Austin Art Talk

A quick interview with Jacqueline Overby & Courtney Peterson of MotherShip Studios, who are spearheading the inaugural San Marcos Studio Tour! We talk about the inspiration for the tour, the many mentors and examples that made it possible, the importance of group artist studio settings, what to expect, all the details, and more. Text courtesy of SMST website. MotherShip Studios presents the inaugural San Marcos Studio Tour- anticipated to be the first of many years to come! This free, self-guided tour will feature over fifty artists all across San Marcos, Martindale, and surrounding areas. Artists will be showcasing their studio spaces and artwork during this weekend-long occasion, launching with a kick-off event held at MotherShip Studios, Friday, March 31st. As well, a group exhibition of all participants will be hosted at the MotherShip warehouse gallery featuring one artwork from each artist. The San Marcos Studio Tour will highlight San Marcos area artists and their studios, while fostering connection and engagement in the arts and local communities. Allowing the public an insider’s look into the artistic process creates an exchange between fellow artists, community members, and art collectors. We will showcase the messy workspaces, the paint-splattered floors, the at-home and garage studios, the cluttered art supplies, the inspirational walls of reference photos, and the clay-ridden wheels. We will provide an opportunity for artists to show the raw spaces from which they create. These environments, though sometimes unpolished, are where the magic happens and creativity flourishes. Mothership Studios will provide a tour map with numbers for each artist and signs to display during the tour weekend. A catalog of the tour participants will be available for purchase at MotherShip Studios. In addition to the map of all tour stops, this catalog will provide details on each artist, including images of work, and short statements about the artists. The kick-off event will feature our group exhibition, a live printing demo, music by local musicians, a raffle give away, and complimentary drinks sponsored by local breweries such as Middleton Brewing, Still Austin Whiskey, Austin Beer Works, and Thirsty Planet. Please join us for an inspiring and interactive weekend of San Marcos arts and events! When: Friday, March 31st at 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Kick-off Event at MotherShip Studios/20027 San Marcos Hwy 80, San Marcos, TX, 78666 Saturday, April 1st 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tour Open/Town of San Marcos and Martindale Sunday, April 2nd at 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tour Open/Towns of San Marcos and Martindale https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/fPqkMUCc.jpeg Courtney and Jacqueline hard at work! This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/)

“The more I know about me and the more I explore who I am and why I am, trying to be objective about that, I think that transfers into the work” B Shawn Cox is a Texas artist who is best known for his iconographic figurative western cowboy paintings on fabric, realized in vivid colors and patterned layers. He also uses similar images in his digital lenticular work where your shifting perspective creates movement in each piece, with the use of juxtaposing portraits. Then there are also his meticulously constructed dimensional collages which transform 2D into 3D. Shawn has figured out how to combine these disparate bodies of work into cohesive looking and feeling exhibitions. This approach keeps things exciting for the viewer as you never know what you might see. The work is playful, adventurous, and exciting at first glance but can be delved into deeper for a full gamut and range of thoughts and ideas. Currently Shawn is exploring western societal and standardized mythologies, reflected and processed from a personal standpoint. He is looking at where he came from and where he is now, and the influences of the kinds of iconography that society celebrates in conscious and unconscious ways. Growing up in West Texas with a desire to be creative, but with limited means, taught him to see more possibilities of use in everything around him and a somewhat contrarian approach to the rules of around what is possible. Even though his family was in ranching, he chose to leave and focus on academia, studying and practicing both architecture and law. And consistently through the decades in his spare time he took art classes and the commitment and momentum grew until he got the attention of galleries and collectors alike. Shawn is really fun to talk with and is one of the nicest people I know. An inspiring thing about his art practice is what seems like an unwavering dedication to evolving the work and fearlessly trying new things. That keeps things fresh and fun. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/-w9KW5Cy.jpg This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. The podcast is sponsored by Ivester Contemporary (https://ivestercontemporary.com/) and East Side Picture Framing (https://eastsidepictureframing.com/) Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/)

"We are fed with this idea that we have to be so much. And of course it’s not true because each of us has a specific talent or specific things we are good at. I finally feel at this place of my life that I’m enough. I’m tying to do my best with the little corner of what I know how to do. So my goal is to keep passing this message and hoping that it’s going to effect the life or the way of thinking of certain people." Anne Mourier is a conceptual artist who was born in France and is now splitting her time between the east coast and Italy. We met many years ago in NYC and during my travels I made a point to visit her and sit down for an interview. Some of the themes she explores in her artworks are the feminine archetype, motherhood, quiet simplicity and beauty, home and the chores of domestic life, and maybe most importantly the environment and respect for life and nature. I’m so impressed with her wisdom, groundedness, her dedication to research and a commitment and openness to using any medium which might best communicate what she is trying to say with her work. She also has a series of separate performances called Taking Care were she prepared meals for people, washed and item of clothing, and washed their feet. Of the work she states “I strongly believe that “Taking Care” is important and may possibly be the only way to mend our broken society:  Taking Care of our planet, Taking Care of things instead of replacing them, Taking Care of each other…” As she says so well on her website her goal is “A harmonious future, free of its dualistic and antagonistic visions; a holistic future that would acknowledge the fluidity of the masculine and the feminine principle living in harmony within each of us, in nature, in art, in everything we touch, smell, and see.” https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/cJ0TwoTV.jpg Taking Care: The Feet - Photo by Maria Baranova https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/yJQCWgkI.jpg This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. The podcast is sponsored by Ivester Contemporary (https://ivestercontemporary.com/) and East Side Picture Framing (https://eastsidepictureframing.com/) Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"I think it’s so important that we accept each other for our differences, and just come together like brothers and sisters. We’re stronger as a unit. We’re stronger together. Again, community is so important." Adrian Armstrong is a multitalented and multidisciplinary artist who creates powerful figurative portraits primarily by combining painting, collage, and circular strokes of a ballpoint pen, as well as working with printmaking and creating music. One of his goals to combine all of the mediums he works with into one cohesive experience. And as he states on his website “He aims to portray what it means to be an African American living in modern America” We had a wide-ranging conversation about his life, starting with growing up in Nebraska and the importance of his family, to moving to Austin and creating a new community here to participate in and help to support and grow. I’m inspired by Adrian’s work ethic and dedication to creating great work, pushing himself to be better, while also helping to support others as much as he can. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/WTgrzrEG.jpg This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

“I feel like by becoming an artist it’s helped me to become who I am. And it’s helped me to accept my body. Not that I didn’t love my body, but going to figure drawing and drawing every type of persons body was such a powerful thing for me. To realize that every body really truly is beautiful.” Painter Sara Jane Parsons specialty is realistic portraits of people, landscapes, still lifes, and figure studies, all rendered beautifully in graphite or watercolor, although she did recently start learning how to work with oil paints. The incredible thing is that she creates all of her work while holding the paintbrushes and pencils in her mouth. At the age of twenty, a spinal cord injury left her paralyzed from the neck down, but that did not stop her from getting a law degree, working jobs combining legal and social work to help hundreds of people, traveling broadly, and pursuing anything that interests her and cultivating a life that is joyful and creative. She is a proud member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, a great organization that helps artists with disabilities support themselves through creating artworks that are placed on products sold far and wide. Sara Jane is such a sweet, driven, and passionate artist, and it was a joy to talk and spend some time with her and be inspired by her story, her resilience, and her dedication to being an artist. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/OBq4pYWC.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/B1umnNBz.jpg "Helen", Watercolor, 13.5" x 18" By the courtesy of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Worldwide This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. The podcast is sponsored by Ivester Contemporary (https://ivestercontemporary.com/) and East Side Picture Framing (https://eastsidepictureframing.com/) Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

As an artist, educator, cultural activist, mentor, and all-around great human being, Sam Coronado, created opportunities for and changed the lives of many people before passing unexpectedly in 2013. One of his bigger accomplishments was The Serie Project, a non-profit serigraph printmaking residency that lasted for over 20 years and worked with hundreds of artists from around the US and the world, at all stages of their careers. I worked with Sam for many years, have always thought very highly of him, and decided I should do a special episode celebrating and talking about his life and work. I'm grateful to his wife Jill Ramirez and the master printers Pepe Coronado and Jonathan Rebolloso for speaking with me about Sam, sharing their stories about him, how he changed their lives, and the legacy he has left behind. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/RPLzacbu.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/-wU0Q9xJ.jpg Sam at his retrospective at Mexic-Arte Museum in 2011. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/S14kJWNr.jpg Sam doing a demonstration for students at Coronado Studio. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/QrmmjhJy.jpg Sam working with artist Lacey Richter on her Serie Project print. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

As artist Amy Scofield states on her website she is investigating the relationship between things. And the things she is working with very often are discarded objects or what would typically be recycled. The interaction between nature and the human-made world and our effects on the planet also figure into her intentions and concerns as she captures and manipulates what catches her eye into something more curious and brave. Like many artists, she has a compulsion to create and she uses her intuition and powers of observation to find the next opportunity or subject for the curation of her unique, refined, and thoughtful images and sculptures. Moving forward her focus is shifting more to impermanence as she considers what is real and what is not and the ephemeral nature of everything. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/vPen_XXQ.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/Y8Xi96P3.png amy scofield Un/Common Thread May 14th - June 24, 2021 Lydia Street Gallery (https://www.lydiastreetgallery.com/) 1200 E. 11th St #109 Austin, TX 78702 Saturdays & Sundays 12-5 during exhibitions, no appointment needed. Weekdays by appointment: email (mailto:LydiaStreetGallery@gmail.com) or DM in Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lydiastreetgallery/) This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"Oh, I can still learn something from scratch, totally different from what I do in my world. I find that is so rejuvenating. It makes you feel good!" This week's podcast guest is Gladys Poorte. Her work for many people appears to be very otherworldly and fantastical, maybe even sci-fi inspired, but in fact, it is all based on real-life objects and 3D models that she creates in her studio to draw and paint from while controlling the light and mood to ultimately create space and depth. The inspiration often comes from observing, processing, and reacting to real-life events that have happened in the world, and concerns about the future. I’m very impressed with Gladys' willingness to keep pushing herself to learn new skills and gain knowledge to enhance and evolve her artwork over time. We talk about her life growing up in Argentina, working as an educator, transitioning to living in the US, and her many years of diverse art classes and schooling to evolve her style and craft to where it is today. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/TDUOtJaV.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/Ilem-Aya.jpg (https://www.davisgalleryaustin.com/) Nuevo Mundo Gladys Poorte At The Davis Gallery (https://www.davisgalleryaustin.com/) May 1st - June 12th Davis Gallery & Framing 837 West 12th Street Austin, TX 78701 512-477-4929 Gladys Poorte's "Nuevo Mundo" debuts at the Davis Gallery. Exploring the new settings wherein which we find ourselves during an unprecedented time, Poorte helps us transition into seemingly foreign yet familiar landscapes within her interpretation and style. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

“As much as art is about creating an object, it’s also about learning about yourself. My art has always been this tool for which I decipher the world, and my place in it, or who I am and how I learn and what I see. It’s the medium through which I decipher everything.” Artist Tom Jean Webb grew up in England but knew from an early age he wanted to live in America. His mother and grandfather helped to inspire his creativity and if not for a chance visit to a contemporary art gallery as an adult, he would not have realized that what he wanted to say with his own art was valid and possible. After many trips and back and forth from the United States to England he finally committed to fulfill his dream and made the US his home. The work he creates is heavily inspired by the colorful and rocky desert landscapes of the southwest and are explorations of space and his own personal reality. As he consistently strives to create his distinctive artwork he prioritizes being open and present, staying playful, having fun, and letting go of control and preconceived ideas. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/aF5SqEC2.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/ij4khpvF.jpg Together From Afar I & II, 2020 Acrylic on Canvas 75 x 53 in See Tom Jean's work in person at Ivester Contemporary (http://ivestercontemporary.com/artist/tom-jean-webb) 916 Springdale Rd Bldg 2, Suite 107 Austin, TX 78702 (737) 209-0379 This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

“That’s my ultimate goal. When I’m done here I want to have temples built in a lot of people's hearts. Not, oh Chris was so awesome. But because I gave them something. Because I meant something to them. Because I gave them a piece of my heart” Wow! Can’t believe we’ve made it to 100 episodes. I could not imagine a better guest to celebrate this milestone. Chris Rogers is an artist who specializes in portraits that capture a person's true essence, live painting sessions at events, and large and colorful murals that adorn many walls around Austin with their inviting and galvanizing truths. All of this work hopefully leads to conversations, connections, and a realization as Chris says in the interview, the cure is us. How can we heal our fractured system and relationships, let go of control and give over to the moment, and find our way to truth, honesty with ourselves, and learn to speak from the heart? Chris really brought the vulnerability and bares all as we talk about his lifelong artistic practice, alcoholism and recovery, and the huge impact his late mother continues to have on his life. This conversation was so moving and inspiring to me as I hope it will be to you. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/H2pBfOjL.jpg We speak about the two murals pictured below in the interview. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/bMFW_x_E.jpeg If He Can't Breate, We Can't Breathe - George Floyd mural at Native Hostel (https://g.page/Nativehostel?share) https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/_AgrEYob.jpeg Mural at 12th & Chicon (https://goo.gl/maps/4BS3fXtoVnsnbooR7) This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"Out of the million brush strokes on this painting, I like his brushstroke. So it was worth the 20 hours I spent on it to learn this one stroke. Then I would take that stroke into the next piece. Then that piece didn’t feel right but there was a second brush stroke also that I liked. And then eventually I got to the point where I liked all the brush strokes on the canvas. That’s when I’m like OK, now I can start making art." Manik Raj Nakra is an Austin Based Artist who creates colorful and mythic-looking artworks influenced by his extensive research of cultures, ancient art, and architecture from all over the world. All that he absorbs through books, travel, and online research gets melded and transformed into his own unique but somehow universal visual language. I’m impressed with Manik’s boldness and commitment to his art practice and willingness to spend years out of view to refine his subject matter, experiment, and learn and improve his creative techniques, taking the quality of what he is producing to the next level, and then back into the world. Please enjoy this interesting and often humorous conversation with Manik and be sure to check out his Big Medium exhibition this month. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/EA0AGqfc.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/8uJ2LtEX.jpg MOTH, 2020, Oil paint, acrylic paint, spray paint, ceremonial bindis on canvas and wood, 96 x 67 in. Manik Raj Nakra WILDLIFE March 13 – May 1, 2021 Big Medium 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2, #101 Austin, Texas 78702 512.939.6665 info@bigmedium.org Appointment hours: Thursday – Saturday, 12 – 6pm To allow for social distancing, appointments will be scheduled every 30 minutes, with a maximum of 10 guests at a time. Scroll down to schedule an appointment with at least 24 hours advance notice. Masks are required at all times. Text courtesy of the BIg Medium Website "Inspired by stories of nature regenerating and reclaiming space during the Covid19 pandemic, W I L D L I F E examines what happens when humanity removes itself from the natural world. The exhibition also introduces a new material for the artist—the ceremonial bindi, worn for centuries on the forehead in Indian culture for spiritual, traditional, and fashion reasons. It can be seen as a third eye creating an opening to infinity or as a symbol of femininity. For the natural world depicted in the paintings, the renewed and rejuvenated flora and fauna are anthropomorphized with hundreds of bindis as wildlife reincarnated with third eyes. The twinkling of the jeweled bindis carry remnants of memory. The severed animal heads from which the new nature grows are depicted upside down to represent self-sabotage and the mistakes of the past. Influenced by the architecture of ancient forts and palaces of Indian Mughals, Iran, Oman, and Pakistan, the paintings are installed in window frames handmade by the artist. The pieces look out onto a world from isolation with new wonder, new honesty, and new beauty. At first, the viewer encounters these windows from the “inside looking out” but with bindis all over functioning as eyes, they equally become the “outside looking in” giving the paintings an existential feel to reflect on these uncertain times and space. Manik Raj Nakra’s work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout Texas and San Francisco, a member of the 2019 Crit Group program with The Contemporary in Austin, TX, The LINE Residency with Big Medium in 2020, and a client list that includes Converse, The Oxford American, The LINE Hotel, Facebook, Urban Outfitters, amongst others." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"I used to think I had all the answers. I believed it. I don’t believe that at all anymore. I have all the questions. I’ve got all of them. And I don’t really need answers anymore. I’m in it for the questions. And that pretty much rules my day, every day. Just endless questions." This is part two of my interview with artist Brian Daly. If you haven’t heard Part One I would recommend going back and starting with Episode 97 where we cover his epic life story before he got sober nineteen months ago. Part Two goes more in depth into his current life and practice as an artist. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/FS0lNVXK.jpg This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

Sometimes it can take a lot to ask for help. Artist Brian Daly realized nineteen months ago that even though he had already survived hitting bottom a few times before, this time might be his last. Through years of ups and downs, Brian acquired the skills to create almost anything as a fabricator while also from a young age continuing to further his drafting and artistic talents. In this first part of two episodes, he shares in vivid detail, reminiscent of his drawings, the epic and tumultuous journey he has been on, up until getting clean and sober and focusing his energy and recovery into his art. The paper and ink drawings he creates as a literal meditation, are beautiful and precise in their rendering, allowing him to share a glimpse of his inner world, imagination, and lifelong fascination with tools and the mechanics of objects. The second part of our conversation, Episode 98, goes into more detail about his current life and artistic practice. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/r5PSdJYz.jpg This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"Let’s continue to make beautiful things. Let’s respect ourselves and think about the future. Let’s make some money. Let’s be generous with our money. Let’s protect ourselves and the planet. Let’s be more responsible. Let’s be more grateful." Nick Schnitzer is very passionate about art and helping artists thrive. That's in addition to his love of architecture, woodworking, teaching and mentoring young people, travel, his family, and most of all living an aware, considerate, humble, and generative life. He's a talented and capable craftsperson who can design and create almost anything he puts his mind and body into. His public art and exhibitions often highlight environmental and political challenges and strive to build community and connect people and ideas towards a goal of improving their lives and raising awareness of important issues in our culture and society. I love Nick's energy, focus, integrity, and the way he strives to improve himself and those around him. He has a big heart and it's very obvious in the interview. Please enjoy! https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/KIL-G-FJ.jpg Nick with his daughter Edie Rose. Nick's website about text "As modern technology leads to increased connection to the world, we’ve never been more disconnected from each other. I create sculpture and site-specific architectural works that seek to create new modes of empathic communication – to use technology to augment the way we interact; to break down the barriers that exist between people; and to provide an emotional overlay so we can more deeply understand each other as people. By subjecting objects and people to various scientific and relational processes, I construct a dialogue that questions our relationship to the material world, our internal psychological landscapes, and our very dynamic planet. I’m most interested in the things we hide, repress, and deny, as I believe these to be our greatest gifts. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung theorizes that in order to become fully engaged with ourselves, each other, and the world we live in, we must learn to incorporate things that can be difficult to grasp. I appeal to our vanity and curiosity, often through the use of reflective surfaces, interactive technology, and traditional construction techniques. In an increasingly complex world, the minimal nature of the work is tailored to create a focused experience for the viewer, resulting in a contemplative moment of careful consideration amongst the surrounding chaos." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

As an adult, after working many jobs in the business world and raising her daughters' artist Joyce Howell decided to go back to school to study art and eventually achieved her master's degree. She started out painting in a very representational style but in graduate school found the encouragement and a strong desire to create abstract works that expressed more of her internal reality and how she processed everything in her world. For the last almost 25 years Joyce has been committed to her studio practice and has participated in many solo and group exhibitions. She creates colorful and often atmospheric abstract paintings that without a doubt contribute to the joy and beauty experienced through art that we all need in our lives and our homes. She has been represented in Austin by Wally Workman Gallery for over 10 years and has a solo exhibition there from March 6th -27th, 2021. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/GfkSqkof.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/2nUsIewy.jpg Mujer Pintada, 2021, oil on canvas, 42x42 inches Joyce Howell: Solo Show March 6-27, 2021 Wally Workman Gallery (https://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/) "Howell’s palette is informed by nature and its flux between calm and chaos. She describes it as an ongoing conversation. Each color and the mark by which it is applied to the canvas informs the next. Colors give the impression of physical weight. Colors become instruments, much as in a musical composition. As the work progresses, the painting becomes a collaborative, a dialogue between Howell and the canvas. This is her 8th solo show with the gallery." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"For us, as artists, the pandemic certainly economically was hard for many people but I think we are probably better equipped because can we invent something that has not been done before. If somebody is used to having a routine and a certain structure and not used to inventing their life it’s harder when something like this hits. For us it’s like OK, it’s this, let's see what we can do with it. Let’s learn something new and create something different." The podcast guest this week has had such an interesting and diverse life. Artist Valerie Chaussonnet now works full time as an artist and teacher but previously spent a big part of her life as an anthropologist, studying Russian, and raising her two sons. Now her two primary mediums are watercolor and sculptures made from raw pieces of welded steel. A lifetime of influences in the realm of art and many diverse cultures all culminates now in the stories she tells with her colorful paintings and spirited sculptures. I love the joy Valerie brings to life and I’m inspired by her adventurous, playful, and rich way of life. Please enjoy this very fun interview! https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/-y8f6-qv.jpg Photo by Scott David Gordon Current & Upcoming Found February 26 - March 27, 2021 Georgetown Art Center (https://georgetownartcentertx.org/calendar/found/) "Found presents recent artworks by three area artists. Each artist relies on random discovery and found materials as a starting point. Chaussonnet recuts recovered industrial scrap steel, then forges and welds stylized busts, landscapes, and abstract sculptures. Rolfe is an assemblage artist whose narrative relief sculptures and shadow boxes are composed primarily of reclaimed vintage household furnishings. Webb faithfully uses acrylics to portray abandoned trash piles left at the curb for bulk collection." This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

Lauren Hunt is one of the rare artists who works with glass, and she has been at it for over 10 years. After college she worked for 7 of those years at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York with the Hot Glass Show, on land and traveling all over the world on cruise ships doing live and educational demonstrations. Eventually she made it to Austin where she has continued her practice making functional, whimsical, and sometimes purely artistic works of beauty out of molten glass. Lauren is a hoot and we had such a fun conversation. I’ve always wanted to learn more about glass blowing and what it’s all about and Lauren did not disappoint. Check out the shop on her website laurenhuntglass.com and see if there isn’t something there that strikes your fancy. Support local artists and fill your house with beautiful handmade objects by people you know. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/yJ9llSN0.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/WKKf6iaV.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/ckCpHlCB.jpg https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/umObhxIO.jpg Photos by Scott David Gordon This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

"I think that we are all striving towards the same goals. People are making artwork, galleries are showing artwork, and we all want to be seen. We all want to be making a positive impact somewhere. How do we move forward? I think collaboration is key ” What does it take to open an art gallery and frame shop in Austin during a pandemic? A lot. For Kevin Ivester, owner of Ivester Contemporary and Eastside Picture Framing, these businesses are the culmination of a long-term dream and years of working in all aspects of the art world including, galleries, auction houses, restoration, conservation, handling, framing, and appraisal. Now with the potential of both endeavors and his well-rounded years of experience, Kevin wants to help artists further their careers, sell their work, and raise the profile of Austin as a town where you can buy great art and from any of the numerous talented people that call it home. We talk about what it took for him to get to this point and his intentions going forward. He’s genuinely interested in adding value and helping to further the awareness and understanding of visual art and the artists he represents. What a great mission and now he has the means to see it through. Ivester Contemporary (http://ivestercontemporary.com/) 916 Springdale Rd Bldg 2, Suite 107 Austin, TX 78702 (737) 209-0379 Make An Appointment! (http://ivestercontemporary.com/make-an-appointment) About The Gallery Ivester Contemporary is an Austin-based contemporary fine art gallery committed to connecting people with leading local and regional artists and ideas. Rotating exhibitions are focused on creating a context for contemplation, deepening appreciation for the visual arts, and facilitating a dialog between the artist and their viewers. Ivester Contemporary is located within the Canopy Creative Complex in East Austin, a central hub for artists, gallerists, and other creative types. East Side Picture Framing (https://eastsidepictureframing.com/) 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 4, Suite 105 Austin Texas 78702 (512) 520 8031 Open Monday - Friday 11am-4pm and by appointment https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/wir-lEAy.jpg Photo by Scott David Gordon This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)

Elizabeth Hendley is an art therapist at Dell Children’s Medical Center and a part of what is called the Expressive Therapies team. We spoke back in March of 2018 and went in depth to explore her origin story, how she became a therapist, and some of her experiences working with children that illustrate how powerful art therapy can be. If you have not heard that episode I highly recommend checking it out. It is my second most listened to interview at just over 1300 downloads. In this update we talk about how the pandemic has affected her job at the hospital and she shares some new stories of the types of work she is doing now. Again I am so impressed with her and what she does and I’m so glad to know someone like her is doing what she does. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/fw4uxH5a.jpg Elizabeth facilitating a game together with the music therapist. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/8mK7z_oj.jpg This collaborative self-care staff project is mentioned in the interview. Elizabeth mentions donations of art supplies in the interview. Here is the list and contact info if you want to donate anything. Josie Day Jday@ascension.org 512-324-0146 Small/medium canvases (or canvas boards) Watercolor paper Watercolor brushes Acrylic brushes (stiffer) Tube watercolors Paper plates Small plastic cups Stamp pads Model magic (small pkgs., white or color) Scrapbook embellishments (flowers, stickers, gems, washi tape, etc.) The banner image consists of on the left a 6”x6” square for a large Covid-19 collaboration facilitated by ArtAustin. Kevin Ivester at Davis Gallery asked Elizabeht and many others to contribute. It’s supposed to be a light blue color palette, to honor healthcare workers. The image on the right is a Covid stamp-carving. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast) This post could contain affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

"What’s the thing that people turn to when you are in the middle of this confusing and terrifying time, and whats the thing that brings relief? It’s Art. It’s music, it’s seeing films, it’s watching TV shows, it’s looking at visual art. These are the things that can bring us out of all of these feelings that can be really overwhelming, and can bring us into the current moment. Which is really where a lot of peace lies. I think the arts are essential, especially during this time.” Elizabeth McQueen is a singer-songwriter and the host of NPR’s This Song (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/467077597/this-song) podcast. Growing up in a family of visual artists, she eventually found her own creative practice and voice in the pursuit of performing and creating music. For over eight years she was the lead singer for Asleep At The Wheel until she retired in 2014 to focus more on her kids and eventually start her radio career. For the last six years she has had the chance to interview some of the best musicians in the world and hear their stories. A few of the subjects we cover in our conversation are the importance of art right now, her aggressive positivity, her sisters artwork, the origins of This Song (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/467077597/this-song), and some great lessons she has gleaned from various artists about their own creative practices. We finish with the question she puts to every guest on her show. Can you share a story of a song that has transformed your life? What a powerful and moving answer she gives! I was so happy to finally interview Elizabeth after knowing her for so many years. She is a super talented musician, interviewer, and very positive force in the world. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/P0Ki4IbZ.jpg Elizabeth playing at a JBG potluck in 2014 This Song From KUT 90.5 (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/467077597/this-song) Musician, composer and radio host Elizabeth McQueen wants to hear about transformational songs. In conversations and interviews with fellow musicians and artists, McQueen talks with them about life-changing songs, inspiration, creativity and so much more. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/41335247-836c-4f4a-8a8b-aeca55f3227a/zE0xdKFD.jpg This is the transformational song Elizabeth shares her story about at the end of the interview, the version sung by Nina Simone. See link below. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) My baby never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should; I got it bad and that ain't good! My poor heart is sentimental not made of wood I got it bad and that ain't good! But when the weekend's over and monday rolls aroun' I end up like i start out just cryin' my heart out He don't love me like i love him nobody could I got it bad and that ain't good! Like alonely weeping willow lost in the wood I got it bad and that ain't good! And the things i tell my pillow no woman should I got it bad and that ain't good! Tho folks with good intentions tell me to save my tears I'm glad i'm mad about him i can't live without him Lord above me make him love me the way he should I got it bad and that ain't good! The banner image behind the title was taken as a part of Scott's Panorama 365 series, of Elizabeth and her family next to the Four Seasons around 2011. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Intro music generously provided by Stan Killian (http://stankillian.com/main/) Support this podcast. (http://www.austinarttalk.com/supportpodcast)