Hello, Oklahoma.

Welcome to Gallery America, with its long days and kids free from school for a lot of people, summer feels like a magical season.

I think a lot of life is made up of these brief, fleeting seasons.

You're about to meet Gabe and Kyndall, a married couple who are in the middle of one right now, but two young kids at home.

They're balancing creative goals with raising a family.

Let's see how they do it.

I feel like my life is like a garden there's a lot of symbolism with plants I'll gravitate towards painting a certain plant in it.

usually symbolizes something for me in my life, I start with a background color I normally don't paint one color altogether.

I try to do like a gradient from like a light to a because I know usually.

I'm going to be doing a sky in the ground if I wasn't making art, know, like I wouldn't fully feel like myself.

it's a necessary thing for me to do.

this can be a commission for someone really like two painting that I have in a dental office, she sent me an email and said I just got done with the dentist I saw the painting on his wall, do you think you could make something like it?

And I'm like, yes.

like, I never can paint something exactly the same, I want to have all different paintings that I'm giving everybody, But I still want the same feeling of that painting, I think it takes me about like I want to say like 30 hours put together.

on a good day, I get a solid three hours in like working, when you're an adult, when you have a family and all those things start coming into play, like it's just really hard to find time to do anything My name is Kyndall Rainey, it's Dash Hancock because I'm married, I'm a mixed media artist in Oklahoma City, I took it kind of serious when I was younger.

I kind of learned the basics of everything.

And then I just kind gave up on it and played music for a while.

then I came back to it.

But now I feel way more free more like a meditative process than it used to be, I think.

Whenever I don't know what to draw.

Just draw.

Ugly cowboy.

I still feel like when I do music or do anything it's kind of through that, lens of like drawing or doing anything else.

it's all kind like the same thing it's like learned to draw and then you learn to paint then like, you start learning an instrument the ideas you learn from each thing kind of play into each other I'm just going to draw a little goblin, you know?

I see it all as, of figuring out what life is about in general just like this is your way of interpreting reality I just feel like it's natural and we should all be doing it not waiting for permission you don't have to go to school for it.

You don't have to do anything specific Just do something.

Like scribble on the bathroom wall or something.

I'm working on this moon and I'm thinking about how not everything sleeps at night because I like did not get very much sleep last night.

I know I want to do more to the moon, but wondering if I have all the right things.

the lady that asked me to this painting, I told her that I get it done near the end of June, Sometimes it's just easier to use my fingers.

we're also having my art show and Gabe's music at our house.

on like this coming Saturday.

So I was really trying to, like, get everything done what I want the look of is the the glow of the moon on the mountains the painting will be talking to me as I'm working Like it's like, kind of tells me visually where things want to go, and I just have to listen to it and trust my mom is helping me watch my kids one day a week for the summer.

I'm a teacher, so I have the summers off.

But just because I have the summers off doesn't mean that I have the time that I used to have.

think it puts more meaning into even the time that I'm sitting to make something.

It becomes very sacred.

Like, this is a sacred time.

I'm sort of feeling like I'm getting ready for the plants now I kind of think this job is like.

partially scavenging.

Partially being an artist.

I work the performing section of Parks and Rec.

I do the design building all that stuff this Princess and the pea We're supposed to get moved in today.

Yeah.

We’re kind of last minute it’s Supposed to look kind of like dungeony or like.

Like this is where the potions are made or whatever, the amount of times like me and journey have been like, we got to go dumpster diving.

Like, right now, let's go look and see if we can find something for this.

It all kinda ties together.

Oh, yeah.

I can't afford So I'm gonna just, like, make do with what I have or fix something up that's old or whatever.

I have four bins of just trash cupcake wrappers, cardboard bubble wrap.

I've recently started using the liner on the inside of drawers, I look for different things to add into my plants when I tape them up on my canvas I can trace the shape of them it's actually Cabinet liners.

I was moving out of my apartment, and I was like, these are fun.

I keep going back to them because they're really fun and easy to work with.

I use gel medium to adhere them to my canvas.

So right now I would say I'm like 75% through, maybe even like 60%.

I think if I, spend some more evenings in the studio when the kids are in bed, then I'll be able to finish Gabe knows that I need to finish it.

And, like, for a certain date.

And when he knows that, he'll, like, give me time.

he's going to practice tonight with his band mates.

And so I probably won't get tonight, but, but I'll probably get like Wednesday evening.

When I was like 16 or something like that friends started showing me things like, my friend would be like, oh, all you need three chords here GCD, and then you're like, okay, cool.

now I can go write a song, I'd bring it back to him, almost like it was an assignment, you know, like then he’d be like Oh, cool.

Okay, now here's these chords.

And then try to write something to it, and then come back.

I would not probably be in a band if it weren't for, people drawing me in because that's always been like a very, like personal thing, Ready?

when you're playing like the right people, it really is just it's a different language like the feeling of the room it's just that like everybody's connected on this like other level, “burnouts and hometown heroes..” “Staring at the sky” like a subconscious level.

And we're all kind of feeling something, I messed up, didn't I?

I think so?

I think we and sometimes it doesn't feel good or something's off you that's like its own kind of experience.

And then you can come back from it.

something and then something lifts and then something works.

“waiting on a sign.. from you” kind of like this ride, like just going through being with, like playing music with other people.

“waiting on a sign from you...” so are you thinking sort of atmospheric?

Yeah.

You do that for.

the star or burst kind of stuff.

The misty stuff you're doing.

we're trying to.

Just finish painting the stage for the show.

Kyndall is an awesome person, I feel like creativity.

Just kind of like like keeps growing.

especially with two people that are doing You just kind of don't run out.

You just keep going and and keep having new ideas together and That's really cool.

You're really cool.

This is going to be this is the base for the shed.

But we didn't get the shed done, so it's a stage now.

we have a four year old Nora She's so funny and so sweet.

She loves to, pretend she's a princess all the time.

Charlie is one and a half right now, Charlie's, like, so funny and so chill.

they're just a really good sister brother dynamic when we realized we were going to have a kid, I was like what's the most responsible thing to do?

maybe I shouldn't focus so much on making art or making music then I heard something that was like best thing for you to do for the future of your kid, like you got to do what you believe in because that's what they're seeing.

They're seeing their future in you.

Look, we got to paint it this time in my life is a very short season that there's so little.

it's so special and they're so sweet and innocent and really completely themselves.

And looking to you as a reflection in everything they do, I'm painting.. I'm painting the sky The sky ?.

it's like, you know, like when you're, when you plant a seed and you're like, getting excited to see something grow.

nora.. you can use the back of All right.

Hey, buddy.

*greetings crosstalk* Thanks for having us.

You gotta get your friends to come out.

You got to get your your buddies to play.

You got to the space set up fun.

want.

We also got a rocker if you want a I've always loved house shows there.

There's best I think just really intimate spaces don't you can see people's fingerprints on it kind of a little bit more.

He was like, love everyone coming together.

seeing all of our friends and, like, maybe some new faces that we haven't seen other I think that we're meant to tell each other stories, to help lift each other because we're all connected in some way.

to have something where everybody comes together and listens to a show like it makes everyone sort of feel connected in that way I think music and art do that so well.

like sitting outside listening to music you can look at, like, the trees and like the plants around you.

And just the way everything looks in the evening.

Hey everyBody.thanks for coming to my backyard.

I do think The just like purest form creation is just like something that somebody did in their bedroom or at their house or with friends, doing stuff for the sake of doing it.

That's the most important form of art.

we always try think about the things that we're thankful for.

Like what we have been successful at, being parents is a success.

doing something that, you've never done before that's a success.

“That night you told me.

” being able to actually do your art or your music and like continue to do it and like be comfortable enough to where you can keep going and and share it with as many people as possible.

Like that's the dream.

I can't tell if you eternal.

we're not trying to get famous.

We're just trying to, be ourselves and make art when we can.

as long as we're living that, I think we're doing pretty good.

Thanks, guys.

Love you!

Stick around for a little bit, hang out.

and then get out!

To keep up with kyndall and Gabe, follow him on Instagram at @kyndallRaineyArt and @GabrielKnightHancock.

And if you want to hear more of gate's music, go to Spotify and search Gabriel Hancock and the Sick Forms.

Now we're headed to Wisconsin, where, like kyndall, artist Emily Daisy creates vibrant works inspired by the natural world.

Let's take a look.

I would describe my style as an artist as bold, colorful, maximal, and joyful.

One of my goals and in art, in creating and making art, is to make joyful work.

My art reflects myself in that I try to be a pretty positive person without diminishing the challenges in life and the realities of of life and relationships.

But I think there's really power and joy, and being vulnerable.

I want to celebrate and magnify the strengths that we, that we have.

My studio work is often very loose and gestural or it has been.

I started in ink, gouache, painting and watercolor and a medium that was very much about movement and capturing the essence of, of images of movement.

You know, when I started doing murals, that style kind of evolved into something that was more hard line, something that seemed like more conducive to the spaces and the architecture of those spaces and the application of paint that was possible on unphysical walls.

I'm very I like as soon as I make something I want it out of, like I want to get rid of it because I. I'm not making it like you're making it for me, but I'm making the processes for me.

the art itself is not.

I think for me, art is as much about the process as it is about the product.

And for for me as an artist, it's really about creating.

It's therapeutic.

It's something I just feel like I need to do.

I'm super proud of the fact that I have work.

You know, living in the world that people get to see.

But at the same time, I typically do a project and then I don't often think about it, and it sounds weird, but it's like, I feel like once I've done something, especially a public work, it no longer is mine.

It becomes part of the community, part of the environment that it lives in.

Like sometimes people say like, well, where do you have murals around the city?

And I can't think of where to even tell them.

And it's not there that I don't think about it or that I'm not, you know, excited or proud of them.

It's just like, for me, it's like the process is continually moving forward and I'm thinking about what I'm working towards next.

I'm also okay with murals getting painted over something.

You know, that's another question I think people have asked.

Like things changed.

I'm not attached to things changing.

And it doesn't belong to me anymore either.

I know in the world a lot of people know me as a painter or a muralist.

I like being able to explore in a lot of different mediums and explore in a lot of different ways.

And I, I don't ever want to feel like I'm confined by by those types of labels.

I think I define myself as just a creator.

It's broad and sweeping, and I don't necessarily consider myself just one of the one of those above things.

In the summertime, people love taking advantage of their favorite outdoor activities.

Like fishing.

In 2008, when we first met, Mike Crowley was no exception.

But he added his own unique spin that I bet you're not going to expect.

Let's check it out.

You came out to catch a fish.

Got to have patience when you fish.

A lot of people don't have a patient to fish.

You just want to catch fish right away.

put a fly on here.

Not a very good fly.

Kind of beat up one.

Hi.

My name?

Michael Crowley.

Okay, we're ready to go.

Here.

You fly a fish every day.

If I can usually go order Lake Hefner.

I see you catch fish.

Well, fishing you you're next to nature.

And just keep your mind free.

You can, relax.

It's fun catching fish and, just like.

Just like it.

One of my favorite hobbies.

*opera singing* You see, 60 years ago, this fisherman was an opera star.

*singing* They can't believe they say that.

Old man.

No way.

Old man with old roll.

He can't sing anything.

Cincinnati would be where Mike found his true voice.

he performed a season with the Cincinnati Summer opera.

There's a lot of fun at work, and, it required a lot of, sacrifice.

I mean, you didn't make a lot of money that you had that you had to just something about being on a stage singing the opera.

That's the satisfaction that you get before.

Soon, the El Reno High School graduate found himself in New York, touring America with the Metropolitan Opera and singing with the greats I didn't quite have the star quality that they wanted, but I would.

I held my own pretty good so well that the young baritone won a contract that put him in the great opera houses of Europe, even one of the greatest in Italy.

And, of course, the singing, you know, the 5 or 6 tiers high in the back.

And we didn't have any microphones, and you had to project on the beat a wonderful place to sing in.

And I did outdid myself.

When I sang the Rigoletto.

I did the best thing I'd ever done.

Yeah, I. Love the.

Well, like, after the performance that came out, they all came out and talked about, I came out last and took curtain call, applause walked off me, kept applauding, sent me out again.

But that high would be short lived.

For this rising star.

if Everything you have right now is taken away from you.

How would you feel now?

That way?

I feel like everything was taken away from me.

When he returned to America, Mike faced a string of bad luck staying in places of fire.

On January 3rd Street.

There had burnt down bread all month long and I just lost everything.

I had nothing left, manager that I had passed away.

Another man took her place and he didn't want to take on any more singersc ause.

He had his own and he wanted $5,000 to take me on.

And so I didn't had a $5,000 to do it.

No agent, no connection, no nothing, no money.

I slept in doorways to music, in boxes of newspapers, to keep warm.

I walked in the street to New York in February, January, February.

I go, whether it's just to to better talk about.

I don't even like to talk about me.

Hurt and discouraged beyond belief, Mike found refuge at home.

He was in his 30s when he came back to Oklahoma to stay.

Oh, something the Lord.

I feel like God want me to do some more singing.

So I went back and started singing again, singing the Tulsa Opera sing with oklahoma city symphony orchestra.

did a the role in the Madama Butterfly they say Faith more than fate brought me back to Oklahoma.

When things get bad like that, you can overcome.

If you make up your mind, you're gonna do Oh my.

this place is really changed out here.

Years ago, probably 40 or 50 years ago, that I sang on the stage.

This is just amazing what they've done with this building.

The stage is about the same, but it really it's a wonderful place.

It has been nearly half a century since Mike Crowley set foot on stage at the Civic Center in Oklahoma City.

There's kind of no words to express.

Express it, just a wonderful feeling.

Even though he only performed here a handful of times, this brief visit brought back a flood of memories.

The audience was really terrific, and when I sang here, of course I did several operatic arias that sang with men Lawrence milk, great tener Often it was singing.

We had the Oklahoma City Symphony.

It makes me wish I was 50 years younger again, so I could do all the things over again.

It's really a wonderful feeling to be back here.

*singing*,and for old times sake, Mike took center stage one more time.

*singing* Most of the great opera singers are gone now, and very few of them still left and are still singing.

He wasn't ready for me to go yet.

I'm 83 now and I'm still going strong and hope I still go strong for a while.

*singing* Well, that's all the time we have for Gallery America.

Thank you so much for joining us.

As always, you can see past episodes by going to our website oeta.tv/gallery America.

And don't forget to follow us on Instagram at oeta gallery.

We'll see you next time.

Till then, stay arty.

Oklahoma!

I was on whatever side you worked on.

We could fight all night until the dark.

I was always the last to sleep.

Brother needed one more advocate in the middle of my power trip, I could hear my own voice.

My.

For the moment, with the eyes, mouth, the call to end.

The kindness hidden in