When former Milwaukee Bucks player Desmond Mason retired from professional basketball in 2010, he returned to his original passion -- visual art.
Most recently he partnered with the Bucks and Express Yourself Milwaukee, an arts education nonprofit, to prepare for its annual show highlighting the work of Milwaukee students.
Mason has shown artistic tendencies most of his life, starting with pottery at age 11, but his interest in the arts accelerated in his college years. He received a formal education, participated in various art shows, and today splits his time between painting and product design.
Working in tandem with the students, Express Yourself Milwaukee will present SOUL on May 4, "an inspiring, unforgettable performance that celebrates the culmination of creative work done by at-risk young people and professional artists working in tandem through a yearlong multi-disciplinary arts exploration," according to a press release.
Mason spent time working with the students at Neeskara Elementary School in Milwaukee, logging one-on-one time with the young artists and inspiring them to continue to create art.
Click the player above to hear from him and students, and follow this link for more about SOUL.
