Syracuse native and Emmy-award winning musician Hughie Stone Fish says his childhood was filled with artistic exposure, mentors and opportunities, like singing in his suburban school’s choir. As he grew older, he came to understand not all Syracuse students are as lucky.
“To know that there are kids that live 5 or 10 minutes away from where I grew up, who might not even be getting access to any types of arts education, art supplies or arts programming, it's just something that we didn't feel like we could not try to change,” he said.
This is why, along with his brother Avery Stone Fish, Hughie co-founded The Arts Project Syracuse, or TAPS, a nonprofit providing arts education to under-resourced youth.
The effort is supported by a CNY Arts grant, but consistently needs funds to pay artists in residence and refill art supplies. So, the pair recently released a music video – “Down Down Down” – to seek donations.
The video is the first release from Hughie’s upcoming solo album “Sunlight and Stars.” Avery, who directed the music video, says the song focuses on how people can combat feeling depressed and starts off by showing Hughie feeling down.
“The turning point of the music video is [when] a kid from the Boys & Girls Club hands him a marker and a sheet of paper to make art,” Avery said. “What we're really trying to communicate there is the impact that art can have to uplift us.”
Local youth make cameos in the video, including students from the Jamesville DeWitt Middle School (Hughie’s alma mater), the Hebrew Day School (both brother’s alma mater) and the Boys & Girls Club.
TAPS provides weekly arts programming at the club, thanks to local coordinator Caprice Hibbler, and special opportunities not even Hughie had growing up.
“We have had the opportunity to send our kids’ art to space through a partnership with NASA,” the brothers shared.
Creating such special opportunities, they say, builds students’ confidence.
“Sending their art to space is just like putting them in a music video,” Hughie said. “We are showing these kids there are many different ways to be an artist. Through the support of the community, through the support of our fans, through the support of everyone who's watching this video, we are showing these kids, you can go anywhere. Your art can go anywhere. If your art is in space and you're acting in a music video, that means that you can be anything.”
Proceeds from the music video as well as select merchandise are part of the ongoing fundraiser.
