you send it to all of your relatives? >> yes. >> that would be christmas presents if it was my art. good for you. that's great. do you think this will hopefully be a launching pad to other projects for you? >> i hope so, but if not i'm still going to keep working and doing what i've been doing, which is, you know, like

applying myself and pushing my that are available to artists right now. >> malik, you have an interesting background. we were talking about it during the commercial break. can you tell us about that, how you got involved with this and what your background is. i asked if you were an artist and you were like, no, and then you started talk about these fabulous things you are. >> yes. i got involved with the museum and i think it ties into the background story last year, as a community partner with my organization, chocolate redux, which surrounds preserving and sustaining african-american culture in washington, d.c. i founded the organization after i graduated from howard university, so being at howard and seeing the rampant gentrification of the city and thinking about invisible landscape and cultural exchange and cultural capital and knowing some of those things were dissipating, i and a couple of fellow colleagues decided to found our nonprofit which was my

entry into the exam. that speaks to my work a graduate student studying cultural general ri cultural gentrification. i was a theater major in public schools, so i'm still producing and writing pages and studying through anthropology. this is a transitional phase in my life but i'm welcoming it. >> look at all of the stuff bubbling beneath your surface. that's lovely. we're going the take a break and then when we come back i'll ask how the current political climate might impact their art.

see you in a couple of minutes. mark herring: my mom to provide for our family. at one point, she got fired for of all things -- getting married. that was a lifelong lesson for me:

when people are hurt, you need to stand up and i've never forgotten that as your attorney general. whether it's protecting veterans and seniors from shady debt collectors, or cracking down on gangs and drug traffickers, i have one guiding principle: do what's right for people. i'm mark herring, candidate for attorney general, and i sponsored this ad. welcome back. i wish you were here during the commercial breaks because that's when we're having such great conversations here. angela you said something to adrienne about something she said. would you repeat it for the audience? >> i was saying it is so powerful that one of the things

adrienne said she found sohi she wasn't paid for. she found something she loved and her family noticed that and helped her to pursue art. that art she would do even if it was unpaid. i think that's the hope we have for every ying person especially, they would find that thing and pursue it and then you will be paid for it, you know. but she is following her passion and finding she can also provide for herself doing the thing that makes her wake up every day, is powerful. >> especially when pepsi calls you. that's kind of nice. >> pretty good. >> i'm curious for you as an artist in the current political climate there's a whole lot going on, which is exciting. how is that impacting your art or your expression or what you want to say? >> i don't let it affect me a lot. like i know that it is happening, but i don't -- like when i'm working, it is not the sole focus of my work. my work is meant for me to, you

know -- base know -- basically it is my therapy. a i'm using it to make sense of everything that's going around, so i don't want to introduce that level of notice into my work. so it is pretty much on mute for my work right now. >> how do you do that? how does one mute that? where is that place we can go periodically to heal? >> i think, you know, with the political climate like at the level that it is right now, it is they to kind of go a little more inward and focus on like how we can be better people and better humans, and that is -- so that's why i am able to mute it out. when i am working it is a time for me to really focus and be selfish. so i don't have to participate in it. >> good for you. >> i don't want to. >> good for you. we only have a minute left, but maleke, tell me about as a director of a museum do you see

the current political scene in any way coming i exhibits? >> i echo what adrienne said, where art, particularly for those who are most vulnerable and get tinge shorter end of the stick in this political climate, it is a space for healing. it is a space for reflection and it is a space for celebration. so while things we watch on the news and things that we see and we are facing daily may not bring us pleasure, may not bring us happiness unfortunately, art is a place to find those things, where we can create safe places for ourselves. i think the museum is an institution that's a safe place for all and i think it should be a healing ground, and i think we have a spoonlt to serve prince georges county in the political realm so we're a meeting space as well. >> good for you. adrienne, maleke, angela alsobrooks, this has been a wonderful discussion. now you know what you can do on

october 7th. you need to go to the rated black arts festival in prince georges county at the museum and cultural center. see you there. ♪ ralph northam: i'm ralph northam, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad. they're studying for 21st century jobs. but ed gillespie supports donald trump's plan to take money out of virginia public schools and give it to private schools. as a washington dc lobbyist, ed gillespie worked for lenders trying to keep student loan rates high. and ed gillespie's plan to cut taxes for the wealthy could cut virginia school funding, too. ed doesn't stand for education. your internet deserves the 100% fiber-optic network. with fios gigabit connection,

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life looks good. breaking news, o.j. simpson is out of prison. a look at what is next for the 70-year-old that spent the last nine years behind bars. >> if you're still under the covers we can't blame you. especially when you look at the numbers. spots in the 40s this morning. a look at how those temperatures will recover during your sunday. >> thank you, sarah. sometimes when you're president you have to make sacrifices so i skipped the back 9. >> snl is back with alec baldwin as president trump.