The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Brooklyn & Ernest Hunter
They were with us through the whole building process and would come out occasionally to see how we were doing. They picked a date we thought we could work with and then upped it a couple of times and made us more nervous each time. But Ernest kept saying, “Yeah! I can do that!” Then as soon as they’d leave he’d say, “I dont know how I’m going to do that.” When I tell y’all the ANXOUISNESS I experienced EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. from that…I still don’t know if I have recovered! The last time they came out before their wedding day (SIX WEEKS AWAY)…we still didn’t have toilets, sinks, tables built, kitchen, benches for the ceremony, grass on the ceremony area…I thought for sure they were going to change their mind about us. But we were all in too deep by then it had to be done! Read more>>
Alex Mendi
Luckily for me, a very influential professor in my life —Michael Benedict, an artist himself who had always encouraged my photography and artistic exploration—reached out and suggested I apply for a scholarship at SCAD. He supported me throughout the entire admission process, and once I got in, I knew I wanted to change direction. With my parents’ support, I left UVG and moved to Savannah to attend SCAD in 2022. I graduated in May 2025, and my experience has been nothing but eye-opening and enriching—both personally and professionally. Read more>>
Franz Tomás
Then I decided to release a Spanish version and the rest is history! The outreach process is difficult as a one-man show, but I love my book so much and the feedback has just been so overwhelmingly positive. Slowly, but surely copies of the book have made it into people’s homes, bookstores, libraries, schools and more. I truly believe that when you put good work out into the world, it eventually resonates with its intended audience. Even if one child or adult reads my book and feels seen and supported and encouraged, then I know that it fulfilled its purpose in this world. Read more>>
Cristian Sandoval Puentes
I’m a Colombian artist with a background in Graphic Design from Los Libertadores University, and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Motion Media Design at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). My journey began several years ago in Bogotá, my hometown, with a deep interest in illustration and design. Since then, my path has been a combination of creative exploration, constant learning, and a strong commitment to crafting images that tell stories, spark connections, and invite reflection. Read more>>
Joyride Boat Club
Trust us, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. We’ve navigated some seriously choppy learning curves, but for every challenging moment, we’ve celebrated with our signature excessive high-fives and maybe a victory dance or two. The best part? We’re not just another tour company—we’re creating something totally different. Sophisticated but relaxed, exclusive but welcoming, and serving pure good vibes while connecting people to nature in the most sustainable way possible. Why choose between style and substance when you can have both? Read more>>
Preet Patel
Being crowned Miss India International 2024 was a turning point. It gave me the confidence and visibility to take my platform seriously — not just as a creative outlet but as a tool for representation. Around the same time, I got deeply involved with international organizations at App State, working to create spaces where students from around the world felt seen, supported, and celebrated. Whether it was organizing cultural events or mentoring other students, I saw how important it was to use both my voice and my platform to uplift others. Read more>>
Heather Croft
It is said that the best things in life are free, but the goal is to prove that skill, dedication, and a bit of creativity are also invaluable. I believe that many trades in the design industry are slowly fading away, so for the last decade I’ve made it a personal goal to not only refine my skills as a furniture refinisher/restorer, but to immerse myself into the world of wallpaper and upholstery as well. While working in multiple trades as a mother of two can seriously impact my social calendar (as well as my storage space), I wouldn’t change a thing. Knowing that I can provide a “one-stop-shop” for my clients makes all of the late nights worth it. Read more>>
Bonnie Smith
Just like other respectable professions in the medical field…I have a license…I take continuing ed courses to keep my license and depending on the course I’m taking I’m in the same room with professionals from those other respectable professions. As a licensed massage therapist (LMT) I am required to know all about the muscles and bones, which way the muscles fibers run, and how they move in order to quickly palpate and problem solve what’s going on with a client. Read more>>
Drew Kibler
I realized that I could do all the same pictorial storytelling with meticulous handicraft on a loom, and that united the two sides of my artistic identity. After realizing this, I immediately changed my major to Fibers. Catching up to where I am today, I have really made a strong connection between my art practice and the loom, and I’m weaving as often as possible! Now, going into my final works here at SCAD, I’m developing my own ways of queer storytelling through textile design. I’ve spent the last three and a half years learning about the HIV/AIDS crisis; what we lost from it, and how we have learned to manage this pain. In my work, I am interlacing threads with an ode to the history of the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis. Read more>>
Sinisa Ciric
In 2023, I was honored to be one of just 36 professionals worldwide selected for the League of American Orchestras’ Essentials of Orchestra Management program, in partnership with Juilliard Extension. I’m also proud to be a 2024 graduate of Leadership Savannah, one of the nation’s longest-running civic leadership initiatives. These experiences continue to shape my vision for using music as a force for connection, education, and cultural enrichment. Read more>>
Kate Wade
By the end of the piece, I was so proud of what I created. I marched confidently into class, and my professor was so pleased. From that moment, I knew what type of artist I wanted to be. Today, as a young woman, I’m making that artist dream a reality. I am an art restorer who still creates those funky idiom paintings, challenging my limits, displaying in and traveling to galleries hoping to eventually have one of my own. Read more>>
Sarah Brooke Sandin
Between disciplines, between commercial and experimental, between structure and freedom. Today, The Stables remains unapologetically independent. It’s still artist-bred, artist-run, deeply local, and refreshingly unpretentious. It’s the kind of place where a poet, a fashion photographer, a sculptor, and a punk band might all be working under the same roof—and no one blinks twice. Because here, that’s the point. The Stables isn’t just a venue. It’s a community, a mindset, and a challenge to the idea that art needs white starkness and corporate backing. Read more>>
Jerrika Hinton
It hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge has taught me something. Leaving the security of a commission-based salon and stepping into full independence meant I had to quickly learn how to run a business. Not just do the work I love, but handle everything behind the scenes too. Read more>>
Eriannah Correa
I’ve been lucky throughout my life to have supportive family, friends, and teachers, who have made the journey to becoming a professional artist a smooth one. Even when I’ve doubted myself and the shape of my future, they’ve always been there to encourage me to pursue my goals. Read more>>
Jasmine Spencerco
Adapting to a new city was a process, but with family nearby (including my aunts who also moved to Georgia) it quickly started to feel like home. We had traditions like Halloween parties and Thanksgiving dinners, and I would always perform for everyone afterward. One night, while my mom was looking for songs on her BlackBerry, she came across Adele’s “Someone Like You.” I remember just bursting into song, and my dad (impressed) suggested I start a YouTube channel. That’s how Jazz It Up was born, and it became my first real creative outlet. Read more>>
Chi Quach
It was a rollercoaster ride during my 4 years at SCAD. Looking back, I’d say it’s a challenging program with how fast the pace is. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea; but if you really push yourself and make the most out of it, you will be surprised how much growth you can achieve in a short amount of time. Other than that, it is the most special environment you can be in—creative, welcoming, and energetic. You’ll meet people from different corners of the world with their own unique stories and aspirations. You’ll keep getting your mind blown by their reasons behind their dreams to make a change with their crafts. Read more>>
Will Rosen
I took one tour down here and knew it was the town for me. I haven’t regretted that decision once because since moving down here I’ve worked on sixty plus film sets, predominantly as a Director of Photography or Chief Lighting Technician and have gotten to do some insane things. For example, I’ve worked on a film that took entirely place on a boat, I’ve worked on a set that took place on a farm in the middle of nowhere and I’ve hung a fake pig in a ceiling. My life has been riddled with ups and downs, triumphs and failures but since coming here to Savannah not once have the failures stopped me, cause there is always another success around the corner. Read more>>
Tara Kirkland
We have grown since then, expanded to a larger location, and opened a second location in Greenville, SC in 2012. It was important to me for the items we sold to have certain values attached to them- something as simple as eco friendly, or fair trade, or woman owned, or made in the USA. We have faced many challenges along the way, the economy taking. dive, covid, and now tariffs, but because I love what I do so much, and put so much of my heart and soul into the business, I believe we can ride any wave. Read more>>
