Few of the Many Awards

Greta Chapin McGill

Greta, a US-based artist working in acrylic oils and collage elements, is a narrative painter exploring the world through the eyes of a Black American woman. The paintings are built with layers of paint, fabric, and objects, some familiar only to her but common objects. Greta believes we are living in a transitional period of history, carrying with it great responsibility.  The work portrays a legacy of millions of indigenous souls who faced down the wrath of the past and dreamed of more to give in the future.

Tawny Chatmon

Tawny Chatmon, a Maryland-based photography-based artist, embarked on a transformative journey in 2010, documenting her father's cancer battle, inadvertently capturing the moments leading to his passing. This experience ultimately shifted her focus from commercial photography to a higher calling. Chatmon's approach is multi-layered, with no strict adherence to traditional photography practices. She often features her family as subjects, transforming them with exaggerated hairstyles and elongated forms inspired by the Byzantine period. Her process combines photography, digital collage, hand-embellishment using acrylic paint, 24-karat gold leaf, and various materials, including semi-precious stones. As a Black woman and mother of three, she aims to leave a significant legacy celebrating Black childhood and family bonds through her art and, at times, addressing the absence of Black bodies in Western art when needed.

Nyia Curtis

Nyia Curtis, a seasoned visual artist and owner of Eye Opening Photography, specializes in capturing genuine beauty and storytelling through her images. Her work, marked by realism, excitement, and passion, aims to inspire and leave a lasting impact. With a knack for connecting with people, she believes photos are a source of nourishment for the mind and soul. Nyia has collaborated with various organizations and individuals, including The 2023 Few of Many Awards, The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, and Leadership Anne Arundel. Beyond her artistry, she is the co-author of The NyJon Curriculum, focusing on social and emotional development and trauma recovery through the performing and visual arts.

Dr. Eric Edward Elston

A devoted servant leader, Dr. Eric Elston has dedicated his life to inspiring and motivating our youth. For the last 25 years, Eric stands as a driving force for positive change. A graduate of, and ultimately serving on the Board of Directors of Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship program underscores his commitment to community development. Currently, he holds positions on various boards, including the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Annapolis and Anne Arundel Scholarship Trust, Chesapeake Crossroad Heritage Area, Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, and was appointed by the Mayor as an Annapolis Heritage Area Commissioner. Beyond his community engagement, Eric is immersed in producing two impactful documentaries addressing the intricate issues of race, culture, and education in America, which have been screened at film festivals and universities nationwide.

Dr. Elston's partnering with local organizations to create Therapeutic Leadership and Mentoring programs weave his interest in the arts to ensure local teens can access resources and develop 21st-century skills. He is committed to fostering positive change and providing platforms for youth, families, and communities to achieve their goals, dreams, and ambitions. 

Darin M Gilliam

Raised and currently residing in Annapolis, MD, Darin Michelle Gilliam is a creative director and facilitator of the arts - dedicating over 15 years to furthering the arts, creating opportunities for artists, and offering design & consulting services to creatives, small businesses, and organizations along the east coast. As the Co-Owner of ArtFarm Studios & AND Creative, Darin works alongside business partner Alison Harbaugh to provide arts education, events, gallery space, and creative rental space between their two studios. Under AND Creative, the two manage Annapolis Arts Week, Anne Arundel Arts Month, and provide exhibiting opportunities to artists. 

Outside of her work, Darin serves as a proud Board member of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. Married (Alex Gilliam) with two children, Darin enjoys time with her family, live music, hikes around Annapolis, and making her own creative work.

Larraine Jones

From an early age, Larraine's life has been harmonized with the melody of her passion for music. Growing up in a preacher's household, the church became her musical training ground. Beginning with childhood solos in the mass choir, Larraine's journey unfolded with grace. By age 22, she directed choirs, sang with renowned artists like Mandisa and Minister Stephen Hurd, and led worship for thousands at youth conventions. Larraine's voice resonated on Sunday's Best Gospel Television Show and in her own solo project, "It's Time For Worship," released on Dec 1, 2015. With over 10,000 copies sold, her unique and fresh sound echoes on iTunes and Spotify. A devoted psalmist at Fowler and Cecil United Methodist Churches, Larraine, married to Rev. Jerome Jones Sr. for over 24 years, remains unwavering in her commitment to genuine praise and adoration, guided by the biblical truth, "I Can Do All Things Through Christ That Strengthens Me."

Knight Brothers Show

Equavian Knight

Equavian is a lifelong resident of Anne Arundel County who loves his community and all the opportunities it has provided. He has worked in the Anne Arundel County school system for over 40 years and serves as a Health & Financial Freedom Advocate who believes that our health is a part of our hidden wealth. As a part of that belief system, Equavian has adopted a lifestyle of Intermittent Fasting that dramatically changed his life. The impact was such that it became a mission of mind to share the news of how this lifestyle could benefit others who needed help in restoring themselves to good health. This led to using social media as a platform to share this message. It eventually morphed into the "Knight Brothers Show" when his brother Lenny, Arden, and close friends came on board. Through this platform, they have covered Health, Social, Political, and many other topics to discuss with the community. The best is yet to come!

Knight Brothers Show

Leonard C. Knight Jr

Lenny is a graduate of Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. He holds a bachelors in Health & Physical education. He has advocated for adults to prioritize health in their lives. He is a host and curator of content for the Knight Brothers Show—a weekly podcast held on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.

Antonio M. Palmer

Bishop Antonio Palmer is the senior pastor of Kingdom Celebration Center and presiding bishop of the Kingdom Alliance of Churches International. He is the owner of two businesses, Kingdom Kare, Inc. and Kingdom Publishing, LLC. He is the author of five life-changing books, a graphic designer and digital artist. He takes pride in being a husband, father, and grandfather.

Christian Smooth

Christian Smooth is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and artificial intelligence (AI) artist from Annapolis, Maryland. His lifelong passion for storytelling led him to attend Morgan State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Screen Writing & Animation. 

Over the past decade, Mr. Smooth has captured and documented many prominent and defining events in Annapolis and the Anne Arundel County community at large. His work has been featured in multiple publications, including UpStart Annapolis, Washington Post, New York Post, and many more. 

Mr. Smooth is driven by a deep desire to create thought-provoking content that leaves a positive impact on the world. Always pushing boundaries and seeking new challenges, his unwavering dedication to his craft is evident. 

Apart from his creative pursuits, he enjoys engaging with the community, learning new skills, and spending time with his close friends and family.

Kojo Snowden

KoJo Snowden, born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, has been making a name for himself and leaving his mark on the world since his love for music began at a very young age. By the time he was nine years old, he was already creating, writing, and performing his own songs. Over the next few years, he would earn local recognition and notoriety that would gain the respect and attention of many people beyond the area. As a teenager, he started to travel and share his musical talents with audiences in different cities, states, and even countries. 

Today, even as a business owner and father, he remains one of the most consistent and hardest-working artists. Yearly he performs at multiple venues in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Atlanta, and beyond. While staying true to himself and releasing what he likes to call: M.T.M (Music That Matters). His dedication, consistency, passion, and love for what he does separate him from others. Never highlighting what he donates or gives back to his community, he truly believes that the greatest form of giving is anonymous. His humility is driven by his love for Hip Hop as an art form and music as a universal language. 

“Triple Blessed” and “We GON Just Keep On Working” are his mottos, and As Da Heart Of HipHop, he believes we should all DREAM BIG!