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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Friday, May 26th

Open Mic Roc

First hour: Open Mic Rochester's investigation into gun violence

Second hour: When we just can't force ourselves to like great art

What are the impacts of gun violence? Writing for Open Mic Rochester, Tianna Manon offered an extensive look at the issue, from family stories to statistical analysis. We asked Tianna to join us and explain what her work uncovered. Our guests:

  • Tianna Manon, editor-in-chief of Open Mic Roc
  • Michele Ashlee, photographer for Open Mic Roc
  • Sirena Cotton, founder of Roc the Peace, who lost her son to gun violence in 2007
  • Melanie Funchess, director of community engagement for the Mental Health Association of Rochester

In our second hour: Are there some pieces of art that are universally considered great... but you just don't enjoy them? Of course there are. For Evan: most of Picasso's oeuvre. For Megan: The Beatles. Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the hit series Billions, recently asked on social media for examples of great art that people just don't like very much. The answers sparked some heated debate, so we thought we'd recreate that discussion with our guests:

  • Olivia Kim, owner of Olivia Kim Studio-Figure Sculpture
  • David Timmons, tour manager and musician
  • Reuben Tapp, artistic director of Maplewood Performing Arts Centre, and founding member of the Bronze Collective
  • Jeff Spevak, music critic and arts reporter for the Democrat & Chronicle
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.