For the annual Roots n Blues festival, I followed the light and used it to guide the viewer through a night at the festival. The light brought the audience from sunset to lit up vendors and costumes to the bright colorful lights of the stage. The Bleachers' song "Don't Go Dark" provided a structure and thread of sound.


On Friday night, people from across the country came with their blankets, fold-up chairs and wristbands to the 2022 Roots n Blues festival at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia. The three-night event hosted artists such as Wilco, Chaka Khan, Jon Batiste and the Bleachers. Festival goers enjoyed the various vendors, art installations, games and the Ferris wheel as well as the music.
The sun set on the park as the headliners of the night geared up to perform. The festival lit up after dark with glowing cotton candy, colorful spotlights and projections of art on trees as festival goers either sat back in their lawn chairs and enjoyed or jumped and danced in front of the stage.

Story by Michelle Gutierrez.
Directed by Michelle Gutierrez.
Edited by Madison McMillen and Josh Ellenburg.

Cronk's Cafe offer a multicultural blend of food in Denison Ia. The restaurant was founded in 1929 and was a staple of the community. Co-owner Omar Patino and his father Ramon Patino bought and reopened the restaurant last fall, 3 years after it had closed down. They aim to maintain the history of the beloved restaurant while also introducing Mexican food to the menu.

Directed and edited by Michelle Gutierrez
Story by Courtney Crowder