Ryan is a painter and muralist based in Portland, Maine. His background in traditional graffiti led him to creating large-scale mural work, hand lettered signage and a studio practice. His signature ‘gem’ style of work is a geometric breakdown of letterforms with shadows and highlights embedded within, to create depth and movement throughout. His pieces tend to be bold, colorful and clever; often including statements within. These statements can be literal or figurative, but often bring attention to a social or cultural issue. His studio practice is rooted in the exploration of form and abstraction while remaining true to his background in letter studies. Ryan owns and operates a mural company with his wife Rachel Gloria Adams and exhibits his work in galleries and museums across the US.  His clients have included Nike, Patagonia, Converse, Samsung, L.L.Bean, Google, and Newport Jazz Festival. 

Carolyn Fox is the executive editor of the Maine Trust for Local News, which publishes the Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, Portland Press Herald, Sun Journal and 15 weekly newspapers. Carolyn joined METLN from the Tampa Bay Times, where she served as managing editor. She is a native of San Diego and has held positions at USA Today, National Geographic, Advance Local – a New York-based news organization – and The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.