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. 204 Gary Taxali – Canadian Contemporary Fine Artist & Illustrator
This week, Wes and Todd sit down with Canadian Contemporary Fine Artist and Illustrator, Gary Taxali. Gary discusses how his style doesn’t differ between his personal and commercial work, business sense, work/life balance, his early career and moving to New York City, being exposed to the fine art world in New York, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, transition from illustration to the fine art world, his early engagement in art, drawing at an early age in school, the support of his family, the importance of doodling and mark making, teaching at OCAD and how it informs his work, creativity and problem solving, voice and personal style, philosophy of his creativity, trusting yourself and the process, confidence, play being the essence of creativity, having the support of music, Mississippi Delta Blues, feeding his soul, the Russian Avant Garde, connecting to people through art, his style and how it has evolved, the Fleischer Brother, Mad magazine, how he found inspiration from Depression era America, his political art, the Library of Congress acquiring some of his work, not self-editing, …
Ep. 199 Rick Dallago – Painter, Photographer, Filmmaker
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Rick Dallago. Rick discusses being a self-described snarky “Norman Rockwell,” social media & narcissism, cell phones, being present, selfies, not overthinking things, intuition, when the magic happens, narrative, the catalyst for him to move to Colorado, his life in film, being industrious & making opportunity, being a Producer, how the film industry has changed, how being a Producer equates to solving problems as a visual artist, teaching art, being known as the Obama guy, the Denver Art Society, creativity & ideas, connecting to the art community, being pro-active in you art life, advice to young artists, art databases, “Banana Split,” art appropriation, his evolution as an artist, rejection & self-doubt, feeding the soul, retirement, having purpose, art classes & workshops, the Avalon Art Fest, saying “Yes,” and the show he’s put together at the A.R. Mitchell Museum in Trinidad.
Ep. 198 Lauren Tresp – Founder, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief of Southwest Contemporary Magazine
Wes and Todd talk with Lauren Tresp, Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of Southwest Contemporary Magazine. Lauren discusses her background and education, moving to Santa Fe, working in galleries, spirituality and religion, artificial intelligence, art criticism and writing, critical thinking, The Magazine and the genesis of Southwest Contemporary, challenges and costs of running a magazine, membership and it’s perks, workshops, readership, Southwest Contemporary’s mission, staff, the Southwest region that the magazine covers, the importance of journalism, the accomplishments of Southwest Contemporary that she’s most proud of, and the vision of Southwest Contemporary’s future.
Ep. 197 Hayley Schneider – Gallerist, SeeSaw Art Gallery
Wes and Todd sit down with Hayley Schneider, owner of SeeSaw Art Gallery. Hayley discusses her background and early love of art, South Dakota, the catalyst for the opening or SeeSaw, the work that it takes to run a gallery, Englewood, the name SeeSaw for the gallery, SeeSaw’s mission, Second Saturdays, exhibitions SeeSaw has presented, kind of work SeeSaw shows, how she finds Artists, her business model, current Artists she represents, what she looks for in new Artists, the challenges she’s faced as a new gallery, SeeSaw Projects, pricing, art being for everyone, what art does for her, advice for collectors, studio visits, curation, selling art, elements of what she likes & dislikes about running a gallery, mentors, her vision for SeeSaw, SeeSaw’s current exhibition “In Plain Sight: a celebration of Black cowboys, Artist talks, what people don’t understand about running a gallery, lessons learned from running a gallery, advice to someone that wants to open a gallery, advice to Artists of how to approach galleries, networking, promotion, working with collectors, selling art online, Artist/Gallery relationships and upcoming exhibitions.
Ep. 160 Annie Decamp – Painting, Mixed Media
This week Wes and Todd catch up with their friend Annie Decamp. Decamp discusses her recent exhibition at Kuehl Fine Art in Trinidad, her health scare, stepping away from encaustic work, surviving a home invasion, her current work looking at and away from trauma, PTSD, healing through art, the loneliness of trauma experiences, laughing and love, evolution and direction of her work, abstraction, hands perfection, and imperfection, working on new skills, figurative work, sketching, connecting with her Dad through painting, art classes, teaching, Yard Art, changes she has implemented in her business model, and learning how to slow down and go with the flow.
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.