12 Years a Slave tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a wrongfully enslaved man who fought more than a decade for freedom. The film was made possible by the research of late historian Sue Eakin and we speak with Eakin’s son to learn more about her life and work. We meet the creative duo Barbara and Larry Domsky in Las Vegas. We travel back to the prehistoric age with professional artist John Gurche and we learn traditional dance forms to the beat of African and Caribbean music.

In 2012, Trinidad, Colorado began hosting its Art-o-Cade, transforming the otherwise quiet community into a sculpture gallery on wheels. In Dayton, Ohio, a group of gay men attract sold out crowds to their charity driven comedic drag performances. They've has been performing since the late 1980’s. We follow Illustrator Tom Richmond, regular contributor to MAD Magazine, from his home studio to his caricature booth at The Mall of America, where he makes a rare appearance of drawing a few lucky fans caricatures. The Toast of Tampa, a Sweet Adeline chorus has been competing internationally for more than 25 years. With the dedication of over 100 women of all ages they are guaranteed to get those toes tapping and hands clapping.

We take a look at the Italian ideal of âLa dolce vita, present in full force at a new exhibit in Houston, Texas, celebrating 130 years of famed Italian jewelry house Bulgari. We go inside the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall with David Allan Miller, conductor of the recent Grammy Award winning Albany Symphony Orchestra. We visit Missing Peace Art Space, which uses art to promote peace. And we look at former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright’s historic collection of unique brooches.

The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio, welcomes visitors from around the world. It’s the permanent home to one of the largest collections of Afro-American materials in the country. We visit Moonbot Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, to hear about the latest projects from Oscar-winning creative partners William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. Something Rotten! If you love musicals you’ll probably love this show. If you hate musicals, you’ll probably love this show. We get an insider's view into the making of the show. We travel to Monument Valley, UT, where Navajo photographer MacNeal Crank has been capturing stunning landscapes for several years. Crank shares his unusual journey from chef to photographer.

We visit The Note-Ables, a Reno-based music therapy group that provides band, music, and dance lessons for the region’s disabled population. We take a look at a collaboration between internationally renowned Columbus visual artist, Ann Hamilton, and SITI, an experimental theater company. We sit down with renowned artist, Xu Bing who outlines his artistic practice and highlights his innovative twist to traditional Chinese calligraphy. And the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston celebrates the tenth anniversary of its waterfront museum.

We visit Eatonville where two very patient quilters are creating wonderful works of art from scraps. Find the humor in Jeffu Warmouth’s art installation in the Fitchburg Art Museum in Massachusetts. We sit down with Ingvar Estrada who discusses his Italian heritage and the roots of his musical passion and we celebrate today’s evolving arts culture of the west at the Coors Western Art Exhibit.

Finding beauty in discarded items, artist Ramona Audley, transforms lost works into fun, whimsical sculptures that are pure fun. Photographer Kirk Gittings finds the greatest sense of presence in abandoned and unpopulated places. We visit the “Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. And we visit a dance studio that’s teaching students the art of hip hop.

Musician Rick Recht, the creator of Jewish Rock Radio, a 24-hour Internet radio station, reaches younger generations and delivers a dose of culture. A DC-based non-profit, Words Beats & Life, strives to teach self-knowledge through the elements of hip-hop. The Fishtank Performance Studio seats about 30 people, but director, Heidi Van sees the theater as a crucial link the Kansas City theater scene. And we meet silk aerial artists who seemingly effortlessly swing overhead while performing graceful movements.

Artist Hugo Medina explores the idea of old vs. new through the changing landscape, architecture, and politics of Phoenix, Arizona. We discover the art of Airigami with Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle, who specialize in creating large-scale installation, entirely out of balloons. Take a look at the “Art of Transformation series which is part of an annual celebration of urban and civic renewal. And we go inside a custom wedding gown shop and look at the creative process behind the stunning works of art.

We’re introduced to Kasia Bilhartz, an artist that uses flames to bring her work to life. Suzanne Vilmain proves that books in themselves are a work of art, no matter the subject. We take a look behind the scenes of Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts journey to the top and Scott Hocking shows us how he found art in abandonment.

Meet Reno, Nevada artist, Michelle Lassaline, who combines painting, performance, and mask-making to inspire the childlike wonder in all of us. We take a look into the Hearst Tower in New York City, where architect, Lord Norman Foster and artist Richard Long, blended materials and styles to achieve a magnificent work environment. We meet the two musicians of the Portland based band, Heli Sequence, and we get a glimpse of their layered recording techniques. And we visit an interactive gallery created with an environmental twist.

The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe crosses boarders and defines a culture. We go inside an exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana that explores the power and impact of iconic images in religious art. The 323rd Army Band aims to strengthen the pride of Americans, boot soldiers’ moral and provide support for their communities through the power of music. We follow the members of the tap-dancing ensemble Movement Afoot as they prepare for their debut performance. And we sit down with the man behind the CANVASxDetroit organization.

Up until 14 years ago, Chuck Weber spent his days in an office. Today we learn what drove him back to his art. Melvin Charles discusses his childhood inspiration and his dream of seeing the Black American Heritage Flag raised at City Hall. We attend the Bonhams Motorcycle Auction along the Vegas strip and we see the most complete collections of early American décor.

For more than two decades, Clyde Morgan has led SUNY Brockport students in learning about, not only African dance but also its culture. From stage to your living room, "Live from Lincoln Center" brings the best of Broadway home with the thought provoking Tony Award-winning “Falsettos. Since 2005, the Jafagirls are best known for practicing craft activism, like their yarn bombs – a type of street art that uses colorful displays of yarn rather than paint or chalk to make a statement. Baton Rouge artist Randell Henry takes great pride in his ability to merge varying colors and textures that some people feel don’t go together. He talks about challenging the norm.

Take a look at “Phoenix, a monumental project by Chinese contemporary artist Xu Bing, which is installed at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in NYC. We learn insights into the appraisal process from certified antiques appraiser Barbara J. Eash. Then, gutsy, talented and one of the boys… Patsy Cline left a legacy despite her early death. Bringing her story to the screen became a labor of love for producer Barbara Hall. And we travel to San Antonio, TX for CineFestival, the oldest Latino film festival in the US.

Colorado Springs artist JD Sell turns Polaroid photos into intriguing screen prints, working with Denver high school students who looked at their own neighborhoods with fresh eyes, developing a sense of place. Philippe de Montebello interviews Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Executive Director of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. Lebanese graphic artist Pascal Zoghbi and Houston graffiti artist DUAL come together to create a cross-cultural mural at The Printing Museum in Houston. Moira Bateman's knowledge of native plants and geologic history inform her work as she incorporates natural materials and processes into the creation of her sculptural dresses.

Two friends strive to minimize waste and environmental impact in their craft and lifestyle. They’ve developed alternate power sources for hand making wooden eyeglasses. The Rose Kennedy Greenway has a fresh vision for public art; that includes a soaring sculpture by Janet Echelman that, for the moment, is redefining the Boston skyline. A Tampa Bay artist takes Mandala art to a whole new level by collecting and creating art with candy. And Jane Chu hopes to expand the reach of the arts throughout each and every community.

Meet calculus teacher and artist Harriet Stone Evans, who believe her paintings can help students with math. New Mexico artist, Brandon Maldonado, shares old mythologies in new ways by communicating beyond the confines of spoken language through art. Ceramic and sculpture artist, Ernest Miller, hand alters his pieces and continually pushes himself to make the perfect ceramic pot. And we look at a rarely viewed collection of works from Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Eddie Adams.

We explore the challenges and stereotypes of the hip-hop industry through a multi-media theater piece with writer and performer Jeff Campbell. We visit with Barbara Page, a pilot turned artist. We highlight “Dance-The Next Generation, a program in Sarasota, Florida that not only teaches ballet, but also gives students the discipline to succeed in school. And we stop at The Dublin Arts Council in central Ohio to meet a very special member of their staff.

Watch as a potter from New York creates ceramics that catch your eye from a distance and draw you in with their intricate and unique glazes. Visit downtown Reno, Nevada as local artists’ takeover and display a wide variety of sculptures. The Florida Brewing Company offers their walls to muralists to create unforgettable works of art. And artist Marlene Lewis creates paintings that reflect her fascination with color, form, and the human figure.