Andrew Cozzens : December 14th, 2016

Greetings listeners.

Obviously, we all know what an hour is, and how long it takes-60 minutes. But what does it feel like? Could you judge an hour’s worth of time without a clock? Or does even the idea of distancing yourself from such a device cause you anxiety?

With the world of schedules, business meetings, and appointments we’re all heavily reliant on time telling machines to help us be where we need to be when we need to be there. Some times though, an overly rigid schedule can have negative effects…

My guest today is Andy Cozzens. Andy is a professor at the Kentucky College of Art & Design as well as an established artist in Louisville’s art scene. He is incredible interested in the progression of time, and his work plays on our perception of it. With many of his pieces, he hopes the viewer finds a therapeutic quality and stop for a moment of calm. And much like interacting with Andy’s art, the creation requires taking time, slowing down—Andy does hours of tests, research, and planning for all his work. Andy is yet another victim of a full schedule, so these hours can be as beneficial as any meditation.

To learn more about Andy & his work, you can visit andrewcozzens.com.

As always, click the player below or subscribe to the podcast in the iTunes store.

Enjoy

1619 Flux:Art + Activism : Oct 5th, 2016

Salutations Listeners.

I think it’s fair to say that creatives have unique ways of looking at the world. And I feel like these perspectives lead them into activism, or at least form some kind of opinion on current affairs. Saying this, places like 1619 Flux seem natural to me.

1619 Flux : Art+Activism is a community space and gallery in the Russell Neighborhood. The first line of their mission says it all: ‘ 1619 Flux is a non-profit organization that produces art events integrating established and emerging creative people from different racial, socioeconomic, demographic origins, and sexual orientations, and serves as an incubator for discussing and resolving social justice issues.’

1619 Flux hosts art exhibitions, participatory artistic events, skill-building demos & workshops for adults, and forums for discussing social justice issues. Exhibitions rotate seasonally, and the artists come from a broad range of backgrounds, with a focus on individuals from West Louisville.

For today’s episode, I spoke with Operations Director Michelle Bickelman and Artistic Director Jesse Levesque. We chat about what their near future holds, public art, the accessibility of art, and activism. I ramble a bit. Enjoy.

To learn more information, you can visit 1619flux.org. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Ehren Reed : June 8th, 2016

Greetings listeners!

So, I know on the podcast there’s a lot of discussion about the internet and its effect on us as a culture, society, what have you. At this point, I almost feel I’m getting redundant. Of course, at the same time, I feel that the fact that it comes up so often in conversation says something—how it has changed daily life, communication, and creativity. My guest today is another artist who touches on themes of the digital world. Today’s episode is a discussion I had this week with LVA‘s Outreach Programs Coordinator Ehren Reed.

Ehren is a mixed media artist now based in Louisville. Before moving to Louisville, she studied in both Ohio and San Fransisco, where she started work in arts education and outreach. Ever since, Ehren has been deeply involved in community based programs.

Ehren’s artwork explores themes of the intangible, such as memory or digital media. Both of which have a ghostly quality that appears to be there and not at the same time. With her work she makes sense of this, and gives substance to such things by creating mixed media pieces involving embroidery, stitching, and old photography or digital images.

Listen in to our conversation below as we discuss her jump from painting to embroidery & book making, go on and on about StudioWorks, and try to figure out the internet.

To see what Ehren has been up to, art wise, check out her website ehrenreed.com.

Click the player to listen to our discussion.

 

 

 

StudioWorks, Donna Sherley : March 2nd, 2016

“Get Together and do Artwork and Instrumental” by Donna Sherley

Hey there listeners!

This is the last episode in my series on StudioWorks.

You know, I saw so many familiar friendly faces at the ‘Reflections’ opening last week. Many of which were StudioWorks artists, the staff, as well as outside creatives…I had such a wonderful time. That exhibition seem to bring so many people together, much like StudioWorks itself. It was a diverse environment, and something I’d love to see on a larger scale.

To say the least, I enjoyed working on this series so much and I hope to revisit it in the future as they grow and expand. I just want to everyone at StudioWorks.

A page from a book repurposed by Donna.

My guest today is Donna Sherley. Donna’s art consists of vibrantly colored paintings and illustrations with a upbeat flair. Other mediums she has explored is paper weaving, clay, and found objects such as the repurposing of old books.

Donna has been with StudioWorks for a long time and enjoys her work there. StudioWorks helps her expand upon her skills as well as give her connections to other parts of Louisville’s art community. She hopes to soon land an arts related job.

You can learn more about Donna’s work from her blog or Zoom Group’s webpage.

You can hear our short chat below.

Enjoy!

StudioWorks, Jeremy Smith: February 3rd, 2016

Jeremy posing with his rendition of X-men character ‘Wolverine’. Photo via StudioWorks

Hello again, listeners.

I finally got a chance to run by StudioWorks since their expansion—and it looks great. I just stopped in to grab some photos and look around. I haven’t been in a while, so I thought it was about time again.

Some of the pieces I photographed were works by Jeremy Smith.

Jeremy’s art style is rich with comic book influences as well as animation and fantasy art. His creativity was encouraged by artistic family members and friends from an early age. He has been making work professionally at StudioWorks for about eight years.

Jeremy’s methods are mostly tradition pencil and ink, though he has dabbled in using digital technology to enhance some works. The subject matter of his work mainly is made up of hyper muscular individuals, superheroes, and the sort.

Another work by Jeremy Smith

Jeremy hopes one day to do his own comic, or at least get his fan art in the back of someone else’s. I feel he is on the right path—he has made his own ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ cards, greeting cards, and of course several large scale pieces housed at StudioWorks.

You can visit StudioWorks at Zoomgroup.org or the StudioWorks Facebook page to learn about Jeremy and the rest of the crew.

You can listen to our chat below.

Enjoy guys.

StudioWorks, Heather Drury & Frances Mican: November 4th, 2015

Heya listeners! I’m so excited that this is finally coming together—this is the first in a series of discussions with the forces behind StudioWorks and their awesome artists.

Seems like more each day I have the mentality that everyone has something to bring to the table. And such thinking openly embraces diversity. Of course, diversity is a broad term and sometimes there are areas that get overlooked. In saying this, I find it refreshing that neurodiversity has recently had a much stronger presence in the media. Even Sesame Street is coming into the conversation.

Such diversity is a big part of StudioWorks’ goal.

Today’s episode is a conversation I had with Studio Manager Heather Drury & Site Coordinator Frances Mican back in August.

I apologize if it’s a little ‘choppy’, and for when I misspeak (I was a bit distracted by the AC kicking on…it tends to be EXTREMELY loud.)

Window display from The Food Show. Photo by Sarah Katherine Davis.

StudioWorks is an art studio and gallery for adults with developmental disabilities. Currently, the studio is home to over 30 artists of various styles and still expanding. StudioWorks is under the umbrella of the non profit Zoom Group, which is an organization that helps such adults with job placement and other services. Artists can expect ample studio space to create work, get advice & assistance, opportunities to learn new mediums, and a proper forum to display the finished product.

You can learn more by visiting zoomgroup.org/studioworks. Or go outside! Find them near the corner of Bardstown Rd and Eastern Pkwy (2008 Eastern Parkway).

Listen in below to our discussion to get further details on becoming an artist, or getting involved as a volunteer.

Jesi Evans : June 3rd, 2015

At First There Is Movement by Jesi Evans. Photo credit to Sarah Davis.

How are you, listeners?

Despite certain difficulties, I am here with another discussion as promised. If I sound exasperated in the interview, it’s because my computer froze during the first take…

Today’s guest is an old friend of mine, Jesi Evans. Our friendship is very much seeped in art—we met in High School art class, have shared interests regarding art & music, and have gone on to collaborate through our fledgling collective Hot Garbage.

Jesi is a Berea college grad that works primarily in fibers, with a special emphasis on embroidery. Jesi uses this rather ‘familiar’ medium to redefines craft for herself, as well as the viewer. The medium is familiar and welcoming to her due to a childhood full of projects with her mother & grandmother.

Her latest series of work delves into personal environmental concerns and the emotional response tied to them. The project is right now a work in progress, but you can get a peek at jesievansart.com. You can check out her past projects at her Cargo Collective site.

Sooner Or Later You’ll Have To Go To Sleep by Jesi Evans. Photo credit Sarah Davis

For a more in-depth introduction, check out her websites and our chat using the player below.

Remember, you can always subscribe to the podcast via iTunes and keep up to date when new episodes are posted.

Till next time.

 

 

Sophia Gordon : May 6th, 2015

A still life photo by Sophia Gordon.

Greetings listeners.

I feel as an artist, you’re always trying to push your materials (and yourself) to their limits. And of course, this is where the creativity comes in handy; using what you have available to reach as close as you can to your visualized goals. As technology progresses and makes certain mediums more accessible this becomes easier. I believe that the surprises that come while reaching for your ‘vision’ are more interesting than the original idea.

These are some ideas discussed in the opening of my chat with Sophia Gordon.

Sophia is a Louisville native who graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Film & Television Production. She enjoys experimenting with various mediums and different ways of mixing them. This kind of creative mentality stems from her experiences making zines when she was younger. The very collaborative, cut & paste, and DIY nature of zine creation stayed with her. Zine creation, going back to what I said above, also teaches you to use what you have on hand wisely.

Her collaborative experiments continue in her current work with her films, photography, visual art, and her performance art duo RabbitxRabbit.

Listen in to our conversation below, or subscribe through iTunes. We talk Oblique Strategies, I get too excited about getting the Frankenstein reference, and hear some of the improvised music from her duo (the closing track really has a Popol Vuh kind of feel. I love it!)

See what Sophia has done, and will do, via her website Sophiagordonart.com.

Shands Collection : April 1st, 2015

Petah Coyne’s Untitled (Al’s Garden). Photo by Sarah Katherine Davis

Hello listeners.

As you know, earlier in the year I talked about the importance of art collecting on the art community with Larry Shapin & Ladonna Nicolas. And thanks to that interview I was invited to the estate of Al and Mary Shands, Great Meadows. The Shands’ home is nestled in a more woodsy area of Crestwood, in the midst of quiet expansive fields. To say the least, it is an amazing spot for a home built specifically for living with, and reflecting on, a large art collection.

Another shot by Sarah Katherine Davis. In the foreground is Anish Kapoor’s Untitled (Yellow Wall Disk).

Great Meadows is home to hundreds of pieces of art, much of which are large scale sculptures. The house was designed to accommodate such pieces, while also being a home and social gathering place. As an Episcopal preacher, Al Shands is very into the idea of bringing people together, whether it’s socializing or quiet reflection. Shands is someone who delights in exchanging ideas, so with all this in mind, his home is no surprise.

Sol LeWitt’s Untitled Wall Drawing in the Shands’ living room. Photo by Sarah Katherine Davis.

I spoke with Al Shands and Julien Robson about the collection and the estate. Al Shands will leave the entire collection to The Speed Art Museum upon his passing. Al and Julien worked together within The Speed, and have come together again to produce the book Great Meadows: The Making Of Here, to give people a feel of the home as it is now. Al hopes to help grow The Speed with his gift, and to inspire others to collect with his story.

The beautiful book chronicling the progress of Great Meadows is available here.

Below you can listen to our chat (I apologize for the ‘levels’).

 

 

Shapin/Nicolas Collection : January 7th, 2015

Happy New Year listeners!

I hope you enjoy the first episode of 2015. I’d like to introduce today’s guests with this thought: When thinking about the art world I think it’s easy to forget about those who collect art, because frankly, there aren’t a lot of individuals who do it…at least not seriously. And considering certain economic and logistic factors such as mounting, physical space, etc it makes sense that collecting is a dying trend. After artists, the most important thing to make up a ‘scene’ is a forum for displaying and viewing work, which needs funds to survive. My guests certainly understand these issues, and are doing their part in helping our city’s creative culture.

Today’s chat is with Larry Shapin and Ladonna Nicolas. Larry and Ladonna own work from over 300 Kentucky based artists; most of which are right here in Louisville. Their collection has grown so large that they built an addition onto their home to display the works. Both of them come from art backgrounds, are educated in creative fields, and Larry’s mother is one of the founding members of the Speed Art Museum. In saying that, Larry has been exposed to art from a very young age and continued to support it as an adult.

We discuss the importance of having personal relationships with artists, future plans for their space, up & coming creatives, and Louisville’s art scene.

I’d like to personally thank them for being such a great source of encouragement and support for our city’s artists. Give our discussion a listen and I think you’ll agree.

Till next time.