>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, MARICOPA COUNTY STEVEN RICHESRICHARDS TO GET ELECTIONS COUNTED AND HOW RUSTY BAUERS FROM BEING A POLITICIAN TO AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST.

ANOTHER LOCAL ARTIST TO DISCUSS HIS ART AND WORK WITH A CHARITY TO PROVIDE MUSIC FOR CHILDREN.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WELCOME.

ARIZONA TODAY JOINS SIX OF SEVEN STATES THAT SHARES COLORADO RIVER WATER TO SHARE AN ALLOCATION PLAN TO THE REQUEST FOR SUCH A PLAN BY THE END OF JANUARY.

STATES WERE TOLD TO SUBMIT A PLAN FOR THE FEDS WILL DO IT FOR YOU AND IT WAS AGREED TO BY ALL STATES EXCEPT FOR ONE, CALIFORNIA.

OFFICIALS THERE SAY THE STATE WOULD SUBMIT ITS OWN PROPOSAL AS IT NEGOTIATES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WHAT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT ALLOTMENTS IN RESPONSE TO DECLINING RESERVOIR LEVELS DUE TO THE DROUGHT.

>>> FONTES WANTS TO INVESTIGATE LAKE FOR WHAT IMAGES SAYS ARE THE SIGNATURES OF 16 ARIZONA VOTERS.

LAKE POSTED THE SIGNATURES IN AN ATTEMPT TO SUGGEST THEY DON'T MATCH AND WERE, THUS, ILLEGALLY COUNTED.

FONTES THIS POSSIBLY VIOLATES STATE LAW AND SENT THIS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR, QUOTE, FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE PROS CUES.

PROSECUTION.

NO COMMENT YET.

>>> THE MEMPHIS POLICE REPORT ON TYRE NICHOLS IS IN CONTRAST TO POLICE BODYCAM VIDEO AND SHOWS OFFICERS PUNCHING AND KICKING HIM.

THE POLICE REPORT MAKES NO MENTION OF THE BEATING.

THE REPORT ACCUSES NICHOLS BEING VIOLENT AND DESPITE NICHOLS DID NOT FIGHT BACK AND DESCRIBES THE OFFICERS AS A VICTIM.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHO WROTE THE REPORT.

THE OFFICERS ARE CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

>>> THEY SUGGEST LETTING INFANT WATCHING TABLET SCREENS MAY IMPACT THEIR WELL-BEING LATER IN LIFE AND INCREASED USE OF SCREEN TIME WAS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING BY AGE NINE AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IS KEY TO PLAN AND FOCUS, PAY ATTENTION, AND MULTITASK.

THE STUDY CALLS FOR MORE RESEARCH TO SEE IF SCREEN TIME IS THE SOUL THING OR IF OTHER SOUL THING.

>>> A GREEN COMET SET TO TO ZOOM PASSED EARTH AND IT WAS SEEN 50,000 YEARS AGO.

IT PASSES THROUGH THE OUTER REACHES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM WHICH IS WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO SWING BY AND MAKE ITS PASS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND WILL LOOK LIKE A FEINT SMUDGE NEAR THE NORTH STAR.

THE RECORD AT THE CLOSEST IS 26 MILES AWAY OR ROUGHLY 100 TIMES AS FAR AWAY AS THE MOON.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY, STEVEN RICHARD, RELEASING A LIST OF PROPOSALS AND INCLUDES THE IDEA OF ELIMINATING THE OPTION OF DROPPING OFF EARLY BALLOTS AT POLLING PLACES ON ELECTION KAY.

DAY.

AND NOW JOINING US NOW IS STEVEN STEVEN RICHARDS AND BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, THE COUNTY BOARD CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, THE CHAIR BASICALLY CAME OUT TODAY AND SAID, KNOCK IT OFF WITH THE THREATS AND KNOCK IT OFF WITH WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS VIAL MESSAGES AGAINST COUNTY EMPLOYEES, ALL EMPLOYEES.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WE'VE BEEN SHOUTING THAT UNTIL WE'RE BLUE AND I WAS PLEASED CLINT SAID THAT BECAUSE WE GOT ANOTHER VIAL PHONE CALL TO SOMEBODY WHO ANSWERS PHONES AND WORKING AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB FOR THE COUNTY AND SO THAT'S COMPLETELY UNMERITED.

BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS FOR LEADERS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA TO SAY, DO NOT DO THIS AND TO NOT USE THAT RHETORIC THEMSELVES SO THAT OTHERS DON'T ASSUME IT'S RESPONSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE.

TED >> Ted: I THINK THE CHAIR SAYS PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYBODY BETTER AND HOW DO YOU REASON WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL ON THAT PARTICULAR TRAIN?

>> TO GET TO THE FIRST IDEA THAT I PROPOSED, THE ONE THAT YOU FORESHADOWED, IT IS MEANT IN PART TO HELP US ELECTION OFFICIALS OUT BECAUSE WE'RE CAUGHT BETWEEN ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AND THAT'S WHEN A LOT OF THIS VISIT TREE VITRIAL COMES IN AND PEOPLE KILL SAY YOU'RE INCOMPETENT.

A LOT OF THE ANGRY PHONE CALLS LIKE THE ONE THAT PROMPTED SUPERVISOR HICKMAN'S MESSAGE ARE RESULTS OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO FIX IN THAT FIRST SOLUTION.

>> Ted: WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX THIS AND YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS, AS WELL.

I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE REASONABLE FACTOR.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH UNREASONABLE PEOPLE MAKING THE WILDEST OF CLAIMS, DO YOU MAKE THE SUGGESTIONS AND HOPE FOR THE BEST?

>> MAYBE THEY CAN ADDRESS A FEW CHANGES THINGS AND AS FOR UNREASONABLE PEOPLE, SAD TO SAY THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO ACCEPT THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS LEX ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS AND TAKING ITS TOLL.

I WAS COUNTING UP PEOPLE WHO LEFT IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IN ARIZONA OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND IT'S A THIRD OF THE RECORDERS AND THE ELECTION'S DIRECTORS IN OUR STATE HAS LEFT.

IT'S BECAUSE OF ONGOING PHONE CALLS LIKE THAT AND THE MYRIAD OF OTHER PRESSURES THAT WE NOW FACE THAT MAYBE WEREN'T FACED BY THE INDUSTRY SIX YEARS AGO AND HOPEFULLY WON'T BE FACED SIX YEARS FROM NOW.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGY HERE, ELIMINATING THE LATE EARLY BALLOT DROP-OFF.

TALKED ABOUT IT WITH PREVIOUS RECORDERS AND IT'S SUCH A HASSLE DEALING WITH THAT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN SOMEONE GETS THEIR EARLY BALLOT AND DOESN'T MAIL IT IN EARLY.

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING WE HEAR ABOUT IT IS THE TIME IT TAKES TO TABULATE.

IN ANOTHER STATE, IF IT'S NOT A NARROW MARGIN, MAYBE YOU NEED 70%, 75% IN AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONTEST, OUT OF 2.5 MILLION STATE-WIDE, YOU HAVE TO COUNT EVERY BALLOT AND SO WHAT I WANT TO TEE UP WITH THE FIRST PROPOSAL IS THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT SUCH THAT YOU CAN DROP OFF THAT EARLY BALLOT AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MINUTE, BUT THEN ALSO HAVE RESULTS REPORTING.

SO WHAT I SAY IS THAT WE HAVE LAWS THAT ARE LIKE OREGON, WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, UTAH AND WE HAVE RESULTS REPORTING JUST LIKE THOSE STATES.

BUT WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THOSE LAWS AND RESULTS REPORTING LIKE FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.

>> Ted: OK, BUT IF YOU TAKE AWAY THAT PARTICULAR OPTION, ARE YOU TAKING AWAY ACCESS AS FAR AS VOTERS?

EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN VOTE WILL VOTE AND SOME PEOPLE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DIDN'T MAIL IN THEIR BALLOT.

IS IT BEST TO TAKE AWAY THAT OPTION?

>> WE HAVE A ROBUST EARLY PERIOD 27 DAYS BEFORE AND ALL I'M ASKING, WE DON'T CHANGE THE MAIL PROCESS BUT THE PROCESS IF YOU'RE DROPPING IT OFF AT A VOTING LOCATION.

WE WOULD ROLL THAT BACK THREE DAYS AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE 24 DAYS TO DROP IT OFF AND MAYBE WE CAN OPEN THAT EARLIER SUCH THAT IT'S 30 DAYS.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE SHOULD HAVE A PUBLIC POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DO WE VALUE MORE?

DO WE VALUE THAT ON THE LAST DAY OR VALUE HAVING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE AVAILABLE WITHIN 24 HOURS?

MAYBE OFFICE IS HEARING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS?

>> Ted: THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE IT QUICKER AS OPPOSED TO THE ACCURACY OF THE LAST DROP-OFF?

>> THAT'S THE PEOPLE WE HEAR FROM AND NOT A SCIENTIFIC STUDY, GRANTED.

WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE AND 290,000 PEOPLE DROPPED OFF THE EARLY BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MORE THAN A PUBLIC POLICY OUTCOME IS TO UNDERSTAND THE TUG OF THE PROCESS.

>> Ted: THIS HAPPENS IN OTHER STATES.

>> RIGHT.

>> Ted: IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS AND DROP IT OFF OR MAIL IT IN OR YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY IT.

>> THIS ISN'T ME COMING UP ONE AN INGENIOUS CREDIT.

IDEA.

PEOPLE SAY, FLORIDA, FLORIDA, FLORIDA.

IN MIAMI, DADE COUNTY, YOU DROP OFF THE EARLY BALLOT WHICH ENDS ON SKY.

SATURDAY.

MIAMI HAD 4,000 BALLOTS THAT CAME BACK ON ELECTION DAY AND WE HAD OVER 290,000 AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE BACK AND YOU HAVE TO SCAN THOSE IN AND SIGNATURE VERIFY THEM AND SEND THEM TO BIPARTISAN PROCESSING TEAMS AND WE CAN'T DO THAT ON ELECTION NIGHT.

AND SO THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO POINT OUT.

WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AND IT'S TEED UP FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> Ted: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ANYONE FROM THE LEGISLATURE?

>> A LOT OF INTEREST AND EXCITE THE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND AT LEAST SOME THE PRESSURES AND SOME HAVING BEEN CANDIDATES IN THE LAST CYCLE, MAYBE IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE MORE RESULTS DECIDED IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS.

>> Ted: AND YET, WE HAD SO MANY MORE PEOPLE DROPPING OFF THEIR BALLOTS, THEIR EARLY BALLOTS THAN PREVIOUS CYCLES SUGGESTS IT IS AN OPTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION.

>> ARE THEY CHOOSING TO BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU CAN?

WILL YOU DO THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT NO MATTER WHEN THE LAST MINUTE IS?

I THINK VOTERS IN ARIZONA ARE RESILIENT AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE A ROADWAY ROBUST TURNOUT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUFF LIKE BALLOT ADJUDICATION AND WHO SHOULD BE RUNNING ELECTIONS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND IS THAT ELECTIONS ARE CURRENTLY ADMINISTERED BY BOTH THE RECORDER, MY OFFICE AND I'M IN CHARGE OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND EARLY VOTING AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN CHARGE OF ELECTION DAY AND SHOULD IT BE DIVIDED THAT WAY?

TWO COOKS IN THE KITCHENS?

I THINK THERE'S REASONS WHY MAYBE IT SHOULDN'T BE.

>> Ted: BACK TO WHAT I WAS GETTING AT REGARDING DEALING WITH REASONABLE PEOPLE WITH REASONABLE IDEAS OR REASONED IDEAS.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THESE IDEAS PASSED THOSE WHO ARE JUST GOING TO DENY ELECTION RESULTS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME SOLID THINKERS WHO WILL TAKE THIS AND DRIVE IT FORWARD AND MAYBE BE THE LEADERS OF THE CONVERSATIONS.

THEY EXIST ON BOTH SIDES AND I'VE WORKED WITH SENATOR BENNET, SENATOR CAVANAGH AND REALLY, THIS WAS MY EFFORT TO TRY TO GET THAT CONVERSATION TO A GOOD PLACE AND THE LAST TWO YEARS WERE HIGHLY UNPRODUCTIVE BECAUSE THEY JUMPED TO THE MIASMA OF CONSPIRACY.

ANOTHER 26 PAGE REPORT AND MY GOAL HERE WAS TO HELP IT BE A REASONABLE CONVERSATION THAT IS GROUNDED IN FACTS AND HELPS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

>> Ted: IS THE BILL ALREADY?

>> QUITE A YOU FEW AND I THINK EVERY IDEA IN THAT PACKET HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN SOME FORM.

>> Ted: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE ARTISTIC SIDE OF FORMER ARIZONA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, RUSTY BAUERS.

>> Ted: THIS YEAR ON JANUARY 6th, TWO YEARS AFTER THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL, FORMER ARIZONA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, RUSTY BOWERS RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL CITIZEN'S MEDAL AND RECEIVED THIS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE SECOND HIGHEST AWARD GIVEN TO A CIVILIAN AND IN RECOGNITION OF BOWERS REFUSAL TO OVERTURN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AS A.

THE MEDAL CEREMONY CAME AT A TIME OF GREAT TRANSITION FOR BOWERS AND HE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

HE'S AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST AND NEARLY A DOZEN PIECES OF HIS WORK WILL BE UP FOR SALE AT THE LARSON GALLERY IN SCOTTSDALE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM ON THE EVE OF THE EXHIBITION.

>> Reporter: AT 70 YEARS OLD, RUSTY BOWERS IS NOT LOOKING TO START A NEW CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE BUT RATHER CONTINUE AN OLD ONE.

>> I LOVE TO DOODLE AND DRAW IN CLASS AND IN GRADE SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: SIX MONTHS AFTER LOSING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY TO HIS,HE'S LETTING HIS ART SPEAK FOR HIM NOW.

>> IN A LEGISLATURE, THE CONTRAST AND TIME DEMAND MADE IT TO WHERE I COULD RARELY PAINT.

>> Reporter: HIS MOTHER SPARKED THE CREATIVE FIRE WHEN HE WAS JUST FIVE.

BUT AT THE TIME, HE SAYS, AHEAD WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP HIM QUIET IN CHURCH.

>> SHE WOULD DRAW THE GIRLS LIKE ON BRECK SHAMPOO.

SHE WOULD DRAW THEM OUT OF HER HEAD AND THEN HAND IT TO ME AND SAY, COPY THAT AND I WOULD SIT AND COPY IT AND WASN'T MUCH OF A BOTHER.

[ Laughter ] >> Reporter: AFTER WINNING A STATE-WIDE ART COMPETITION IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENROLLED IN ART SCHOOL AT BYU AND GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN WATERCOLOR.

>> I'M NOT A MODERNIST.

I WANT A MESSAGE, JUST TO DO SOMETHING AND MAKE IT A DESIGN DOESN'T HOLD STRENGTH FOR ME.

>> Reporter: THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH WATERCOLORS AND OILS OF PLACES SPECIAL TO HIM.

THE VIEWS FROM HIS FAMILY RANCH, HEYSTACKS IN ROMANIA.

>> IT'S A COMBINATION OF MAN MADE GEOMETRY WITH GOD'S GEOMETRY AND HOW THOSE JUXTAPOSE THESE.

IT'S SYMMETRY IN NATURE THAT I LOVE TO COMBINE WITH BUILDINGS, BARNS AND OLD HOMES AND THE GEOMETRY OF TREES AND I LOVE THAT INSPIRATION AND THEN WHEN THE MONSOONS COME TO ARIZONA, WITH THOSE FOR JUST CLOUDS, THAT'S ALWAYS A SUBJECT I ENJOY PAINTING.

>> Reporter: SELLING HIS ART WAS FAR FROM EASY.

AFTER TURNED DOWN FOR ASU'S ART PROGRAM, HE TRIED TO GET A JOB TEACHING AND STRUCK OUT.

WITH A GROWING FAMILY TO CARE FOR, BOWERS DIDN'T THINK TWICE WHEN SOMEONE DARED HIP HIM TO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

>> I HAD AN INTEREST IN OFFICE.

>> Reporter: AS HIS POLITICAL INTEREST GREW, HIS ART TOOK A BACK SEAT AND HE WOULD SNEAK IN TIME WHEREVER HE COULD, INCLUDING AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I KEPT THE WATERCOLOR SET UP THERE AND WELL, YOU KNOW, GOING ON ABOUT WHATEVER AND I WOULD BLOCK OUT A PAINTING AND, YOU KNOW, PAINT IT IN.

>> Reporter: 30 YEARS LATER, HE'S ALL IN AGAIN.

>> I'M ABLE TO PAINT ALMOST EVERY DAY, WHICH I LOOK FORWARD TO.

MANY TIMES IT'S AT NIGHT, BUT I'LL PAINT UNTIL 10:00, 11:00.

>> Reporter: BOWERS IS AN ACCOMPLISHED SCULPTOR AND HIS PIECES CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER ARIZONA AND HE HAS THIS PRIVATELY ACCOMPLISHED BUST OF THE LATE SENATOR, KARL HAYDEN AND IT WILL REPLACE ONE THAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

>> HIS DAD SAVED MY GRANDMOTHER'S LIFE.

>> Reporter: HIS FAMILY HAS A DEEP CONNECTION TO HAYDEN.

IT WAS THE SENATOR'S FATHER WHO SAVED HIS GRANDMOTHER AFTER THE HORSE BUGGY FELL OFF THE FERRY AND BOWERS AND FAIRLY ADAMANT HE WON'T RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN NOTING HIS PAINT BRUSH IS JUST AS POWER AS THE GAVEL.

>> THIS IS WHAT MAKES ART GOOD OR BAD AND THE SAME WITH GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU KNOW THE VALUES AND YOU KNOW WHEN TO EMPLOY THEM AND HOW TO EMPLOY THEM, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION.

>> Ted: THE EXHIBITION AUCTION IS NOVEMBER 2nd AND THE EVENT INCLUDES THE WORK FROM ACCLAIMED NATIVE AMERICAN AUGUST SHOULDER AS WELL AS OUR NEXT GUEST, CANNON FOR HIS REAL PAINTINGS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> SO BLESSED TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXHIBITION, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

IS IT EXCITING AND ARE YOU NERVOUS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, SHARING GALLERY SPACE WITH THEM IS AMAZING AND ESPECIALLY MY STORY.

I TOOK OVER 20 YEARS OFF AS AN ARTIST AND, BASICALLY, FEBRUARY 2nd IS THE OPENING AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT AND A CHARITY EVENT AND, BASICALLY, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR JAZZ, I HAD TO BE A PART OF THE IT.

I NEED TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL JAZZ ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS POLY AND SCOTT LARSON, HEADS THE LARSON GALLERY IN SCOTTSDALE.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED YOU TOOK TIME OFF FROM ART AND WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> WOW!

LIFE HAPPENED AND IN THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, I REALLY GOT TRUE TO MYSELF AND FOUND MYSELF AGAIN AND WENT FROM AJ TO AH MED AND WENT TO KENYA ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO AND NAMED AFTER AHMED THE ELEPHANT.

GETTING BACK TO THE ART SIDE, I HAD AN EXGIRLFRIEND AND WANTED TO SHOW HER GRANDMOTHER MY ARTWORK AND THEY SAW MY ART AND YOU NEED TO PAINT JAZZ.

I WAS, LIKE, WHAT?

I WAS, LIKE, I LOVE JAZZ AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD MOVE INVESTIGATEMOTIVATE MEAND THE BEST DECISION BROUGHT TO ME AS AN ARTIST.

>> Ted: WHAT IS IT ABOUT PAINTING JAZZ ARTISTS -- YOU'RE TALKING ONE ART FORM AND ANOTHER AND WHY DID THIS HIT YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE LOVED JAZZ SO MUCH THAT SHE GAVE ME ORIGINAL PICTURES OF JAZZ MUSICIANS IN THE JAZZ HALL OF FAME AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

LIKE BUDDY TATE AND SO MANY THAT PEOPLE KNOW THEM AND DON'T KNOW THEM.

SO MY GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THEM.

I'M AN ARTIST AND I FEEL LIKE A HISTORIAN.

AND IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING RIDE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE JAZZ MUSICIANS ALONG THE ROAD.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE A MUSIC HISTORY, DO YOU NOT?

DID YOU PLAY THE CHEMICAL CELLO AND VIOLIN?

>> YES.

MY DAD A PAINTER AND MY MOM MADE HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY AND THEY ALWAYS ENCOURAGED THE ARTS AND WE ALL HAD TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT.

I PLAYED CELLO.

>> Ted: YOU COULD GO IN THE MUSIC DIRECTION OR ART DIRECTION.

>> I STARTED DRAWING WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND FROM THERE, I COULDN'T BE STOPPED AND I LOVED THE PROCESS.

I WASN'T THE BEST PAINTER, BUT AS I PROGRESSED, I STARTED GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND NOT UNTIL COLLEGE THAT SOME PROFESSORS REALLY BROUGHT OUT ME UNDERSTAND HOW TO PAINT AND THEN FROM THERE, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PROCESS.

MY DAD COMMISSIONED ME TO DO PIECES.

BASICALLY, THE FOUR ARTISTS THAT HAVE MADE THE MOST IMPACT IN MY LIFE ARE L DA VIN ACHIEVE AND AN ARTIST NAMED CHARLES WHITE.

MY DAD PAINTED CHARLES WHITE PIECES WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD SEE THESE AMAZING PIECES.

HE COMMISSIONED ME TO DO PIECES OF CHARLES WHITE, TOO, AND IT STEMMED FROM THERE.

>> Ted: YOU'RE BACK INTO MUSIC WITH THIS MELINA SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND MUSIC EDUCATION FOR KIDS.

>> TO ME, I LOVE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROVIDE.

YOU KNOW MUSIC, ARTS, WE ALL NEED THOSE AND IT KEEPS KIDS ACTIVE AND KEEPS THEM POSITIVE AND KEEPS THEM ENCOURAGED AND INSPIRED AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR ME AND SO TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROVIDE THOSE THINGS FOR UNION THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IS AMAZING TO ME.

AND SO I'LL PAY IT FORWARD TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY I CAN.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU GET THE TIME?

>> YOU KNOW, I JUGGLE A LOT AND I DON'T SLEEP A LOT.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I IN THE TIME I CREATED "STOP THE HATE" AND I'VE BEEN TO EGYPT AND SOUTH AFRICA AND KENYA AND I PLAN ON MORE TRIPS.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE ART, FEBRUARY 2nd, LARSON GALLERY AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE LIVE EVENT, LIVE JAZZ MUSIC AND IT'S BASICALLY, AGAIN, PART OF THE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO THE BLUE'S SCHOOL OF JAZZ.

>> Ted: I'M GLAD YOU GOT THAT IN THERE, BUT YOU HAVE YOUR "LOVE HEALS" T SHIRT.

THAT'S YOUR ARTWORK.

>> MY DESIGN AND SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING THE WORLD CLOSER.

IN 2020, POLITICALLY, WE WERE -- THE DIVISION IS VERY SAD AND TO ME, I WANTED TO -- INSTEAD OF THE PROBLEM WITH I WANTED, I WANT THE TOED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

TO ME, I FELT LIKE WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN DIFFERENCES.

HOW DO YOU BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER?

YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT POLITICS.

YOU TALK ABOUT ART, TRAVEL.

>> Ted: WE HAVE TO STOP YOU THERE BUT THERE IS A GREAT WAY END THE INTERVIEW AND TALKING ABOUT ART.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

♪♪