Foreground/Background podcast episode 9: Taraka Larson

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast is out now! Give it a listen below or subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every new episode as soon as it comes out.



In this episode I interview Taraka Larson. Taraka is most well known for the band Prince Rama, a collaborative, decade-long project made up of herself and sister, Nimai. Her visual art practice, an extension of her music, has garnered her opportunities to show internationally, including exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of Art, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, and Brooklyn Museum. Since Nimai’s departure from the band, Taraka has recently released Rage In Peace a solo Prince Rama album as a farewell EP.
  • In this hour long conversation we discuss:
  • Growing up in creative families
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Creating music
  • Following your passions
  • The Spirituality of Creativity
  • and more!
I couldn’t have made this podcast without the support and encouragement of my Patreon supporters! If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin. For as little as $2 a month you get access to my studio and practice including content available nowhere else.

Foreground/Background podcast episode 8: Rob Tarbell

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast is out now! Give it a listen below or subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every new episode as soon as it comes out.




In this episode I interview Rob Tarbell. Rob has been recognized for developing unique and unorthodox processes involving the indirect manipulation and exploitation of the inherent material properties of smoke and porcelain. Tarbell’s work has been shown in numerous solo exhibitions and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Korea, China, and England. He is currently teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts.

In this hour long conversation we discuss:
  • Art Education
  • Careers
  • Burnout
  • Networking
  • and more!
I couldn’t have made this podcast without the support and encouragement of my Patreon supporters! If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And if you're not already a supporter, you can join in for as little as $2 a month and get exclusive content and early access to my projects! Find out more HERE


Foreground/Background podcast episode 7: Jenny Kendler

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast is out now! Give it a listen below or subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every new episode as soon as it comes out.




In this episode I interview Jenny Kendler. She is an interdisciplinary artist, environmental activist, naturalist and wild forager who lives in Chicago and various forests. Jenny holds an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as a BFA from The Maryland Institute College of Art. She currently helps run the artist residency ACRE and the art/research/activism initiative Deep Time Chicago. Jenny is also the first Artist-in-Residence with the Natural Resources Defense Council!

In this hour long conversation we discuss:
  • Protected knowledge
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Finding your community
  • Online Platforms
  • and more!

I couldn’t have made this podcast without the support and encouragement of my Patreon supporters! If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And if you're not already a supporter, you can join in for as little as $2 a month and get exclusive content and early access to my projects! Find out more HERE

Foreground/Background podcast episode 6: Joe Seipel

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast, about the day to day aspects of making a living as an artist, is out now! Take a listen below and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every episode when it comes out.

Joe Seipel is a sculptor and conceptual artist who served as a Virginia Commonwealth University faculty member for over 40 years, including 17 years as chair of the sculpture department, 8 ½ years as the Senior Associate Dean of the School of the Arts. And in 2018 even returned from retirement to spend a year as the interim director of VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art (not to mention a two year stint as vice president at Savannah College of Art and Design). Now a professor emeritus, Joe has returned to a studio art practice. His work is monumental in scale and ranges from conceptually-based objects to multimedia pieces and robotics. His work has been shown internationally including exhibitions in New York City, Peru, Milan, Baltimore, and of course Richmond, Virginia.

If you enjoy this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin.

Foreground/Background podcast episode 5: Pallavi Sen

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast, about the day to day aspects of making a living as an artist, is out now! Take a listen below and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every episode when it comes out.



Pallavi Sen is a multi-talented artist from Bombay, India who works with installation, printmaking, textiles, and intuitive movement. Pallavi has obtained an array of creative jobs in addition to receiving a handful of artist residencies and currently teaches as an Assistant Professor of Art at Williams College. Her recent art-making has focused on nature in the form of landscaping. Pallavi on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin.

Veda's 365 Days of Butterflies

Veda Aprile in Oakville, Ontario, Canada is creating 365 Days of Butterflies...

 

Why did you decide to do this project? I had been following the progress of my friend Lilian #lilsheart on instagram for awhile which put the bug in my ear, then when I retired Lilian gave me Noah's book as a gift.  I was pretty excited as i had been itching to do the project just from following my friend. I chose butterflies to represent the changes that were happening in my life (retirement) and wanted to concentrate on the positive changes and growth I knew I would be experiencing in this new life of freedom from 'work.'  Also I wanted to pick a subject I knew I would enjoy painting or drawing.  I added the gratitude portion to the project on day one, when I thanked my friend for the book, at which point i thought what a good idea to keep me grateful over the course of a year.


How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I think this was the perfect time to start a project like this for me, it has given me something to think on every day which helped with my transition of working full days to no work days. 

I am now finding the time to do creative things I may not have attempted. For example on day 2 my butterfly cat- I learned how to use a draw tablet from my daughter.  It's interesting to note that at the beginning of the day when I read the suggestion and maybe I am at a loss of what to do, I now know if I just think on the idea for a bit something will come to me. 

I am also noticing my first attempt is a stepping stone to my final project. I have been keeping some of my original ideas to compare ie my favorite piece to date is my tea cup collection. When I first put the cups out it felt lacking - I left it on the table for a bit and out of the blue I thought 'sugar!' and that little touch just elevated the design to me. This has been happening over and over again.

  

I am enjoying the input from my friends as well, not only are they appreciative, they have been giving me all sorts of ideas and sending me butterfly pictures and messages. 

It was also rewarding for me to have another friend start the 365 day challenge after me with water as her subject. Now i feel like I am part of an exciting team of creativity and I am hoping to encourage more people to join the bandwagon.

See all of Veda's butterflies on Instagram and on Facebook.

 

Foreground/Background podcast episode 4: Matt Bilfield

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast, about the day to day aspects of making a living as an artist, is out now! Take a listen below and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every episode when it comes out.



Matt Bilfield is a self-described fastidious minimalist, Matt is an LA based artist who combines pointillism with wood dowels to create dynamic, dimensional images. His work has been internationally showcased in multiple galleries and when he’s not fitting round pegs into round holes he makes on-air television graphics.

In this conversation we discuss:
  • Self-taught skills
  • Contracts
  • Cultivating gallery, collector, and customer relationships
  • Shifts in social media
  • Selling art
  • Artist personas
  • and more!
If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin.

Foreground/Background podcast episode 3: Eva Rocha

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast, about the day to day aspects of making a living as an artist, is out now! Take a listen below and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every episode when it comes out.


Eva Rocha is a multimedia artist from Brazil who’s studied Theater, Cultural Studies, and Fine Art. she has an MFA in Kinetic Imaging at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work has been shown in museums internationally including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Eva also happens to be my neighbor!

In this hour long conversation we discuss:
  • Success and stability
  • Education
  • What makes an artist
  • Political art
  • Grants
  • Art Collectors
  • Art Museums
  • and more!
If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin.

Foreground/Background podcast episode 2: George Ferrandi

The latest episode of my Foreground/Background podcast, about the day to day aspects of making a living as an artist, is out now! Take a listen below and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify to get every episode when it comes out.



George Ferrandi is a Brooklyn based artist whose performative work focuses on experimental approaches to human imperfections. George currently teaches Sculpture and Performance Art at Pratt Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as at the Rhode Island School of Design and runs a small business which specializes in restoring statues at churches.

In this hour long conversation we discuss:
  • The artist's education
  • Making a living 
  • Definitions of success
  • Priorities and balance
  • Selling art
  • Career opportunities
  • Grants
  • and more!

If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a comment and let me know what resonates with you and give it a thumbs up or 5 star review wherever you listen to it. And of course if you’re not already a Patreon supporter I hope you’ll check it out at Patreon.com/NoahScalin.

Flowers and Faces

Jessica Mack (aka BrownPaperBunny) from Seattle, WA is drawing / painting a flower or a face every day, in any medium, on any surface available for her project Flowers and Faces...


Why did you decide to do this project? Drawing and painting flowers and faces is something I enjoy but also something I want to improve, so I’m setting out to draw a flower or face every day.














How has doing a yearlong / daily project affected your life? It has become a habit now, and I start to feel ‘the itch’ if I miss a day because I’m traveling or sick etc. It has also become a little piece of my day that is just for me, which has done wonders for my stress levels. I’d even go so far as to say I’m sleeping better at night because of my daily creative habit.

See all of Jessica's project on Instagram at @100daysofflowersandfaces.





Heart of the Day

Anette Bäck of Skövde, Sweden is creating one heart daily in 2019 for her project Heart of the Day...


Why did you decide to do this project? A few years ago I got the book 365: A Daily Creative Journal by Noah Scalin from a dear friend. A perfect opportunity for me to challenge my creativity. In my professional life I am the head of an IT department, which is a fulfilling and challenging job in many ways and I think I'm pretty good at it. But it isn't the most creative job.


I wanted to start the project on January 1st. But... for several years I had forgotten it, but not this year. This year I started my project. I am going to continue as long as it is challenging and fun. Hopefully I will reach the finish line at December 31st. But if the "want feeling" is replaced with a "must feeling" I have promised myself to change the plan. I don't need any more musts in my life!

I chose hearts as my project for two reasons:
1. It's quite a simple shape
2. I associate it with positive feeling and hope that it will help me carry on if (or rather when) the inspiration comes. 

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I have just started my project and so far I have learned that I can't bring myself to destroy books. This project is also teaching me to settle with "good enough". Normally, I am kind of a "good girl type" that always wants to do the best (preferably to perfection), but the time restraint when creating one heart every day while working and taking care of everyday stuff doesn’t leave room for perfection. It is a really valuable experience for me.See all of Anette's project on Instagram at @heartoftheday and on her site HERE