Road Trip to the Arts: The Florida Keys

ROAD TRIP TO THE ARTS: THE FLORIDA KEYS is an adventure into the visual, literary, and performative arts thriving in this tropical island chain. Join host Brie Gabrielle as she introduces viewers to fascinating cultural hotspots on the five islands that make up the Keys - Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West. In Key Largo, Brie presents a tattoo artist from South of Heaven Tattoo, where the artists not only take pride in the art they leave on customer's skin, they make sure it's seen on the walls too. On the island of Islamorada, is the Islamorada Fine Art Festival, which features an array of Florida Keys talent and art ranging from wood sculptures and basketry to an environmentally conscious comic book series. Up next is Marathon island and a visit to Theo and Ganine's Dance Center, which has been providing the Keys with a refuge for rhythm, learning and community since 2003. The next island destination is Big Pine Key, where viewers are introduced to dynamic music ensembles, quirky visual artists, and a refuge for Key Deer. The Southernmost Brass Band, a seven-piece ensemble, is all about the big sounds of R&B, Latin, jazz, and more. Since 1994, the Artists in Paradise Gallery in Big Pine Key - a co-op comprised of more than two dozen artists - has infused the local community with their creativity and strong sense of unity. And finally, viewers learn that the island has been a sanctuary to the endangered Key Deer, the smallest North American deer, for nearly 60 years. And in Key West, a spotlight is shone on community-driven projects in visual art and theater. Mosaic of the Keys is an ambitious project developed by the Florida Keys Art Council to highlight the importance of the arts in this vibrant chain of island communities. With approximately 400 mini-canvases, professional and amateur artists heeded the call to create unique pieces that form an unforgettable mosaic mural on the island. Key West is also home to The Conch Republic Independence Celebration, an annual 10-day party commemorating the island's brief secession from the United States. For more than 30 years, Key West has hosted this fun-filled springtime celebration, where residents take to the streets for a colorful gathering of folks from near and far.