Ep. 205 Jes Moran – Abstract Painter using machine-sewn textile processes
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Colorado Springs Artist, Jes Moran. Jes discusses her engagement with art as a child, growing up in Wisconsin, altering clothes & studying apparel design, her compulsion to make, loving process, having an intentional art practice the past five years, creative ideas, some of the other creative pursuits that she explored before doing the work she does now, being self-taught, learning to trust herself, her process, being fearless, quilts, sewing, what art does for her, letting go, her older work, titles, negative space, abstract art, experimentation & exploration, finding her voice, writing, space, memories, family, vulnerability, self-doubt, routine, sacrifices, potato chips, color, her new work, her show at Auric in June, being seen & valued, the support of her family, the Colorado Springs art community, and her idea of perfect happiness.
Ep. 203 Brian Tryon – Photographer, Owner of Shutter & Strum
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Photographer, Brian Tryon, owner of Shutter & Strum and Disruptor Gallery Art Center. Brian discusses growing up in Colorado Springs, working in education, being a student advocate for at risk students, addiction & alcoholism, his passion for photography, being an outlier, the catalyst for him to get clean & sober, the Springs DIY esthetic, skateboarding, what art does for him, being a certified addiction counselor, process, analog photography, sitting with your work, titles, street & documentary photography, mindfulness, having a living archive at the Pikes Peak Library District, teaching at Community Prep & starting the Garfield Gallery, Shutter & Strum, Disruptor Gallery, the mission of Shutter & Strum, things he’s proud of that he’s been able to facilitate through Shutter & Strum, support from the community, Shutter & Strum being a community art center focusing on at risk youth, workshops, Disruptor Gallery’s exhibitions, their darkroom, South Sight student art show, the skills that they teach kids, his vision for the future for Shutter & Strum, and community service.
Ep. 185 Kevin A. Johnson – Painter & Illustrator
Painter & Illustrator, Kevin Johnson, discusses his early engagement with art, comic books, Louisville, teaching himself to draw, the Army, creating and drawing during his time in the service, his journey after retiring from the Army, Comic Con, Full Sail University, the Colorado Springs art scene, Black Lion, taking time serious, Thomas Blackshear and mentorship, bBlack Art in America, the Solidarity Mobile Mural Project, social media, Flaten Art Museum, Rogue Gallery, pricing, and his advice to young artists.…
Ep. 182 Abigail Kreuser – Photographer, Curator, & Co-Owner of Auric Gallery
Abby discusses how she and her partner Gundega came up with the name for their new gallery, being a serial entrepreneur, her journey as a photographer, getting her B.F.A. at the Rochester Institute of Technology, moving back to the Springs after college, her beginnings in curation, her first gallery space, her upcoming solo exhibition, her documentary project “Lucere”, the Colorado Springs art community and its small business community, Curate Your Space and the services they offer, the decision and catalyst to join forces with Gundega Stevens to form Auric, the balance of their partnership, their exhibition calendar, advice for people thinking about starting a gallery, exhibitions that she’s proud of presenting, and current and upcoming shows…
Ep. 165 Clay Ross – Abstract & Impressionistic Artist - Curator & Gallerist, The Look Up Gallery
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Colorado Springs Artist, Clay Ross. Clay discusses growing up in Colorado Springs, his journey as an Artist, being color blind, the “ache” to make art, working in acrylic, his two series, being a cheerleader for his community, True North Art Gallery, mixed media, abstract work, cityscapes, his current exhibition, Colorado Springs pride, light, pricing, selling art, Yobel, and The Look Up Gallery.
Ep. 158 Jasmine Dillavou – Boricua Mixed Media and Performance Artist
A Mixed Media and Performance Artist, Jasmine Dillavou discusses her Instagram handle, her childhood, getting her B.A. in Visual & Performing Arts from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, her path as an Artist, her compulsion to create, making with intention and gratitude, being accountable to herself and treating her art practice as a job, voice, the Colorado Springs Art Community, identity, being Boricua, the sacredness of your art space, Puerto Rico, potions, art as activation to activism & education, lipstick, the evolution of her performances, poetry, Ephemera, being an art educator, galleries, and the Colorado Springs art scene.
Ep. 157 True North Art Gallery – Skylar Call, Melissa Porter, Marisa S. White
Skylar, Melissa, and Marisa discuss their art background, their love of Colorado Springs and its art community, how they all met and became friends, the seeds of the True North Art Gallery, the structure of the co-op, membership, their focus as a gallery and how they’re trying to stand out in the Colorado Springs art scene, membership dues and responsibilities, commission, what they’ve learned since opening, reception by the art community, committees, artists involved in the gallery, social media and marketing, exhibitions, and curation, short and long term goals, and what gives each of them hope.
Ep. 135 Jon Francis – Painter, Photorealism, Urban Landscape Oil Painting
Colorado Springs Painter, Jon Francis talks about his early introduction to art, Floyd Tunson, Colorado Springs vibrant art community, finding his voice, Knox College, teaching, the catalyst that made him start painting again, urban landscapes, process, the importance of quiet moments, photography, power lines, routine, the crossover of teaching and art, setting goals, compulsion to create, Boxcar conversations, pricing, painting Colorado Springs landmarks, gallery representation, commissions, being a storyteller, music, The Look Up Gallery, cars and chrome, and advice to aspiring young Artists.
Ep. 128 Brett Andrus – Narrative Figurative Painter
Wes and Todd sit down with Painter Brett Andrus. Brett talks about his early exposure to art, his art education at the Savannah College of Art & Design, growing up in Colorado Springs, opening an art gallery, the Colorado Springs art community and scene, the visual artist mythos, Odd Nerdrum, the importance of mentors and mentorship, Lee Price, honoring the viewer, being a full-time Artist with a day job, curating your life, cityscapes, alleyways, models, Bosky Studio, business of art, pricing, art appropriation, narrative, painting with integrity and honesty, originality, Bosky backdrops, Virtu Collective, and being grateful.…
Ep. 123 Brian Tryon & Andrew Bailey – The Garfield Art Gallery/Up&Comers
Wes and Todd sit down with Brian Tryon, Photographer, Photography Instructor and Founder of the Garfield Art Gallery and Andrew Bailey, a young photographer from Colorado Springs. We talk about how the Garfield Art Gallery came to be, what Brian facilitates through his photography program at Community Prep School, Brian’s photographic work, how he became an instructor at Community Prep and what he teaches his students about running a gallery. Then we talk with Andrew Bailey about his photographic work, how he landed an exhibition at the Garfield Art Gallery, the thought behind the “Up & Comers” show, the work of the other Artists involved and about his plans for the future.
Ep. 114 Gundega Stevens – Owner/Curator - G44 Gallery
Gundega talks about growing up surrounded by art, getting her degrees in Art History, interning and working at the Milwaukee Art Museum, opening G44 and the early challenges she faced, moving to the new location in downtown Colorado Springs, thoughts on curation and getting into the zone to curate a show, the evolution of the vision for G44, advice to new collectors, Curate Your Space, advice to Artists on how to approach a gallery and being a story-seller.
Ep. 111 Shannon Mello – Encaustic, Cold Wax & Oil, & Watercolor
Shannon talks about the catalyst for her making the jump to being a full-time Artist, challenges she’s overcome, her experience teaching middle school art, her artivism, art and vulnerability, process, commissions, galleries, pricing and selling art, and connection.