Legacy Strings

@LegacyStringsLouisiana

The goal of Legacy Strings is to provide live string music for any occasion throughout Northeast Louisiana. Maxwell and Therese recognized a need for this type of musical offering after noticing a rise in number of wedding and event spaces across our community. In today’s digital age people frequently choose to have music playing over a PA or speaker system for their event. You can see and hear almost any band, artist, Symphony, and other ensembles with the simple click of a mousepad. In the post COVID world, more and more people are choosing live music options again. Live music is trending! We play a wide variety of music; everything from Bach to Beyonce. Rock and Pop music that has been arranged to sound classical is very popular right now thanks to the “Bridgerton” series. Contemporary Worship songs are also frequent requests. If a song is requested and we do not have it in our music library, we will work our hardest to find it or have it specially arranged for the occasion. Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z; all three generations are represented in Legacy Strings. We feel that this is something that makes our group unique as well as enjoyable. Our Legacy Strings members are: Therese Pirkey, age 37 – 1st violin – Wife and Mother, Therese is currently in Occupational Therapy school at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Maxwell Hyde, age 26- 2nd violin - Instructor and Greenhouse Laboratory Supervisor at Louisiana Tech University Sarah Bell , age 47- viola – former Orchestra Director who moved to Monroe LA from Columbia SC in May of 2025 Natalie Tellifero, age 36 – cello – Former Youth Minister who is currently an Orchestra Director with Monroe City Schools. Bass is her primary instrument.

Khayriyah

@dynamicdemoiselle

Dynamic Demoiselle Creatives is a multidisciplinary designer with 7+ years of experience in graphic design and branding. She also is UX Design certified. Her creative journey began customizing MySpace profiles with HTML and evolved into designing visuals, book covers, and digital content. With a clean, storytelling-focused style, she helps small businesses in healing arts and others bring their ideas to life through thoughtful, expressive design.

Gary

@garydfaulkner

Current president North Central Louisiana Arts Council. Accidental business process consultant. Deal artiste.

Jaki

@Jaki

“Being an artist has never been an option for me. Creating has always been essential to my existence.” I am a teacher to others and always a life long learner to myself. Experimenting with different forms of art and discovering the unique qualities of each, fascinates and excites me. As a Contemporary Realist artist my work includes oil, acrylic, mixed media and 3 dimensional recycled artworks. My still life paintings include chiaroscuro and old master techniques. Every subject is matter for my canvas’s. All of these influences echo and weave stories throughout my work. I have been honored to lead a life of extraordinary adventures. Co-founder of a private elementary school in Santa Fe, NM, Shakespearean Prop Master, Faux Finish Artist, Muralist and the 2007 World Posole Cooking Champion are but a few of my milestones. The greatest, are that of being a mother, grandmother, and true friend. Through these hands, heart and soul, God gifted me art. Juried Exhibitions and Group Shows/ Recent and Upcoming “Scripture Through Many Eyes” Biedenharn Museum, Monroe, La “Surreal Estate: A Journey Through Reality” Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Best of Show : “I Dreamed A Dream” (painting) Salvadore Dali Award 3 D “ Gogh Call Dali” (sculpture) “What We Don’t See” Women’s Group Show, Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Raise the Roof Fundraiser, “Morning Praise”( painting on slate tile) Masur Museum, Monroe, La Re’Veillon! Live Auction “ Arlequin’s Menagerie” (painting) Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Bayou Point, Monroe, La “Seasons in Sportsman’s Paradise” Group Shows, Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La BLOOM! March, 2026 “ POEM” (painting) R.W. Norton Museum, Shreveport, La THE BIG PICTURE ART SHOW “ Messenger of Hope” (painting) Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Off The Wall Fundraiser April 2026, Masur Museum, Monroe, La “BLEND” May, 2026 Artwork TBD, Bayou Point, Monroe, La “Parish Lines” June, 2026 “ Alliance Ignored Fern” (painting) Ouachita Parish Division, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council “The Fractured Saint—Echoes of Humanity” 2 Woman Show, July, 2026 Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La

Ashley Dowling

@ashleydowling

I am a Monroe-based graphic designer and the founder of Graphics by Ash, where I specialize in branding, marketing materials, and digital design for small businesses and organizations across Northeast Louisiana. I create clean, modern visuals that not only look beautiful but also serve a strategic purpose. From logos and brand identities to social media graphics, magazine ads, and event materials, I work closely with clients to bring their vision to life. I believe great design should communicate clearly, build credibility, and help businesses grow with confidence. I am passionate about supporting local entrepreneurs and helping them show up professionally in a competitive marketplace.

Chad X. Ali

@ChadX.Ali

Chad X. Ali is an award-winning short filmmaker, photographer, and multidisciplinary storyteller from Monroe, Louisiana. His work blends cinematic storytelling with cultural documentation, often exploring themes of identity, spirituality, and transformation. Ali has collaborated with influential artists and organizations across music, sports, and film, including creative work with the Dungeon Family, visual projects for the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, and directing a music video for recording artist Latto. His photography has also been featured in work connected to the prestigious Dick Butkus Award. Alongside his professional collaborations, Ali continues to develop original narrative projects while using film and media as tools for cultural impact and community storytelling.

Genaro Ky Ly Smith

@genarokylysmith

My goal has always been to preserve the history of Vietnam, my birthplace; more importantly, I have and continue to tell the stories of my mother's plight from Vietnam to America as the only one of the 27 children fortunate enough to escape. And so, it has been my undertaking to record my family history (the War between the French and the Americans, Buddhism, Amerasians like myself, life under communism) through fiction and poetry.

Jessica Horne

@jessicahorneart

Jessica Horne creates art about her ethnicity as a Native American and is enroll with the tribes Ponca and Northern Arapaho. Her paintings speak about the Native peoples' culture, the understanding of who they are and where that come from. The Native people are not defined by colonization or genocide, but by the strength and beauty of their own identities and cultures. This is expressed in Jessica paintings with the uses of Native symbols and saturation expressionism mark making.

Khalilah Kersey

@studiokmak

studioKMAK is a multidisciplinary brand and online art store. My goal is to encourage connection between people through intentionality, honesty, and empathy. I want to make work that calms the viewer down. That invites them over for coffee (or tea) and asks them to rest for while. I want to make work that actively listens and responds with compassion and wisdom.

Jay V. W.

@jvw

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