What is a pencil? A forest transformed. In this beautifully illustrated wordless picture book, young readers can follow a pencil's life cycle from tree to factory to store shelf and back to tree.
Even the simplest tool contains multitudes. Once a living tree, then a manufactured commodity, a pencil in the hands of a young artist becomes the key to a rich imaginative world. In this expansive, gorgeously illustrated story, creator Hye-Yun Kim asks us to see and appreciate the full value—and infinite possibilities—of the pencil, as well as other seemingly mundane objects around us. This powerful aid for teaches readers essential visual literacy skills and celebrates the creative process.
ArtsWave presents the 2026 Truth & Inspiration Showcase, the public culmination of this year's Inspire Artist Grants, bringing together 24 local artists and new creative work in one FREE, community-centered experience at Contemporary Arts Center.
The artists in this year's cohort represent the breadth of Cincinnati's creative community, emerging talent and established practitioners working across disciplines, exploring themes of migration, heritage and the diverse BIPOC experience here in Cincy. Together, their work reflects what this region is, who belongs here and where we are headed.