Ep. 140 Amy Laugesen – Sculptor, Ceramic and Mixed Media
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Mixed Media Sculptor, Amy Laugesen. Amy talks about Crestone and the San Luis Valley, the horse as muse, her artistic journey, dyslexia, the support of her parents, working with children, passion, Bob Ragland, being a Mixed Media Sculptor, ceramics, her experience attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, clay, repurposing and incorporating found objects into her work, public art, cement fondue, sculpture conservation, collaboration, her great grandfather Bela Lyon Pratt, the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, collaboration, and being open to what unfolds in 2023.
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. 134 Melody Epperson – Artist, Curator – Vote NO Vote, Bell Projects
Melody Epperson talks about the women’s suffrage movement, the exhibition “Vote NO Vote” at Bell Projects, how her research inspires her art, her work surrounding women’s voting rights, some of the work represented in “Vote NO Vote”, little known facts and the sacrifice of women that participated in the women’s suffrage movement, Quakers, the League of Women Voters, curation, the Institute of Sociometry, media, the internet and dissecting information.
Ep. 130 Topher Straus – American Impressionistic Landscape Artist – Annual Check-in
opher talks about what has changed in his world, new gallery representation, changes to his brand and business model, his routine, the new additions to his National Park series, advertising, his book “Aloha Love”, charities, press, snowscapes, the Topher Straus Art Walk and some of his new endeavors.
Ep. 127 Arlo White – Hypnotic Turtle, Raw & Real
Arlo White of Hypnotic Turtle Radio Circus talks about the history of Hypnotic Turtle, the thought behind the name, college radio, soundscapes, discipline, bands, opening for Enuff Z’Nuff, Poet Rock, Diablo Montalban, parking lot shows, new music, Wulfhound, his radio show, guests interviewed, John Sinclair, The MC5, Mark Mothersbaugh, variety shows, musical grenades, Larry Norman, riffing, flyers, collage, wrestling, the Hypnotic Turtle DreamBox, and all the things Hypnotic Turtle rock arts collective encompasses.
Ep. 124 Vincent Cheap – Painter, Musician, Filmmaker
Vincent Cheap talks about his youth and the pivotal events leading up to a career in art, the influence of his parents, the compulsion to make things, his routine and his process of creating, road tripping, his decision to move to Ft. Collins from Denver, music, his DIY esthetic and its roots, his collaborative projects with his twin brother Charly, evoking emotion with art, legacy, being a lifelong learner, dreamscapes, influences, 3 Kings, Cabal, western noir, Colorvoido and zines, Fast Geek Boutique, narrative and storytelling, selling art, pricing, commissions, album art, Basquiat, and advice to aspiring Artists.
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. 122 Nicole Grosjean – Sculptural Illustration, Jewelry, Fan Art
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Nicole Grosjean. Nicole talks about growing up and exploring art in the mountains of Colorado, winning an art scholarship to the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, sculpture, galleries, working with a ceramicist as a production artist, deciding to do paper art, process, incorporating LED lights in her work, finding her voice, inspiration, finding community, social media, fan art, jewelry, Guillermo del Toro, pocket watches, pricing, how she sells her art, exploring new materials, Illustrator & Photoshop, challenges in business, prints versus originals, overcoming challenges, commissions, fairy fossils, and making the work for yourself.
Ep. 121 Gail Folwell – Sculptor, Designer, & Illustrator
Gail Folwell talks about her early career as a graphic designer, the catalyst for diving into sculpture, transitioning into doing sculpture full time, commissions and public art, being a professional, diversifying your business, manifesting success, airport art, the XOX Project, being and staying optimistic, affecting change through art, her Pro Football Hall of Fame commission, process, being a project manager, editions, pricing, Handle the Art hardware, and the hustle that you need to have for a successful art life.
Ep. 120 Thea Clark – Multi-disciplinary Artist – Jewelry, Sculpture, Installation, Fiber Art, Mixed Media Collage
Thea discusses working as a dancer and actor before becoming a maker, making jewelry and its evolution of her work to fine art, the subculture of art jewelry, experimenting with materials, incorporating cyanotypes, the catalyst for working on a larger scale, the transition of exploring identity to environmental issues with her work, thinking of materials metaphorically, isobar maps, Arctic Explorer Louise Arner Boyd, the difference between the thought behind American and European art jewelry, her recent show “Do/Undo” at the Hunterdon Art Museum, upcycling materials for assemblage, and where her current work his headed.
EP. 119 Robert Barranco – Photographer, BMX Legend, For The Experience
Robert Barranco talks about his new book, “For The Experience, Volume 1”, the thought behind it and how it came about, the logistics of self-publishing, his love of travel and BMX, his start in photography, shooting film, traveling on a shoe-string budget, working with Timex, FTE Collective, how the pandemic affected his travel, being obsessive, riding secret bowls, appreciating what you have, stories from his travels, following your dreams and what traveling teaches you.
Ep. 118 Christy Lynne Seving & Josh Davy – Next Gallery
Christy Lynn Seving and Josh Davy from Next Gallery talk about the roots of Next, Next’s core mission, being part of the 40 West Arts District, membership, mentoring Artists, the benefits of being part of an Artist owned and operated gallery, dispelling the myths of Artist co-ops and collectives, what Next offers Artists, and the future of Next Gallery.
Ep. 117 Peter Miles Bergman – Conceptual Artist, PaCT: A Journey Beyond the Horizon
Peter discusses his exhibition, “PaCT: A Journey Beyond the Horizon”, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, transcendental experiences, rites of passage, the importance of social outsiders, hitchhiking, suits, conceptual art, the lived experience, Allan Kaprow, briefcases full of human hair, demotivational speeches and always leaving them wanting less.
Ep. 116 Dan Cameron – Acclaimed Curator, Art Writer, & Artist
Dan talks about his path to becoming a Curator, some of the exhibitions he’s been proud to curate, the rural art space that he’s helping to facilitate in Chiloé, Chile, how art is looked at in the Americas, the monetization of contemporary art, art fairs, art and the pandemic, his curation process, collecting ephemera and his archive, art appropriation, how art and artists are fundamental in terms of preparing us for the future, his collage and assemblage work, writing about art and what excites him for the future of art.
Ep. 112 Rose Fredrick, Curator - 2022 Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale
Rose talks about the importance of art conversations, curation, authenticity and vulnerability, Contemporary Western Art, her Artist talk series “Inside the Artist’s Studio.” Holding a safe space for people to experience art, the evolution of her vision for the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, and helping Artists define their “why.”
Ep. 108 Dan Drossman – Artist, Curator – The Waiting Room Gallery
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Denver Artist and Curator, Dan Drossman. Dan talks about the “alternative art space,” The Waiting Room Gallery, that he has been curating, the catalyst for the Waiting Rooms existence, exhibitions – past, present and future, what he’s learned curating, and we talk about the upcoming exhibition with Roy Nydorf and Michael Dowling.
Ep. 107 Elle Naef – Content Producer & Strategist at PBS 12, Co-Founder & Producer of Head Room Sessions
Elle talks about Headroom Sessions and its mission, jaw rock, ReCreative Denver, Denver Creative Movement, her start promoting and managing bands, the wall of death, curating playlists, Tom Jones, rock and roll moments, Girls Rock Camp, being a Producer at PBS 12, Generation GRIT, Colorado Inside Out, puppets, her favorite PBS shows growing up, and activism.
Ep. 106 Jen Starling – Painting, Collage – Mixed Media
Jen Starling talks about art co-ops, business, support for the Arts in the US as compared to other countries, the catalyst for becoming a full-time Artist, discipline, finding her voice, problem solving, transition, incorporating collage into her work, exploration, vulnerability, identity, her upcoming solo show “Confronting the Void,” art festivals, teaching, goals, and confidence.
Ep. 105 Autumn T. Thomas – Interdisciplinary Artist, Wood Sculpture
Autumn T. Thomas talks about becoming a full-time Artist, the non-verbal language of art, Ashe, her M.F.A experience, being self-reliant, the catalyst that led her to explore wood sculpture, process, engaging people with art, her piece “Lift Every Voice”, residencies, and finding balance.
Ep. 102 Sarah Larsen – Intuitive Art
Sarah talks with us about the mediums she works with, process and exploration, the catalyst that got her back into art, juried exhibitions, being the conduit of the art, creating for the process, love, Scrupulous OCD, line art, fear and failure, intuitive art, mental health, loss, and the healing power of art.