Each year, Black Rock City becomes the third-largest city in Nevada for one month of the year, complete with its own FAA-approved airport. Urban planners, architects and civic leaders from across the globe travel here to study its temporary yet highly functional design. Produced by the Burning Man Project, the event is as much about community and experimentation as it is about art.
This episode features an in-depth interview with Tiffany Chang, a Stanford student, nonprofit founder, and Miss Asia USA, exploring her unique journey as a changemaker. The discussion highlights her experiences navigating cultural duality, addressing moments of self-doubt, and redefining success beyond external validation. Chang also shares the origins and impact of her global nonprofit, Madhatter Knits, and reflects on the importance of self-compassion, integrity, and remaining connected to her roots amidst high-pressure environments.
Matthew Couper and Jo Russ of Couper Russ [...]
Chic Compass marked its 8th anniversary with a celebration that was nothing short of extraordinary. Hosted at the sleek and futuristic Otonomus Hotel, the evening reflected both the publication’s dedication to innovation and its commitment to spotlighting the people shaping arts, culture, and community.
Tiffany Chang is not your typical changemaker. She is something far rarer. A Stanford student, nonprofit founder and crowned Miss Asia USA, Chang is the kind of leader who navigates high-pressure spaces with both poise and purpose. But beyond the accolades lies a story of quiet grit, cultural duality and a deep commitment to creating meaningful impact.
In the hush of early morning, Chase R. McCurdy moves through his home studio like a monk tending an altar. No notifications interrupt him. A biography of Paul Robeson lies open beside a teacup, not far from the studio notebooks of Jack Whitten and a well-worn Alice Coltrane vinyl sleeve. The soft hum of Coltrane glides through the light like a whispered mantra—slow, sacred and deliberate.
She glows poolside like a dream from vintage Vegas. Her feet point skyward and her hands stretch mid-dive, her neon silhouette reflected perfectly in still water. Her name is Ruby, and she isn’t just a sculpture. She’s a love letter to Las Vegas—a tribute to the city’s glittering past, its obsession with spectacle and the quiet artistry of light in motion.
Founded by multidisciplinary artist and cultural catalyst Chase R. McCurdy, ThirtyThree Gallery—also known as 33.G—is more than a gallery. It’s a sanctuary for thought, storytelling, and intentional connection. McCurdy, who has contributed large-scale murals and public art projects to the Westside through the City of Las Vegas and the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas Life, infuses every exhibition with vision.
As with many artists, the journey to create is an evolution—fluid, unpredictable and deeply influenced by time and space. Does life imitate art or does art imitate life? For some, the line is not only blurred but entirely nonexistent. Every moment, every decision and every intention become part of a never-ending, living work of art. A perfect embodiment of this philosophy is Alisha Kerlin.
Will Roger's life has been shaped by his wisdom, compassion and boundless courage. With a deep reverence for the feminine and the natural world, he blends his strength with intuitive reflection, forging a path that seamlessly merges art, activism and a profound connection to the environment.
