Behind the Scenes: AAC Visits the AIE Repository. The American Arts Conservancy (AAC) recently had the privilege of stepping behind the curtain of the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies (AIE) repository—a space where history, culture, and creativity converge. Walking through the collection, we encountered a remarkable range of celebrated works by American artists, spanning generations and stylistic movements. Each piece carried with it a story not only of artistic mastery but also of cultural diplomacy, bridging audiences across the globe through the language of art.

September 11, 2001, remains one of the most tragic days in American history. Today, as we honor the lives lost and the families forever changed, we also reflect on the extraordinary courage of first responders and the resilience of our nation.

In a world that continues to face hardship and uncertainty, art offers us a way forward. It carries memory and meaning, yet also provides space for hope and renewal. Through American art, we can transform sorrow into beauty, tragedy into resilience, and remembrance into inspiration.

This commemorative collection, curated from the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, invites reflection on loss and unity, while encouraging us to channel grief into creativity and compassion.

At The American Arts Conservancy, our mission is to ensure that the work of American artists continues to inspire, connect, and educate. On this day of remembrance, we honor not only what has been lost, but also the enduring power of art to shape something beautiful out of pain — the very essence of the American spirit.

Through American art, we remember. Through American art, we rise.

The American Arts Conservancy (AAC), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing American art in cultural diplomacy, is pleased to announce the appointment of John A. Mocker, Jr. as Secretary of its Board of Directors.

Mr. Mocker is Vice President and Partner of LB Industries, Inc., a leading distributor of carbon steel pipe products with operations across the United States. With decades of business leadership, he has guided the company’s long-term growth and maintained a consistent record of operational excellence.

He has also held leadership roles across civic and cultural institutions, including the Kenton County Airport Board, Tri-County Economic Development Corporation, the Cincinnati International Wine Festival, and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, where he served as Board President. He is a Past Board Chairman and now Honorary Council Member of the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, and has contributed to the Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, and the Contemporary Arts Center.

In addition to his civic service, Mocker is a film producer with F/A Films, LLC and a collector of American and international art. His contributions have been recognized with distinctions including the Knowles–Rubenstein Award of Excellence, the Jim Bunning Man of the Year Award, and the Bridge Builder of the Year Award from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky.

“John’s combination of business acumen, civic leadership, and passion for the arts makes him an outstanding choice to serve as Secretary,” said Jenni Parido, Executive Director of the American Arts Conservancy. “His stewardship will be instrumental as we strengthen our governance and advance our mission of cultural diplomacy and preservation.”

FOR INQUIRIES

Jenni Parido

jenni@americanartsconservancy.org

www.americanartsconservancy.org

Labor Day has been observed in the United States since 1894 as a tribute to the strength, dignity, and perseverance of American workers. It is a day that honors not only the labor that built our cities, fields, and industries, but also the creativity and ingenuity that continue to define our national spirit.

Art, like labor, is an act of building. Each brushstroke, each carved line, each vision brought to life on canvas or paper reflects hours of dedication and the pursuit of something lasting. The works we’ve shared from the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies (AIE) collection remind us that art is labor, and labor itself can be art — both giving form to the values of perseverance, community, and progress.

Just as workers have shaped the American landscape, artists have shaped its cultural identity. Through their effort, we see not only a reflection of our nation’s history, but also a glimpse of its enduring optimism and hope.

This Labor Day, we invite you to spend a moment with this curated collection — to see in these works the shared story of effort and imagination, and to reflect on the ways labor and art together continue to carry the American experience into the future.

The American Arts Conservancy (AAC) is proud to welcome Ryan Coyne, Founder and CEO of Starboard, LLC, as Treasurer of its Board of Directors.

Ryan is a nationally recognized leader in digital media and strategy. Under his leadership, Starboard has grown into one of the fastest-rising firms in the country, recognized by Inc. 5000 as the 13th fastest-growing company in the United States and the fastest-growing advertising/media company nationwide. Today, Starboard’s network of media properties reaches more than 150 million people monthly, including the largest Substack by subscribership in the world.

In addition to his business achievements, Ryan is deeply committed to service. He is the founder of the Working Warrior Foundation, which assists veterans and their families as they reintegrate into civilian life, and he is a member of the Malvern Prep Athletic Hall of Fame in his hometown of Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of Cornell University, where he studied Applied Economics and Management with a focus on Finance.

“Ryan brings extraordinary expertise in organizational growth and financial stewardship,” said Jenni Parido, Founder and Executive Director of AAC. “His leadership will strengthen our capacity to preserve, promote, and share American art across the globe.”

AAC is honored to have Ryan’s leadership guiding our mission of preservation, diplomacy, and education in the arts.

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies (AIE) has partnered with the American Arts Conservancy (AAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing American art in cultural diplomacy, to broaden the global reach and resonance of U.S. artists.

Together, AIE and AAC will create new opportunities for American art to inspire dialogue, build connections, and reflect the nation’s creative excellence on the world stage.  This partnership will support exhibitions in U.S. embassies and ambassadorial residences worldwide, develop engaging educational resources for audiences at home and abroad, and document landmark works to ensure their stories endure.

Planned initiatives include youth art programs designed to instill a passion for the arts, foster early appreciation and visual literacy, and inspire young people.  Additional efforts will include artist exchanges that encourage creative collaboration and a permanent digital archive celebrating works featured in AIE projects.  By combining AIE’s diplomatic platform with AAC’s private-sector support, the partnership will amplify the role of American visual art as a catalyst for understanding U.S. culture.

For more information, please visit the American Arts Conservancy website and art.state.gov.

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies (AIE) has partnered with the American Arts Conservancy (AAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing American art in cultural diplomacy, to broaden the global reach and resonance of U.S. artists.

Together, AIE and AAC will create new opportunities for American art to inspire dialogue, build connections, and reflect the nation’s creative excellence on the world stage.  This partnership will support exhibitions in U.S. embassies and ambassadorial residences worldwide, develop engaging educational resources for audiences at home and abroad, and document landmark works to ensure their stories endure.

Planned initiatives include youth art programs designed to instill a passion for the arts, foster early appreciation and visual literacy, and inspire young people.  Additional efforts will include artist exchanges that encourage creative collaboration and a permanent digital archive celebrating works featured in AIE projects.  By combining AIE’s diplomatic platform with AAC’s private-sector support, the partnership will amplify the role of American visual art as a catalyst for understanding U.S. culture.

For more information, please visit the American Arts Conservancy website and art.state.gov.

The American Arts Conservancy (AAC) proudly announces its formal launch as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to elevating the role of American visual art in national heritage, cultural diplomacy, and civic education. Founded on the belief that art is a foundational element of a thriving democracy, AAC exists to preserve the past, promote creative excellence, and inspire future generations through meaningful access to American artistry.