About

Simone began her professional career in 1981 at Ogilvy & Mather, a Chicago-based advertising agency. She left the agency in 1991 in order to learn more about computer generated production and design. During the 1990s Simone worked at Spiegel, Inc. as an electronic production assistant, then later as assistant art director. In 1998 she opened her own own print and web design business. She currently works with more than 25 small businesses and organizations, providing them with professional, contemporary advertising and design.

Simone was instrumental in the development of Chicago’s alternative arts scene in the mid 80s. She opened the Wholesome Roc Gallery in Chicago in 1986, exhibiting her works as well as works by other local and emerging artists. The gallery was open in the evenings from 7 p.m. until midnight, attracting large numbers of folks interested in the art, poetry readings, and other events the gallery hosted. Although that space closed in 1991, Simone continued to make and display art.

As a self-taught artist creating portraits in oil pastels, she exhibited works from her “One World” series in several Chicago galleries and museums. Her works have been reprinted in various journals, newspapers, and magazines all across the United States. From 1989-1994 Simone published, edited, and designed the Planet Roc Alternative Arts Journal, the newsletter of the Wholesome Roc Gallery, Museum & Cafe. Beginning in 1995 Simone began creating and exhibiting handmade kites.

From 2001-2016 Simone lived on a farm in rural North Carolina where she learned how to live sustainably, growing fruits and vegetables. Now living in Florida, Simone has returned to her love of kites, creating fanciful paper kites from handmade papers. In 2020 she exhibited several kites at Studio 620 in Tampa, Florida.

Simone is currently the designer of The Urban News magazine, published out of Asheville, NC since 2006, and the chief architect for the House of Thing, launched in 2022 as a continuation of THING magazine, a Black gay zine published from 1989 to 1993. House of Thing is a platform for Black LGBTQ+ arts and culture, and a safe space to identify and discover one’s own fabulousness.

“I find great joy in combining the curves and fluidity of art, with the straight lines and distinct messages of commercial art. To that extent, I am always looking for new ways to apply my comprehensive computer skills and love of fine art to the design, organization, and production of contemporary, exciting advertising and websites for small businesses and organizations.”

Biljana has combined talents from her well rounded background, which includes a BSME from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Engineering Management from Wayne State University, and a twenty eight year career in engineering and management with Ford Motor Company.

As a Chief Designer for Biba Design LLC, Biljana Stewart has focused on cultivating creativity and creative expression for nearly two decades. She founded Biba Design LLC in 2007 and introduced her line of jewelry inspired by her love of timeless, classic design.

She believes that creativity can be encouraged at any age. To that end she has developed a creative jewelry making workshop to cultivate and encourage creativity, creative expression, and self care for seniors. Her jewelry workshops have been recognized as a valuable resource to life enrichment programming for seniors.

Biljana enjoys interior and landscape design, travel, skiing, and entertaining. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, often stopping to return and visit with her extended family in her home town of Novi Vinodolski in Croatia. Born in Croatia, she emigrated to the US at the age of ten. She excelled in English studies and mathematics as well as swimming and lifeguarding. Currently Biljana lives in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband Tom Stewart. She is active in her community, serving on her association’s board of directors as a committed member, helping make it a welcoming and desirable place to live.

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For more information, please email Jacquelyn Hayes, jhayes@havarts.org.

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His innovation and creativity have generated several US patents. His passion for mentoring and development has led to over 15 promotions of team members while under his supervision.

Throughout his 28-year plus career at Ford, Dave has worked on over 70 vehicle nameplates in various capacities ranging from Body, Safety, Chassis, Testing, and Research. He currently leads a team of cross functional engineers in the Global Failure Mode Avoidance group at Ford Motor Company. His team is tasked with coaching the proper use of Engineering Robustness Design Tools.

Dave hails from East Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Shaw High School. He received his Master’s (1995) and Bachelor of Mechanical (1992) Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He has volunteered with several community mentoring organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Upward Bound, National Society of Black Engineers, and Winning Futures. His hobbies include cooking, traveling, and woodworking.      

Carter has taught and coached in the Chicago Public Schools since 1976. He has been awarded several educational and athletic accolades during his tenure. 

In 1980, he co-founded of Project Education Plus (PEP), an academic and athletic program in the Cabrini-Green Near North community.  The program stemmed from his commitment to youth during the 1980 Chicago Teacher’s Strike. Vince and others volunteered to tutor the students while they were not in school.  He has served as PEP’s executive director since its inception. The Chicago Demons Baseball and Basketball Programs grew out of PEP’s recreational programming. He also was instrumental in developing the first Seward Park Raiders Jr. Bear Football Program and the Carson Field Baseball League. He has been instrumental in the growth of PEP into a program that includes youth, senior citizens, and families for forty years.

With the mentoring of many community leaders, PEP has been a staple in the area even during the transformation. Vince and the program have received numerous accolades from the Chicago Public Schools, Friends of the Parks, Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune, to name a few.

Both of her parents were well known educators in the Chicago Public School system. Frances (her mother) insisted on piano lessons and Jacquelyn got plenty of exposure to fine artists, museums, theater, concerts, and her father was the director and then VP of Public Affairs and Promotion at the corporate offices of Johnson Publishing Company (publisher of Ebony and Jet magazine). 

Tragically, Jacquelyn and her siblings lost their parents and grandparents very early in their lives. Remarkably, each sibling completed college. Jacquelyn has a BS in Marketing and an MBA with a finance concentration from the University of Illinois. Jocelyn holds a BS in pharmacy and Pharm.D. from Ohio State University. Reginald Jr. earned a fine arts degree from Illinois State. Vincil, a retired alegbra and calculus teacher, and award-winning basketball coach, is the founder and executive director of Project Education Plus in Chicago. Their parents would be extremely proud.

The foundation laid by Jacquelyn’s parents led to many academic and professional achievements for Jacquelyn. After graduation, Ms. Hayes joined Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, where she held many progressively challenging positions in corporate finance. She was the first woman to lead a finance operation at a major manufacturing plant. She held many other leadership roles at Ford and at automotive suppliers VITEC and Kautex. 

Jacquelyn was also a founding member for two cutting-edge employee resources groups, a founding member for the Ford Employee African Ancestry Network (FAAN), and a founding member for Women in Finance. Additionally, she established an endowed scholarship at the University of Illinois, was on the board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Detroit, held leadership positions at many professional associations, and has mentored many young people.

The Importance of Art

Jacquelyn and her family realize the impact education has on quality of life, critical thinking, and the appreciation for the diversity of different cultures. Jacquelyn has always enjoyed all forms of art. She credits the Detroit Institute of Arts’ (DIA) Friends of African and African American Arts (FAAA) with providing enlightening seminars and exposure to different artists and the nuances of collecting. The Detroit metropolitan area is a rich mecca of fabulous artists who are showcased on the world stage. Gallery owners and collectors generously shared their knowledge and opened their homes to foster and encourage collectors like Ms. Hayes. Noted artists include Al Loving, Hughie Lee Smith, Richard, Mayhew, Howardena Pindell, Faith Ringgold, and many others. 

A notable milestone associated with Jacquelyn’s collection was the 2003 major museum exhibition at the Wright Museum in Detroit Michigan. The exhibition celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Ford Motor Company and it went on to travel the country. 

Recently, Ms. Hayes has taken an interest in supporting up-and-coming artists who express powerful statements regarding human rights, civil rights, and other current issues. Artists working in this space include TAFA, Paul Benjamin, Marcus Jansen, and Jonathon Harris. She also is on the lookout for pieces that focus on education, learning, literacy, and the humanity of different cultures.

Presently, Jacquelyn’s collection encompasses more than 80 artworks including Romare Bearden, Paul Benjamin, Elizabeth Catlett, Donald Calloway, Marcus Glen, Marcus Jansen, Grace Kisa, Carl Owens, TAFA, Carmel Washington, and Lee White. Her collection also includes sculpture from west African cultures and oil paintings from Mexico and Guatemala. 

Ms. Hayes currently resides in sunny Las Vegas. She is still collecting art and spends her vacations in museums. In 2023, Jacquelyn founded Hayes Advocacy for Vegas Arts (HAVarts) to foster programming that builds a tsunami of future art lovers.

The Future

Many educational institutions are revising their core curriculum objectives from STEM to STEAM, recognizing that art, philosophy, ethics, and appreciation for humanity are necessary parts of a holistic education and healthy communities. This increased recognition can be seen in HAVarts mission: to develop ongoing programming that will explore, expand, and educate people of all ages.

HAVarts began in 2023 with the exhibition “Inspiration from Hayes,” an intimate, curated collection of works by noted artists including Romare Bearden, Paul Benjamin, Grace Kisa, TAFA, and Dr. Venetta Whittaker. The genesis for this show was informal conversations between Jacquelyn Hayes and her family.

Ms. Hayes states, “I remain in awe of the many extraordinarily talented black artists who have not gotten their due in our society and the art world. It is mind blowing to know that many uber famous artists (Picasso, Miro, Henry Moore) were protégés of Black artists and were influenced by African art and design.”

Hayes’ primary goal for the exhibition is to share works by talented artists with the Las Vegas community. Because she loves the visual arts, music, travel, and African American history, Hayes is committed to raising public awareness and appreciation of art created by peoples from all communities, especially those who have traditionally been excluded. Having lost both parents at a young age, art and music have provided Hayes her happy place.

The mission of the Hayes Advocacy for Vegas Arts Foundation is to develop ongoing programming that will explore, expand, and educate people of all ages. HAVarts strives to become a reliable and dedicated group committed to bringing cultural programs and other expressions of human creativity into communities. 

For more information on ways you can contribute, sponsor, or host exhibitions, please contact jhayes@havarts.org.