Art Class Curator

Word of the Year Update #3 - In this episode, I share about a few powerful conversations that cracked me open and helped me tap into parts of my creative identity that I had long forgotten. Also, check out the beginning of the episode for some updates about the podcast moving forward and my availabilty for coaching! Interested in checking out coaching, schedule a free discovery call at https://artandself.com/discovery 

There is so little in the world that we can control. All we really have power over is our own actions, reactions, and the thoughts inside our head. That doesn't seem like much in a world moving at the speed of scrolling screens with opinions and expectations at every turn. But it's everything we need and more. The covid pandemic changed all of us. Some in big ways. Some in small ways. For Michelle Gordon, life before 2020 looks very different to life now. She left a career in medicine and discovered who she was beneath society's shoulds and shouldn'ts. In this episode, we discussed the power of perspective through the artwork When We Return You Won't Recognize Us by Glen Brown.  How do you get your voice back? How do you get rid of shame? How do you learn to love yourself? What changes when you realize everything you need is already inside of you? Get links and more in the show notes.

We all want to belong, but what happens when the world doesn't accept who you are? All of us wear (often uncomfortable, ill-fitting masks), but the masks society tells autistic people to wear degrades their authenticity and ability to recognize and be themselves. Chris Bonnello is an author, activist, and autism advocate. Together, we discussed neurodivergency through the artwork Mask the Decay by Mitch Christian. Chris talks about how autistic masking feels for him, radical acceptance, his writing journey, and what the world is missing out on by asking autistic people to deny their full selves. See the artworks and get all the links mentioned in the show notes.

Thoughts on being an artist this week after a few tortured days. Having compassion for the creative process. Showing up for my practice even when it is hard. Giving myself the support to work through it.

Though music has been a part of theatrical arts since ancient times, modern Western musical theatre was born in America. Josh Kreitzman, my guest today, argues that musicals are the best art form, and I'm inclined to agree with him. How often do you get to witness art as it is happening and be a part of its creation with a room of people? Musicals are fully body sensory experience and the stories they tell have always been a reflection of the triumphs and heartbreaks of life. Music is a language beyond borders—how better to capture the heart and soul of our times? In this episode, we discuss Prayer from Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The musical tells the real life story of the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11th attacks when 7,000 passengers were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. We discuss the power of musicals, the lasting effects of grief and trauma (even when we get up to go to work the next morning), the difference between

They say that those who can't do teach. Unsurprisingly, teachers hate that phrase. It isn't true. And yet, for so much of my life, I believed it. I could be an art teacher, but I would never be an artist. I resisted the label mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. My version of being an artist wasn't worthy. But something has shifted. I'm finally learning what it means to be an artist and to live my life as an artist. It's playful, risky, experimental. It's not about being good. It's about the process. Through the magic of attention, daily practice, and community, I've opened myself up to what the world has to teach me. And that is why my 2023 Word of the Year is ARTIST. Join me on this year-long journey of connection and creativity as I share my insights on what it means to live life as an artist. If you'd like to experience the magic of making art in community, join me in The Creativity Cocoon. See the show notes at this link.

Does truth exist? If it does, is it possible to know the truth? That's what me and Dr. Amy Winebarger talked about as we discussed Action Painting II by Mark Tansey. Science and art are often seen as opposites—one concerned with numbers and facts, the other dipping into emotion and feelings. But both science and art are a way of exploring and explaining the world, the universe, and our experience of it all. Humans are curious. We've been seeking knowledge and attempting to share our own truths for as long as we've existed. No matter how we view the world, what matters most is the space between us and the connections we make there. Amy R. Winebarger is an astrophysicist in the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. She specializes in the analysis of observations of the solar corona. In our conversation, she shared the thrilling nature of her work, the magic of finding the career that's right for you, and talked about where she finds God in th

Creating a work of art is a process—a process that can change who you are. Too often, we judge or rush our creative pursuits, ignoring the messages included in every brushstroke or written word. We end up saying too much or not enough. But when we approach the creative process with patience and compassion, we make connections with ourselves and with all who resonate with our work. And the impact? It's infinite. Heather Doyle Fraser is a publisher, writer, and coach who believes in the power of voice and works with writers to bring their words to the world. In fact, she's helping me write my book! Together we discussed the deep work and tangled process of creation through the artwork Alison the Lacemaker by Swoon. See the artworks and get the links from this episode in the show notes.

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a paranormal experience? Are you drawn to ghost stories in art? Jane Mesa's first encounter with a ghost happened in her childhood bedroom. Now she investigates the paranormal. Jane joined me to discuss her experiences, both frightful and delightful, as we discuss Haunted House by Morris Kantor. Get all the links and see the artworks Jane chose from in the show notes.

What is your relationship to your body? Our society does not make it easy to have a healthy, loving connection to your body. Krystal and I discuss how motherhood changed our bodies, how being fat affected how we move through the world, and how our thirties brought healing and wholeness. Get all the links mentioned in this episode and see the artworks Krystal chose from in the show notes. This episode contains conversation about an eating disorder.

How do you feel when you think about climate change? Overwhelmed? Scared? Hopeless? Nikole Pearson has a different point of view. Together, we discussed one of Jason deCairnes Taylor's powerful underwater sculptures and Nikole shared her insight on how we can find hope and opportunity in the rising tides. For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode, visit the show notes at this link. 

I've discussed The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo with hundreds of people of all ages in my career, and this discussion with Allison Crow helped me look at this inspiring painting in a completely new way. In this episode, we talk knowing ourselves, being present with our pain, our emotions, and all of our parts, and the beauty and healing power of connection. You can get Allison's new book, Unarmored: Finding Home in the Wild Edges of Being Human, on Amazon. *affiliate link To see the artwork, click here. For more the links and other artworks featured in this episode. Visit the shownotes at this link. 

Art is magic, it changes with us. You never see the same artwork twice. Your life changes what you see and how you interpret it. Yola and I talk about how the meaning we find is shaped by our experiences and choices, and how our choices and experiences are shaped by the meaning we make. The artwork discussed on this episode is from the exhibit The Real Deal is Talking to Dad by Chen Ke. You can find the artwork here. Read more in the shownotes.

Angie Stegall joins me to about an incredible artwork by Vasilis Avramidis. We talked about our connection to nature, the interconnectedness of all things, and the many rooms we hold inside ourselves. Link to the artwork by Vasilis Avramidis from the Caretakers exhibit. (The artwork we discuss is the 9th image on this page.) See the shownotes here.  

Sex. Dominance. Submission. Vulnerability. Power. Pleasure.  Taylor Posey is an intimacy coach, podcaster, and a dominatrix. In this episode, we're talking about something very human and often depicted in art...sex. We talk about Taylor's experience with BDSM, how we find comfort, and being ourselves—all through the lens of an artwork, Natalie Frank, DOMINA III, 2017. Taylor's Instagram Taylor's Podcast All Tied Up 

In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Megan Winkler, The Good Business Witch. Megan is a leadership and anti-burnout coach. We spoke about time, the choices women have, chaos, slowing down, and burnout. This conversation gave us both chills. The artwork discussed on this episode is Looking Back by Erik Johansson. See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.  

In this episode of the Art & Self Podcast, I welcome Annette Stahl—an entrepreneur, coach, and designer. We spoke about life transitions, how our homes reflect and influence our lives, safety, energy, and how inner and outer spaces can align. The artwork discussed on this episode is The Mysterious Garden by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. Note: Domestic violence is briefly mentioned in this episode in the 34th minute. See the artwork, a transcript, and full show notes at this link.

Join me as grief therapist and podcaster Bryna Talamantez and I discuss the artwork There's a Thread You Follow by Linda McCabe.  To view the artwork we discuss, but not while you are driving, click here. For a full transcript and other links we discuss on the show, please visit the full show notes at this link. 

Don’t be alarmed, Art Class Curator followers! The art lessons, blog posts, and other goodies are still here for your enjoyment. But the podcast has undergone a re-branding and slight shift in focus.  My own personal journey over the last few years has led me to this moment. So in this episode, I explain why I’ve changed things and what you can expect from now on. Welcome to the Art and Self podcast! Next week, you'll start to hear some intriguing art interpretations and conversations with soulful guests that illustrate the range and depth of what it means to be human.

Last week, I had a fascinating conversation with Madalyn Gregory discussing Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life. I left that conversation so excited, only to discover that we weren’t done yet. Even after going off the air, we kept talking about it and realized we missed a lot of important things. So we decided to do a follow-up conversation to share even more of our insights with you! 4:55​ - Awareness of a gender issue from last week and what it says about our conditioning 13:40 - Impact of gender and gender limitations as human-made constructs 16:37 - Diverse racial representation (or lack thereof) in art 24:14 - Importance of authenticity of different perspectives shown in artwork 28:23 - How the patterns in Death and Life resemble quilt work 31:57 - Ruminating over what the circles in Death’s robes symbolize 36:23 - The negative space between Death and Life more effective as black to represent the unknown Transcript at https://artclasscurator.com/61-gustav-klimt/