Week 5 of 2026: Art Saved My Life

When art brings a community together and sparks honest conversation, it’s done its job. My brothers and I didn’t advertise the show with flashy promotions—we used pictures of ourselves and told stories from our upbringing. In doing so we reintroduced our family to the neighborhood, and the welcome we received from South Cobb Arts Alliance and North Cobb Regional Library felt like royalty.

February 7th was magical. Midway through our panel we looked up to a packed room—some standing—and heard questions from adults and kids alike. We laughed until we cried and paused to wipe away a few tears. I scanned the crowd and saw faces that trace my journey: our childhood mailman, my ninth-grade art teacher, my first business mentor and NFL alum, my high-school language arts teacher, nieces and nephews, kids from Uncle Art Camp, hosts from 8 Robinsons TV, SCAA members, and so many others who helped shape me.

I shared how unsure I was in 1994—about to graduate with no job, no car, and asthma keeping me out of the military. A recruiter from Reinhardt College showed up at my school and offered full scholarships to me and my sister on the spot. That’s where I met computer graphics—Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator have been part of my life since the early ’90s. Telling that story still fuels me. It reminds me I have value even when life’s tough, and that community means everything.

Thank you to everyone who came, clicked like, shared a laugh, or supported an ad. We see you, we love you, and we need you. If you missed the show, you can view all the work from the exhibit at www.deblakofficial.com.