SHOWCASING ONLINE & IN-PERSON ARTISTS, PRESENTERS, INFLUENCERS AND THEIR WORKS ON MISSION;
TO SERVE AND BEAUTIFY OUR WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITIES.

'Beauty will save the world'
- Dostoevsky

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Artist Connection Theatre Welcomes Opening Performers

Karen HornsbyOur opening performer tonight is Karen Hornsby - a speaker and vocal artist known for using music to bring strength and hope to those facing life’s hardest battles. Many first met her on ABC’s Rising Star, where her story and voice earned her a top-20 spot and even an invitation to share the stage with Brad Paisley.
After losing her daughter Gabi to brain cancer in 2020, Karen carries a renewed calling: to help others find victory in the midst of suffering."All three of us in my family have stared death in the face. My moment came at age 19 when my car collided with a semi-truck, igniting on impact. For ten minutes I sat trapped inside a burning vehicle as smoke and flames consumed everything around me. After multiple failed rescue attempts, a miracle occurred: an off-duty officer who had tried seven times to open my crushed door was suddenly given supernatural strength. He bent the metal in half and pulled me to safety. Seconds later, the flames reached the gas tank and the car exploded.
Though my hand was crushed, not a single hair on my head was singed, and even my Bible and prayer cloth were found untouched in the ashes.
Years later, in 2005, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. That same year, our perfectly healthy two-year-old daughter, Gabi, was diagnosed with brain cancer—and by the next day, she had lost her sight. She endured five rounds of chemotherapy, Proton Beam radiation, two major brain surgeries, and five strokes. Despite her fierce spirit, she battled ongoing mobility challenges and communication loss for many years.
On April 14, 2020, after a long and courageous fight, Gabi began her endless journey in Heaven.
My uncle once told my mother that before I was born, he had a vivid dream: that I would be a girl who “sings like a bird.”No one could have imagined that the songs this bird would sing would be birthed from such deep places of suffering.
Yet God has a way of turning sorrow into song. I’ll never forget the day I stood before an audience and sang a prayer written after one of Gabi’s worst medical reports:
“Please relieve all this hurt inside. Perform a miracle in my life. I need You, Lord.”
When I opened my eyes, people were standing with hands lifted, voices raised, tears streaming—because the song had given language to their own pain. In that moment, I realized my suffering had become a key that unlocked the hearts of others.
Through the years I have witnessed miracles, victories, and triumphs woven into unimaginable trials. Gabi’s passing has deepened my mission even further. I now pursue Heaven with renewed purpose and sing with a passion to help others find victory—even in the midst of their darkest moments.
As long as God grants this bird breath to sing, I will keep placing these stories into songs, onto stages, and into the hands of those who need hope most.
And I will continue to declare…“It’s almost morning.”What's your story? I'd love to connect with anyone struggling with or even questioning God's love for them. If that is you, please reach out to me on these links below.

Guijone CamposBorn in the Philippines and growing up in Duval, Guijone has been in love with singing, performing, and expressing joy through music since childhood. That passion continues to shine today as a member of the Southpoint Community Church worship team and as a Sekond Floor Youth Group Worship Leader. Whether leading worship, emceeing for parties and events, or dancing just for fun, Guijone brings energy, heart, and purpose to every performance. Above all, each moment on stage is rooted in a desire to glorify and represent his Savior Jesus Christ.I grew up in a Christian family and going to church, but I also grew up wanting acceptance and people pleasing. People liking me was the biggest thing I would strive for. This was (and sometimes is) an insecurity that hindered my growth. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 10 but it wasn’t until I was 20 that I surrendered my life to Jesus. That’s when I started to find my identity in Him. That’s when I started having an audience of one. In the last 15 years of my life I went from wanting to please man to striving to please God. I have seen that the praises of man will go away but a relationship with Jesus is eternal and thats where true satisfaction comes from. Lets have a conversation about Jesus!If you wanna reach me do so on these links!

DANIEL WHITTAKER
A PERFORMER, A CHRISTIAN AND A FAMILY MAN
Daniel Whittaker is a worship leader, classical pop singer, and a songwriter who has dedicated his life to develop his voice and talent to bring people closer God. Daniel sings to the soul, and his music is all about inspiration, hope and faith.Daniel was introduced to music first in his parents Church were he grew up helping them with music and other activities at the Church. From age 15 to 20, Daniel ministered with his music in multiple cities and different churches and events in Cuba. His vocal training came from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Holguin, Cuba and Simpson College in Iowa, USA.Since 2013 to the present Daniel has been traveling and singing across different cities in the United States. He has a strong youtube channel, two mini-albums, multiple singles and his music is in all streaming platforms. He has helped planting churches, has served in local ministries, and has dedicaded his life to serve others. Currently he is working in his first official album and his best music is yet to come.Subscribe to his email list in order to get more information on upcoming events and news."If you wanna reach me do so on these links!"

These are just a few of many Canvas Live Presenters, living to serve their community in transformative ways. Whether an artist or an arts enthusiast, if you wish to stay connected to other city-wide events and influencers aligned to such noble initiatives, let us know. Also scroll below to discover more!

The Vision

TO LEAD AND INSPIRE AN ARTISTIC MOVEMENT THROUGH SERVICE AND BEAUTY • TRANSFORMING CULTURAL CENTERS UNDER THE SKILLFUL WORKINGS OF INNOVATIVE CREATORS, MAKERS AND INFLUENCERS.

City • Works

CITY BETTERMENT FORUMS FOR PRESENTING NON-POLITICAL, NON-LEGISLATIVE, CITYWIDE ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVES THROUGH VARIOUS CULTURAL ARTS MEDIUMS.
FEATURING TOPICS ON HEALTH, WELLNESS, SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO OTHERS WHILE CULTIVATING HEALTHY DIALOGUE WITHIN VARIOUS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

Faith • Works

FAITH WORKERS FORUMS FOR FEATURING NON-POLITICAL, NON-LEGISLATIVE, CHRIST-FOLLOWING ARTISTS, CREATIVES, MAKERS, INFLUENCERS AND THEIR WORKS AS REVEALED THROUGH THE LENS OF THE CLASSICAL JUDEO-CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW. COMPRISED OF AREA CHURCHES, COALITIONS AND VARIOUS CHRIST-CENTERED ORGANIZATIONS.

Net • Works

CANVAS ONLINE IS OUR WEB-BASED CONTENT, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY CENTER. CANVASLIVE.ORG IS OUR HOME FOR DIGITAL ARTISTRY, MUSIC VIDEOS, LIVESTREAMS, PODCASTS, BIOS, BLOGS, FAN ENGAGEMENT, MERCH, CAPTURED PERFORMANCES, SOCIAL MEDIA, BROADCAST LINKS, TRAINING RESOURCES AND MORE.

Greater Works

GREATER WORKS IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF BEING AT OUR GREATEST... TOGETHER. HUMANS THRIVE IN INTER-DEPENDENCE AND FIND DEEPEST FULFILLMENT IN NO BETTER PLACE. WE ARE NOT AT OUR BEST AS SOLO ACTS BUT RATHER AS THE SYMPHONY, AS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. 'TOGETHER' LIVING IN ANY FORM, WHETHER AS FAMILY UNITS OR OTHERWISE, IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DEMANDS REGULAR RELATIONAL INVESTMENT. NOT EASY, BUT WORTH IT IN THE END.

THOSE SHARING A NOBLE MISSION, REACHING ALWAYS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SELF AND OTHERS WHILE REMAINING TOGETHER WILL PRODUCE GREATER LONG-STANDING WORKS THAN THE 'LONE' RANGER EXISTENCE. DOING LIFE IS BEST TOGETHER. THE CANVAS LIVE COMMUNITY CHOOSES TO NEVER TAKE OUR CHALLENGING PATHS ALONE.

'Greater works than these will follow them that believe' - JESUS

THE FORUMS

WHETHER IN LARGE VENUE SHOWCASE MODE OR IN THE LOCAL CAFE, CANVAS LIVE INTERACTIVE FORUMS EXEMPLIFY THE HEART OF ALL WE SET TO DO; MAKING OUR FUTURE BETTER...TOGETHER. THE LIVE GATHERINGS ARE UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO OFFER MORE THAN TALENT SHOWS, BUT FOSTER PEER COMMUNITY AND FAN PARTICIPATION AS WELL. THROUGH THE USE OF POLLING APPS, ATTENDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OFFER HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WORKS AND THE WORKERS. WHAT IS TRANSLATING WELL? WHAT COULD STAND SOME IMPROVEMENT?

FEEDBACK

THE COLLECTION OF ANONYMOUS FEEDBACK COMMENTS, AFFIRMATIONS, UPGRADES, NEXT STEPS AND FUTURE-PROOFING INSIGHTS ARE DELIVERED TO THE PRESENTER. ALL COMPLETED CAMPAIGNS, INITIATIVES AND EVENTS UNDERGO THIS SAME AFFIRMATION AND REVISION PROCESS. THE CANVAS COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO GROWING IN EXCELLENCE.

CANVAS LIVE

FOUNDERS

*FOUNDERS* KURT & JILL HAWTHORNE

Kurt & Jill Hawthorne

Producer

Founder / Producer
Kurt Hawthorne is a highly trained & experienced professional multi-instrumentalist & ordained Christ-following minister who has served non-profit & for-profit organizations by directing musical, technical & fine arts teams, as well as their works and production designs unto excellence for large performance stages & recording studios for 30+ years.

FAITH COMMUNITY NEWS

  • Prayer & Worship Events - New Years Kickoff

  • Artist Connection Theatre features (Dec 5,6,7,11,12,13,14,19,20,21)

Advisors

CANVAS LIVE is built on a coalition of experienced community leaders, business and non-profit directors and art professionals. Our '25-'26 season overseers include :

Southeast Directors

(coming fall 2026)

Friends of Canvas

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