Culture Matters in Malden

Culture Matters in Malden host Ose Schwab converses with musicians Greg Cherone and Robert Clapp, Jr. about "Shakespeare’s MacBeth, a rock opera,” produced in collaboration with John Bettencourt. Cherone and Clapp share about the origins of this idea, how it came together, and snippets of the music featuring an impressive roster of local and international performing artists. Their hope is to workshop the opera and stage it this year. ____ SONG CLIPS FEATURED IN THE PODCAST: A Dangerous Thing All My Pretty Ones Pouring Rain Rinse Away Double, Double, Toil and Trouble If We Should Fail Requiem for a Tyrant Tomorrow Windswept Prophecies LINKS: Greg Cherone on YouTube Robert Clapp Jr on YouTube Greg Cherone on Instagram Robert Clapp and Greg Cherone Play list CAST LIST: MACBETH- ROBERT CLAPP JR LADY MACBETH- LAURA WRIGHT MACDUFF- CHARLIE BONNIN WEYWARD SISTER- ABIGAIL STRICKLAND BANQUO-GREEN KING DUNCAN- RICK BERLIN PRINCE MALCOLM- DAVE MUNRO ROSS- JEFF MUNRO PORTER- RICHARD SAUNDERS OLD MAN- JIMMY ROGERS FLEANCE- JONATHAN CLAPP YOUNG SIWARD- ADDISON CLAPP ___________ ABOUT CULTURE MATTERS IN MALDEN: A podcast that explores how culture—whether tied to country of origin, a specific group, a company, or an artistic discipline—shapes perspectives and influences outcomes. Produced in Malden, at Urban Media Arts.

Executive Director and Founder Jennifer Kuhnberg and Board Member Jessica Taddeo of OnStage Dance Company have lots to say about building community through dance. Kuhnberg formed the company to stay active as a serious dancer and invited others to do the same. Over the years, the company has learned how to implement inclusive and dynamic community. OnStage is a model of connection to learn from. This episode reveals how and why. For more information about OnStage, visit https://www.onstagedanceco.com/. Follow them on Instagram @onstagedanceco and Facebook. ____ Music: Track Title: I Wanna Dance Composer(s): Dean Landon (BMI) 50%, IPI 121328222, Caron Lyn Nightingale (SOCAN) 50%, IPI 217133304 Publisher: Night Metro Park (BMI) 100%, IPI 487402830 Track ID: NIGHT_NIGHT_0103_02201 ISRC: QMFCN1320423

A thought-provoking conversation with neuroscientist, artist, and writer Joshua Sariñana unwrapping the journey of creative thought and scientific exploration that led to his project Mental Mapping: The Art of Exploring Connections. Though equipped with a robust understanding about how the mind works through his training in neuroscience, Joshua understands that science alone cannot fully explain the complex relationship we have with our external environment. Therefore, for this and other projects he allows his science background to work alongside use of photography, artificial intelligence, writing, and conversations to understand the connections between people with their environment, past and present, art and science, internal and external worlds, the seen and unseen.  https://urbanmediaarts.org/mentalmapping/

In this podcast, artist, educator, and choreographer Laura Sánchez describes her journey with flamenco dance navigating lifes challenges as an immigrant, artist, and mother of a child with multiple disabilities. The conversation reveals a vulnerability that draws in the listener to Sánchez's world of Expressive Flamenco Dance, a modality of expressive art therapy she innovated, practices and shares. With one voice, Sánchez the mother and artist, shares that even when the emotion is quite raw, flamenco gives her the language to embrace difficult surprises as creative material. Her therapeutic process helps her celebrate the full spectrum of what it means to be human with others. This podcast was made possible by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Produced at Urban Media Arts (UMA). https://urbanmediaarts.org Host: Anne D'Urso-Rose Editor: Maille Blume Guest: Laura Sánchez For details about Laura Sánchez, visit https://urbanmediaarts.org/laurasanchez ___ Music Castanets sounds by the artist Satoration from freesound.org, under Attribution 4.0 International: https://freesound.org/people/Satoration/sounds/57300/ remixed for the purposes of this podcast. Flamenco Guitar Effects, Sean Elder (KODA), SOHO Metro Park (BMI) Senorita, by Joseph Isaac Archer (PRS) 50%, George Hollingdrake (PRS)

Fern Remedi-Brown dives into how and why she founded the Malden-based nonprofit Sowing Opportunities Inc., an organization dedicated to helping remote indigenous communities in rural Guatemala gain access to clean water and build life-saving agricultural infrastructure through greenhouse farming programs. In this conversation, Fern weaves a web of deeply personal narratives about family, faith, ancestry, and generational trauma - starting with the infant adoption of her Guatemalan-born daughter from the village of Chajmaic over a decade ago. These stories continue as Fern and the rest of the Sowing Opportunities team expand their assistance beyond Chajmaic to help more and more communities in need. CREDITS Ose Schwab - Host & Producer Meredith Rumore - Editor Jahzzar - Music

This guest episode is a conversation with young filmmaker, ShiJie Weng. On November 5th, 2022, he traveled to Boston from Spain to accept an award for Best of Festival in the High School Student Filmmaker category at the Arlington International Film Festival. Winning filmmakers from all around the world presented their work and met with industry professionals at the Voices of Youth screening and awards ceremony. ShiJie's winning film entitled “I Have A Dream, A Movie Dream” is a message to other young filmmakers about pursuing their dreams.  The Arlington International Film Festival is an annual film competition and red-carpet event for indie filmmakers. For information about the festival and the student call for submissions, please visit https://filmfreeway.com/arlingtoninternationalfilmfestival.

Mikaela Bartels, a Child Life Specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, started Yarnbug Hand-knits as a way to reclaim her creativity. Mikaela began knitting at the age of ten. It has always been a part of her life and a source of joy. When the pandemic hit, she stopped. Work rendered her exhausted and unable to create. Though the stress at work only continued, a few small changes allowed Mikaela to start knitting again. She now facilitates various knitting gatherings and workshops. She also sells her whimsical creatures and other knitted items that she describes as "warm knits to warm hearts."  Yarnbug Hand-Knits Etsy Instagram CREDITS Ose Schwab - Host & Producer Meredith Rumore - Editor Mikaela Bartels - Photos

Third of three episodes in a series entitled LOOKING UP, hosted by Gillian Hodgden Ep.3 Chris Burgan of Full Heart Tarot is a tarot reader, meditation guide, and spirit connection seeker. Burgan’s work is unique in the way that it is not affiliated with any specific faiths or spiritualities, but instead his services pull from various places to create a space of self growth and reflection. Burgan speaks about what tarot is, the importance of meditation, and the importance of art and expression in self-growth. You can connect with Chris on social media here: www.facebook.com/ChrisBurganFullH…tReadingsandMore twitter.com/ChrisBurgan8 www.instagram.com/fullhearttarot/ www.youtube.com/channel/UC8cw3IGuU-XeaqSI_5SifwA

Second of three episodes in a series entitled LOOKING UP, hosted by Gillian Hodgden Ep.2 Josephine Royal, podcaster and office manager at Urban Media Arts, is a member of Calvary Christian Church. Faith is at the center of Royal’s life–through all moments, she has felt God by her side. Royal takes us through the struggles and triumphs of her life, and how all of it circled back to her faith.  Listen to Josephine’s podcast Let Me Tell You Something.

First of three episodes in a series entitled LOOKING UP, hosted by Gillian Hodgden Ep.1 Dave Weigert, a retired Berklee College of Music professor, has been a member of the Baha’i faith for over 40 years. Weigert is also the caretaker of the Wilson House of Visitation which was visited by Abdu’l Baha, the son of Baháʼu'lláh, in 1912. In this episode Dave explains what the Baha’i faith is, it’s impact on his life, and how the faith has positively impacted the Malden community. Get in touch with Dave by contacting him at dweigert1995@gmail.com or on the Wilson House of Visitation Facebook page. Learn more about the Baha’i faith by calling 1-800-22-UNITE or by visiting www.bahai.org 

At a time when so many people in the the world are in crisis, it is hard to know what to do and how to help. Malden resident Julio Salado reflects on his week in Przemyśl, Poland as part of a ragtag team of international volunteers aiding Ukrainian refugee children and adults who crossed the border to flee the Russian invasion. Julio guides us through the steps he made to put his desire to help into action - from connecting with organizations on social media, to crowdfunding travel expenses, to the actual day-to-day labor of aiding refugees. His unique passion and energy are players in this story, but he insists that anyone can make a difference if they ask for the opportunity. Julio is an award-winning fitness professional founder of Fitness Foundry in Malden. He is also a licensed EMT, an author, and an educator. As an active member of the community, he volunteers at several mutual aid and civic engagement groups both locally and beyond. You can get in contact with him via Twitter or through the Fitness Foundry website. Support Ukraine: https://razomforukraine.org https://www.comebackalive.in.ua https://blue-yellow.lt/en CREDITS Ose Schwab - Host & Producer Meredith Rumore - Editor Neringa Rekasiute - Music Julio Salado - Photos

This interview was originally recorded in May 2021. Local artists Nathaniel Burks and Clint Baclawski talk about their process, inspiration, and innovative approaches to creating beyond traditional medium and expectation. This conversation explores the subjects of artistic authenticity and the role of light and space in how we create or present art. Although their artwork is very different, they share desire to get people to reconsider what art is, how it is valued, and its role in our lives. Nathaniel Burks is a digital pop and remix artist, heavily influenced by collage, graphic design, simulacra, and animation. He primarily prints on large format wheat pastes and skateboard decks. He’s interested in concepts of brand exploitation, ephemerality as an economic driver in the art industry, and the arbitrary lines we draw between “fine” art and “low” art. Visit Nate’s studio profile for his digital portfolio and social media pages.  Clint Baclawski is a photographic and light installation artist who works with larger-scale exhibitions inspired by the Light and Space Movement. He describes his work as an ode to and deconstruction of lightbox photography. His exhibits are spaces where light, rhythm, and landscape are reconfigured to evoke strong reactions and dialogues. Check out Clint’s website for photographs of his exhibits and further information on his work. CREDITS Ose Schwab - Host & Producer Meredith Rumore - Editor

Sneaker culture, the allure of drip, is Gabe Toribio's language. His small business, Laa Tiendaa, a street-style minded haunt on Lebanon Street in the heart of Maplewood Square, is the culmination of a years-long journey of studying, appraising, reselling and selling sneakers that began with the first pair of kicks Toribio bought at a premium from his brother.  What began as an amateur website has flourished into a vibrant and welcoming shop with a booming clientele and a unique vision of arts and culture in Malden.  Find Laa Tiendaa on Instagram at @laatiendaashop. 

By way of Latvia, Natalja Sticco brings to Malden her beautiful executed and rare craft: opera singing. Natalja has managed to bridge her musical artistry with a career in information technology, or IT, and she is continuously bridging cultures and languages in both her marriage and her residence in one of the most diverse cities in the state of Massachusetts. Her husband Gene joins us to discuss the business of the stage and finding purpose in service. 

Formerly recorded as part of the Inside Malden Ideas and Stories that Inspire series produced as a video and podcast show, this conversation is pertinent to our ongoing challenge to be united though we are different.  In a day of troubling reports of terrorist attacks around the world, refugee crisis in Europe and the US, war, and the trends of racial and ethnic profiling, Souad Akib, a native of Morocco and a vibrant and well-loved presence in Malden, offers a concerned but optimistic voice of reason and hope to us all in Malden and beyond.  In 2010, Souad Akib founded the American Association for Arab Women (AAAW). In collaboration with other organizations in Malden, this non-profit organization helps women from Arab countries access the resources needed to navigate the systems, culture, and language of their new home. By this empowering support of women, the AAAW helps families to thrive in Malden. Malden benefits by this service as immigrant families become engaged residents.  In addition, the AAAW sponsors events that invite all of Malden to workshops that raise awareness about important topics or to celebrations that build community - like a public Iftar during Ramadan or the AAAW flagship offering, International Women's Day. Enabling connection is at the heart of these occasions. The urge for this togetherness is a hospitality that for Souad goes through culture, tradition, language, country of origin, race, or religion. For as Souad says, "we are all human. We should be one."  Video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7yHkYe9b2E

Art is Lisa Tiemann's tool to piece together our fragmented sense of self, that for some feels outside of nature. Appropriately, her artforms are stained glass, dance, and mosaics. She teaches dance and is very excited about facilitating community projects like the "Green Man" Mosaic, recently completed by a number of amateur and professional artists to be installed in a community park. From first frolicking along the shore and delighted by small pebbles and happily playing in the woods chasing rabbits, today all this awe for nature continues. It mixes with compassion for those who miss out on the wholeness feeling part and connected to the world of plants, animals, and elements engenders. She wants to help heal the split that keeps us outside of nature - when we belong inside. Read more - Lisa Tiemann website and an article about the Green Man community mosaic project.

Eli and Hudson are two middle schoolers with sharp minds and a deep concern about what is happening around them. They care about society, global warming, energy efficiency, and equity for all. It matters to them how we handle systemic racism and crime or how much fossil fuel we use for even things like solar panels. They want to be challenged in the classroom and have ideas on how to make things better. What if we listened more to children like Eli and Hudson? Could giving them a voice help us address problems and help them feel hope and agency for now and the future? Its a time we are all grappling with. And for educators, parents, and students there are challenges. But with challenges come opportunities. In a conversation held over zoom, middle schoolers Eli and Hudson share their observations about what is going on in school. They also have opinions about broader more global issues. They would like to have a voice in these matters and hope that leaders would take time to listen to their concerns, ideas, and what they are experiencing - especially now. In followup to this interview, Eli and Hudson met with the Mayor of Malden, Gary Christenson one week after the interview. The boys asked questions about where the city gets energy; how energy efficient are we being; are we considering reducing use of fossil fuel? They also asked about the status of domestic violence and how the city is dealing with systemic racism. They shared their thoughts about school and what could make it better as well as ideas for what might help the community be more connected. For details and pictures, visit http://matv.org/culturematters/elandhudson

What is possible when a team of  artists running a community enterprise let "YES" be the dominant force in navigating challenges? Leaders from The Gallery@57, an artist-run community enterprise in Malden, talk about the challenges of closing down during the COVID-19 pandemic. They share some of the key elements of their persistence and why they believe that YES, they will succeed! The Gallery@57, an artist-led shop that sells high quality handmade products, was born of a resolve that artists and their work are vital to any community. As the entire world deals with Covid-19, the US addresses sytemic racism, and small businesses must find ways to stay afloat, how and why The Gallery@57 succeeds is a good story for us all. That story began with a simple question and will continue with a persistent “YES.” When an empty commercial space in the center of Malden, MA stimulated the imagination of one artist who asked, “what if that empty space could be an art gallery that showcases local artists’ work,” several artists answered with an 11-day popup holiday local artist marketplace known as Malden Pops Up. Excited by the success, Malden Pops Up returned the following year and became known as The Gallery, a long term popup gift shop, gallery, and cultural hub, lasting over one year. When The Gallery concluded its term at the end of 2018, many people were saddened. But a few knew that the foundation of generosity, creativity, and power of community through arts would prevail and sustain a longer term, more permanent version of The Gallery. In July 2019, the opportunity became reality, as a lease was signed for the space at 57 Pleasant Street, right in the heart of the major transformation that Malden Center is undergoing. The Gallery @57 opened its doors on October 25, 2019, and launched its online shop on April 23, 2020. After a successful holiday season and a quiet start of 2020 with many events and campaigns planned, The Gallery@57, like other non essential businesses all over, had to close to prevent spread of the COVID-19. Though the pandemic thwarted the momentum of startup and marketing, it spurred on an intense dive into the online world of retail. Resolved to pivot and figure out how to move online, leaders The Gallery@57 opened up an online shop late April. Michelle Trammel, Sandy Felder, Grace Julian Murthy, and Marcel Schwab, members of the leadership team, share what they've learned, what keeps them going and what they hope for. They give clues into what a successful group-led enterprise looks like and how it learns. This conversation shows that a mission empowers a group to say "YES" to try, "YES" to learn, and "YES" to create new things. And a growing appreciation, respect, and care for one another keeps the "YES" going through challenges. For more information about The Gallery@57, visit http://galleryat57.com _____ A Culture Matters in Malden Episode, a podcast that offers culture as a lens to explore themes relevant to the Malden community. For more info, visit http://matv.org/culturematters Hosts: Ose Schwab Producer: Ose Schwab Recorded by Zoom Date: June 13, 2020 Recorded: April 2020 Music excerpts: "A New Puzzle" by Expendable friend Featured image: By Grace Julian Murthy

With the Covid-19 pandemic  still running its course in the world and protests around the US calling for an end to systemic racism, speaking with Jean Appolon is an oasis of hope and healing. In this conversation by Zoom, Appolon shares snippets from his own journey with dance, a lifesaving passion that helped him process his own trauma of his father's brutal murder.  He also speaks about his desire to share all that he knows with others: folkloric dance, Haitian culture, overcoming trauma, and really just being human. Dance for Appolon is like oxygen. Life is not possible without it. As choreographer, master teacher, and Artistic Director of Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE), dance is his instrument of connection and healing that he lives and gives to the world. Appolon's story began in Haiti. A son of hardworking parents and part of a close family, his father who had served Haiti 's government over 20 years was murdered in a gruesome manner, traumatizing the teen Appolon in ways that only dance could heal. Before the life altering tragedy, Appolon had already discovered dance. He studied dance with the Viviane Gauthier Dance Company and the Folkloric Ballet of Haiti. After immigrating to the US, he studied with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Joffrey American Ballet School. Appolon cofounded Jean Appolon Expressions, a contemporary Haitian Dance company centered in the Boston area. Well regarded, this company performs locally and offers dance classes. It also provides youth in Haiti and the United States with the chance to dance and learn life skills. For Appolon, the journey is still rough, he misses Haiti, but he has also built a rich life here in the US, with a company of dancers who share his vision to "build caring communities through dance." He has a gift to combine mastery with generosity. He shares everything he knows: dance, Haitian culture, and the two together. This ends up to be a bit of fusion, dance classes infused with the various Hatian dance styles that tell an important story and offer a new way to move, heal and understand. We are fortunate to have Appolon in our midst. He bridges us not only to Haitian history and culture but to a way of being human and breathing. For more info about Jean Appolon and this episode, visit http://matv.org/culturematters/jeanappolon A Culture Matters in Malden Episode, a podcast that offers culture as a lens to explore themes relevant to the Malden community. Hosts: Papi Xampeux and Ose Schwab Producer: Ose Schwab Recorded by Zoom Date: May 31, 2020 Recorded: April 2020 Music excerpts: Saturn Never Sleeps,  Toto Bissainthe Featured image: Jean Appolon, courtesy JAE

A conversation with Artistic Director of Monkeyhouse, the innovative Karen Krolak, about the power of inquiry and articulate movement to help communities find more cohesiveness and compassion. In collaboration with groups and fellow artists, Krolak masterminds caring innovations that employ movement, words, and curiosity as key ingredients. She describes her creative forays, stories, and thought process with great eloquence. One could easily hang on her every word for hours. Malden is fortunate to be home to Karen Krolak, a creative spirit who has many ideas about how to increase trust and improve communication as a community.  Krolak believes that “we could be more articulate with our bodies and use them for a better benefit if we had more intelligence about the  way we were using them.” Krolak calls herself a “free range collaborator,” meaning she creates with a variety of people across sectors, artistic disciplines, region, space, and themes. Voraciously curious, Krolak follows her creative muse to unique projects in and around Boston and sometimes further: Korea, Morocco, England, or other parts of the globe. She is always up to something interesting; as she says, “you simply never know what will happen next around me.” With a BA in linguistics and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts, Krolak draws from many tools, talents, and training to carry out interesting initiatives most often using dance and choreography. As Founder and Artistic Director of Monkeyhouse, she helps equip society to “move with meaning” and care through innovative applications of choreography. A Culture Matters in Malden Episode Hosts: Papi Xampeux and Ose Schwab Producer: Ose Schwab Recorded in the Podcast Suite at Urban Media Arts (UMA) Date: May 6, 2020 Recorded: Winter 2019 Music excerpts: "Toscano" | Quartet San Francisco "Cinema Pathetic" | Blue Dot Sessions "Humanity" | Scott Holmes Featured image: From I-Are Artist Spotlight interview with Karen Krolak at the Dance Complex as one of the 2018-2019 I-ARE Artists for The Dance Complex