Not Real Art

This year has understandably been tough for artists. With increasing levels of stress and anxiety, it is not easy to be freely creative. Yet, art, in all its forms, is more important than ever for getting people through these difficult times. Parlor Social is at the top of their game, and Ric’key Pageot and Dessy Di Lauro, the husband-and-wife duo behind the band, join us today to share what the pandemic has been like for them. We start by talking about some of the ways they have adapted to not being able to perform live and go on tour. Despite their initial reluctance to live streaming, they have found more connection than they ever thought possible with their virtual audience. Ric’key and Dessy talk about why they decided to give free access to their content, where they acknowledge their privilege of not being stressed about finances. We also hear about some of the other blessings that have come from this time for the pair like increased creativity and getting better at their craft. Naturally, the conversation goes to Black Lives Matter, where we talk about the issues of race and police brutality and what needs to be done to dismantle these imbalanced structures. Correcting racial injustices needs to happen at so many levels, including the arts, where Black and PoC artists have always been marginalized. Ric’key, with roots in classical music, talks about the underrepresentation of Black people in this musical genre and the work he is doing to give back. Although these times are dark in many ways, Ric’key and Dessy are doing so much to spread hope and be positive forces in people’s lives. They are the embodiment of selfless artists who want to spread light and joy through all that they create.     Key Points From This Episode: Hear some of the creative ways Ric’key and Dessy have adapted to these trying times. The time that we all have now is a blessing if we can use it well. Ric’key and Dessy’s skepticism around the vaccine and why they would still take it. How Ric’key and Dessy’s respective families are doing during the pandemic. Why Ric’key and Dessy decided to create Soulful Jazz Brunch and the reception to the event. The decision to not charge a fee for Soulful Jazz Brunch; wanting to make content accessible. The importance of engaging with your virtual audience to create connection. An idea Ric’key has to release an album of all the songs they recorded during the pandemic. When Ric’key and Dessy finally found their stride with live streaming. The major improvements Ric’key and Dessy have seen getting to perform every week. Some of the technical difficulties Ric’key and Dessy have faced going virtual. Work Ric’key is doing to get back to his classical music roots and some incredible discoveries he’s made. Hear about the progress Ric’key has made with his upcoming movie project. Why Ric’key wants to give back at this stage in his career and ways he plans on doing so. Ric’key’s experience at McGill University, where there were very few Black students. Why Dessy feels even though conversations around race and police brutality are important, they are not enough. How Ric’key and Dessy believe you can spread hope in these difficult times. The hope that Sourdough has for his kids, who are growing up in a world different to his. The problems the U.S. is currently grappling with are not unique to the country; they are global issues. Where to find Parlor Social online and what they have in the pipeline. Dessy’s words of comfort to her fellow artists: Be kind to yourself in this hard time. Find out about the line of skincare products Dessy has created. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/ric’key-pageot-dessy-di-lauro

Today’s guest is pioneering conservation photographer, Robert Glenn Ketchum. Robert's imagery and books have helped to define contemporary color photography while at the same time addressing critical national environmental issues, having made him one of the most successful artists and activists in American history. In today’s episode, Robert talks about the development of his career, the many adventures his work has taken him on, and the social change these projects have kickstarted. We dive straight in hearing Robert talk about the Pebble Mine campaign he is involved in currently where he is fighting against the construction of the largest gold and cyanide leech mine in the history of the world in Southwest Alaska. From there, Robert rewinds to his days as a student at UCLA in the 60s, where he started his photography career taking snaps of the famous bands that played in his neighborhood. On the way back from the Monterey Pop Festival, Robert camped out at Limekiln Creek to break the trip up, and in a moment of contemplation next to a quiet stream he got the idea to pivot into conservation photography. Robert’s career blew up after that event, and he tells one epic tale after another about the different campaigns he fell into, the huge names he rubbed shoulders with, and the incredible ripple effects his photographs had. We also get to hear Robert's thoughts on some of the most vital sides of being an artist, how to secure money, and how to increase the clout of one’s projects. Wrapping up our conversation, Robert tells a few more awe-inspiring stories about how he started translating his prints into textiles after discovering the quality Chinese embroidery. Tune in for tales of adventure, discovery, and serendipity, all powered by a passion for creativity and our natural environment with Robert today.   Key Points From This Episode: The campaign Robert is working on to protest the Pebble Mine in South West Alaska. Robert’s book, Southwest Alaska, which talks about overfishing in Crystal Bay. Saving San Ignacio Lagoon with Joel Reynolds from the NRDC and recruiting him for the Southwest Alaska work. The multi-tiered nature of the campaigns Robert works on; drawing on multiple channels. The funds necessary to launch these big campaigns which groups smaller than the NRDC wouldn’t manage. The power of branding to spread public awareness about bad practices. Differences in quality between wild and farmed salmon and Robert’s adventures with Alaskan locals. Robert’s experiences shooting famous bands in LA in the 1960s. How Robert got the idea to transition into environmental photography on the way back from Monterey Pop. Moving to the East Coast to work on a project in the Hudson River Valley. Photographing destructive practices in the Hudson River Valley and getting published by Aperture. Passing the largest timber reform bill in the U.S’s history during the Tongass Rainforest Project. Getting invited onto the board of the American Land Conservancy and helping save Limekiln Creek. Robert’s ‘method’ involving simply taking pictures and falling into one project after another. Using contrasting images of natural beauty and destruction in campaigns. How Robert realized the power of photography after photos of his caused real changes. Founding the International League of Conservation Photographers. The need for artists with great ideas to secure funding and how Robert did this. Events related to the publicity and funding of the Tongass Rainforest Project. Some of the books that Robert has published and collections he has curated. Getting invited by Robert Redford to be an artist in residence at his Sundance Institute. An expedition on William E. Simon’s private yacht through the Northwest Passage. How Robert convinced Bill Simon that the Tongass logging was not ethical. The story of finding out about Suzhou embroidery prowess and getting photos translated into textiles.  How Robert is incorporating his knowledge of Chinese silk into clothing products. The story behind the print Sourdough bought from Robert depicting Arctic diurnal fog. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/robert-glenn-ketchum

Human beings have done a good job of ripping this planet apart; we have to figure out how to put it back together, and today’s guest is at the forefront of this initiative. Erin Yoshi joins us today to talk about her new project, The Land of WE. In this project, Erin is using art to drive conversations that imagine a different world, one in which we live within our means, and we rethink our exploitative systems that deplete our limited resources. Our conversation with Erin starts by tracing her journey as an artist, zooming in on how she got interested in murals, where her activistic approach found its expression, and how she developed such a strong skill in the business side of the pursuit. From there, we switch gears and focus on our current moment in history, a time defined by the exploits of capitalism which have driven movements to destroy the environment, divide people, and spread feelings of hopelessness. Erin talks about her belief in, and the possibility of, building a post-capitalist world. In this dream society, we keep the benefits of modernity but achieve them in more sustainable ways by ‘remembering forward’ – taking solutions from the past and turning them into our new default systems. This segues into a focus on The Land of WE, and listeners get to hear Erin talk about how she is researching these kinds of older, sustainable cultures and systems, and spreading the word about them through murals, billboards, and educational social media initiatives.   Key Points From This Episode: Introducing muralist Erin Yoshi and her new project fighting climate change, The Land of WE. Erin’s love of podcasts, the types she listens to, and some of her experiences as a guest. Discipline, being a mom, and how Erin has been dealing with the logistics of being an artist. How Erin got her work ethic and skills in the business and creative sides of art. The story of how Erin’s mural career evolved, starting from an erasable board her dad bought her. Being scrappy and how a career in art is a slow journey with no overnight success. The need for artists to enjoy the craziness of the struggle that comes with being an artist. Tough love as a parent and lessons Erin learned from her dad that made her a better artist Themes of the fight for justice and against prejudice; the story of Erin’s family history. Erin’s consideration of herself as an activist and some of her work in this area. How Erin became ED of the Estria Foundation and the environmental activism work they did. The extent that religion impacts humankind’s ability to manage its natural resources. The myth of the political right versus the left: A way of distracting the masses from their similarity. Pros and cons of capitalism and Erin’s belief that a post-capitalist world is coming. ‘Remembering forward’: How Erin applies this principle to advocate for more sustainability. The idea that more sustainable solutions already exist, we just need to incorporate them. The need for governments to support sustainable initiatives so they aren’t so expensive. Localized solutions and the need for systems that allow local leaders. Warnings to be found in bizarre natural disasters that sound like sci-fi but are real. The role of the artist in these times of crisis as storytellers and history keepers. What The Land of WE is doing to use art to celebrate and spread stories about more sustainable practices. How bad modernity is for mental health. The power of art to pierce the soul, making it such a powerful too right now. What the rollout of the first phase of The Land of WE will look like; murals, billboards, and more. Where to find Erin and her project online to learn more and get involved. Erin’s skill for grant writing and her love of sharing this knowledge. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/erin-yoshi

Continuing our conversation with Indivisible 2020 participating artists, today’s guests Mary Sherwood Brock and Joshua Wattle engage in a stimulating discussion filled with passion for the country. Show curator Karen Fiorito joins the two artists, who both have roots in Washington and have been on the frontlines for their whole lives — Mary as an activist, and Joshua as a lawyer and lobbyist for the anti-war movement. We get into what indivisibility means to our guests, where they both express the aspirational notion of it. While it is easy to dismiss aspirations, it is what keeps hope alive and gives us something worth fighting for. We hear about the work that Mary and Joshua submitted to the Indivisible exhibition and the rationale behind their creations. Participating in the exhibition aligns with much of the work that both Mary and Joshua have done in and outside of the arts, and we gain insights into their respective activism. We also talk about having hope, where Joshua references history and how America has overcome a lot worse, and why he feels confident the country will come out of this moment stronger. Mary expresses a less than optimistic outlook but still remains hopeful despite it all. The conversation also touches on the erosion of the idea of the collective, the importance of getting back to a place of civil discourse, and the sort-sightedness of American exceptionalism. This was an exciting, rich dialogue filled with many insights, so tune in today to hear more! Key Points From This Episode: The notion of indivisibility and what it means to Mary and Joshua. Joshua’s interest in his American identity and America, having grown up abroad. The pride Joshua felt when Obama was president and the strides made toward indivisibility. Mary’s experience with protesting, having been raised in a politically active home. Why Mary is so passionate about creating change locally. Mary’s motivation for participating in Indivisible 2020 and other political work she has done. Hear more about the work that Mary submitted to Indivisible. The photograph that Josh has in the show and the meaning behind it. Why Joshua feels we should have hope even though America is in a state of decline. Mary’s apprehension and feeling of nervousness around the protection of the court system. Joshua’s faith in the court system and why he feels this way. The worry Mary feels about the fact that there is not a common source of legitimate news. The deep sense of aspiration synonymous with America that Josh felt during his activist work. Viewing the current moment with an understanding of historical context. Mary’s take on the two-party system and how it makes people disillusioned with democracy. What Mary thinks needs to happen in the Democratic Party for meaningful change to occur. How capitalism has made the idea of the common good so politicized. Mary’s experience of political conservatism in other countries compared to America. Karen’s experience of having a Republican supporting father and stepmother. Why Joshua–as a lawyer–is so concerned about what the Trump legal team is doing. The duty we have to call people who work for or with Trump out as racist sympathizers. America’s limited conception of reproductive rights and supporting women more comprehensively. The US no longer holds collective activity up as an ideal. How American exceptionalism has hurt the country in many ways. Final words from Mary about hope and continuing to fight battles. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/mary-sherwood-brock-joshua-wattles

We continue our discussion with artists participating in Indivisible 2020 today with Anna Stump, Erin Yoshi, Ted Meyer, and Kalynn Campbell. In this jam-packed show, the guests address various pertinent social and political issues. We begin by hearing what indivisibility means to everyone, where Anna and Ted, who live in a rural, red part of the country share why they have chosen not to publicly express their political views. Both Erin and Kalynn feel that while indivisibility is possible and has been achieved at times, the current moment is deeply divided. We then talk about the rise of political discourse in popular culture and how the art reflective of this, such as Black Lives Matter murals and poster art, inspires our guests. We could not have a discussion about indivisibility without touching on the election, and we hear everyone’s take on Joe Biden as the candidate, why this election is more about voting against Trump than anything else, and how we might see the positives in the voter suppression tactics. Increasingly, people – particularly Gen Z, as Anna highlights – are becoming aware of the role they play in shaping society and are taking actionable steps to shift the narrative. We also touch on climate change, where the guests share their respective stark realizations they have had about this issue. As the show wraps up, we get a glimpse into the rationale behind the work everyone has submitted to Indivisible 2020. This insightful, powerful conversation left us with a sense of hope that artists have a big role to play in uniting our divided country. Tune in today to hear more!   Key Points From This Episode: What indivisible means to Anna and the difficulty she has living in a very red state. Why Anna and Ted feel unsafe to express their liberal political views where they live. The meaning of indivisibility to Erin and the work she feels needs to be done in this area. Moving away from the ‘oppression Olympics’ and seeing the humanity in everyone. Kalynn’s understanding of indivisibility and how he thinks we can work towards it. The inspiration Kalynn has drawn from the murals that have come from Black Lives Matter. Ted’s understanding of the ‘Other’ and its origins as a social construct. Why Erin is most inspired by poster art and murals over the recent years. Finding hope in troubled times – How Anna and Kalynn are digging deep in the current moment. How people who would have preferred Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren as the presidential candidate are choosing to vote. Erin’s empathy for people who feel frustrated with the Democratic Party. Hear Erin’s take on the Democratic Party’s strategy for choosing a center-right candidate like Biden. All the gerrymandering and voter suppression tactics are a sign that things are changing. Why Erin feels that hopelessness is a good sign and how it in turn makes her feel hopeful. Ted’s feeling at the Republican Party’s hypocrisy undoing the separation of church and state. The intersectionality of the social issues we face today. Erin’s experience of the orange sky in San Francisco during the wildfires. Anna, Ted, Kalynn, and Sourdough’s personal experience of climate change.  The hypocrisy of the ruling party given the fact that the military is preparing for climate change. Lessons in consuming less that we can take from the pandemic. Why Ted doesn’t have much faith in enduring long-term positive change post-pandemic. The urgency of climate change and why we all need to make changes now. Hear more about Ted, Erin, Anna, and Kalynn’s work they submitted to Indivisible 2020. Where to find everyone online and projects the guests have in the pipeline.  For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/anna-stump-erin-yoshi-ted-meyer-kalynn-campbell

We are continuing our discussions with artists participating in the Indivisible 2020 exhibition that Not Real Art is a media partner of, and today’s guest is none other than Linda Vallejo. Linda is a multimedia artist who consolidates a range of influences from a lifetime of travel and study to create work that explores contemporary social, cultural, and political issues. Man One joins Linda in conversation, and these two powerful artists in our community discuss their Latinx identities and the way this has informed their work. They first unpack what indivisibility means to them and share how they both came to realize that they had been brainwashed into the belief that all Americans are united. As people of color, they have lived experience of the palpable division rampant in our society. We discuss the importance of questioning institutions, and Man One shares why he left the Catholic Church, which is difficult in the highly religious Mexican community. After discussing this tension, Linda talks about what being a socio-political artist means to her and why she does not subscribe to the conventional understanding of this type of artistry. Giving us insights into her process, we see that Linda’s work is highly considered and thoughtful. Our conversation also touches on each artist’s respective work, colorism both within the Latinx community and society at large, and what true diversity entails. To hear more from these creative giants, be sure to tune in today!   Key Points From This Episode: What attracted Linda to participate in Indivisible 2020. The changing recognition of socio-political imagery in the mainstream art world. Man One’s desire to be a participating artist in Indivisible 2020 and what indivisibility means to him. Unpacking the myth of indivisibility that Americans have been indoctrinated into believing. The underrepresentation of the Latinx community in LA, despite their being almost half the city’s population. Unskilled versus essential workers: An example of how language can shift meaning greatly. Questioning the need to make oaths which Americans do from a young age. Man One’s disillusionment with the Catholic church and institutions generally. The tension within the Latinx community between religion and political views. How religion has been a part of Man One’s family’s life and how it’s shifted during the pandemic. Linda’s experience of traveling as a woman of color and what she learned. Hear Linda’s expanded understanding of what it means to be a socio-political artist. Linda’s Big Boy ‘Muchachote’ work and how it took Man One back to his childhood. Learn more about Linda’s work repurposing objects and representing them as Latinx. The colorism within the Latinx community and reactions to Linda’s work. Unpacking whiteness and fair skin as aspirational and how this can be overcome. Man One’s experience of being a dark-skinned Mexican and the perceptions people have of him. Why Linda believes that everyone needs to go to college and get a graduate degree, if possible. Being Latinx with a college education and the weight that this holds. Hierarchies that are built into every structure from families to the workplace. Man One’s rationale for using lots of color in his work and how people react to this. The link between beauty and wealth and how it has evolved over time. Linda’s take on humanity’s thirst for violence and war. Diversity is not about getting everyone to think the same; it’s about living together while being different. The beauty of embracing differences and learning from people who think differently from you. Man One and Linda’s upcoming work. Addressing the Sasquatch in Linda’s studio. Final words from Linda and Man One. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/linda-vallejo-man-one

In our increasingly polarized society and as the indivisibility we have been promised becomes further from our reality, what role do artists play in interrogating where we are now? The Indivisible 2020 exhibition explores what it means to be indivisible and divided in today’s United States, and Not Real Art is proud to be a media partner. The next few shows will be interviews with participating artists, and today’s guest, Leroy Johnson is a true political artist in every sense of the word. In this episode, Karen Fiorito, artist and curator of Indivisible 2020 joins Sourdough to talk with Leroy. We get to know Leroy, where he shares his understanding of being indivisible and how we have drifted from it. He does not simply believe that unity is about humans, but all earthlings and the exploitative, extractive nature of capitalism has completely shattered our respect for living beings. We also discuss the importance of artists giving their voices to causes rather than creating for entertainment’s sake. As a former Black Panther and Civil Rights activist, Leroy has seen how art can aid social movements, and he shares the disappointment at the lack of civic foundation of a lot of today's art. Despite highlighting some of these shortcomings, Leroy’s message is still one of hope and empowerment as he believes art is the ultimate medium to communicate the truth that capitalism and the powers that be seek to hide. Be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: The motivation for curating Indivisible 2020, a political art exhibition. Some of the artists participating in the show and upcoming guests on the podcast. Leroy’s understanding of indivisibility and how he feels artists have been deceived. Our human-centric view that is fueled by capitalism. Leroy’s disappointment in some artists who hold back from speaking out. The permanence of art and how we have lost the cultural value of creative work. The choice that artists have to make to truly speak out against the system. How Karen and Leroy met, over 20 years ago. What excited Karen, as the curator, about including Leroy in the Indivisible show. Leroy’s supportive family and growing up in an extremely diverse neighborhood. The superficiality of art currently and the lack of historical memory. Why artists are not entertainers and should not create only to entertain. Why, no matter how bad things get in America, Leroy would never leave. Leroy’s take on artist activism in the 60s compared to now. The loss of community among artists and the prevalence of individualistic thinking. Artists are exploited at every level, from buying materials to the end product. Leroy’s take on meditation and the role it plays in his life. Why the notion of the common good is becoming increasingly difficult to get behind. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/leroy-johnson

Today we welcome multidisciplinary artist David Schwartz, AKA DVS to talk about his most recent foray into physical art, his memories of working with Prince, and the fruits of never giving up on a creative vision. David is a singer, songwriter, graphic designer, art director, and visual artist, and while he was sleeping in his car after he got out of college he also started hanging out with Prince and ended up collaborating on Daisy Chain. Since his youth days, David has been pursuing a career in graphic design and art direction, with a resume that includes websites for Zoolander 2 and The Office, and album artwork for 2 Chainz, Paris Hilton and a slew of Gucci Mane covers. After a long list of challenges, David recently realized his latest artistic ambition, a 1200 pound sculpture called Rhyme Capsule consisting of a marble hooded figure holding up a cut crystal boombox encapsulating 180 authentic Hip Hop tapes released between 1980-2000. Davis tells us how he got the idea for such an ambitious piece, how the project evolved from an initial concept involving a plinth and lucite embedment, and some of the many struggles he underwent while creating it. David also takes us back to his memories of hanging out with Kip Blackshire and developing a working relationship with Prince, and the lessons about bravery and commitment he learned along the way. Tune in for a fantastic episode. Key Points From This Episode: The hustle of making art and how David lived in his car partially after finishing art school. Balancing commercial work and his personal art: An ongoing theme in David’s life. David’s love of old school hip hop album covers and how that got him into design. How David drew inspiration from LA Art Week, hip hop tapes, and a lucite embedment for his art project, Rhyme Capsule. The evolution of Rhyme Capsule and how the planned materials changed while working out how to accomplish it. Arriving at embedding hip hop tapes into crystal after many different iterations. Calling different people who embed objects into crystal and finally finding somebody in NYC. Meticulously designing the sculpture digitally before sending the designs to be cut. Trouble around contractors taking creative liberty on the implementation of David’s design. The boombox aspect of the sculpture and how David added its coolest features as an afterthought. Timelines for cutting the crystal and how David flew to NYC to do the finishing touches. How David got the idea to mount the sculpture on a Greek-style marble statue. The challenges involved in outsourcing the cutting of the statue and transporting it. David’s thinking behind the embedded tapes in the sculpture and how he got the rare ones. How Prince might react to David’s sculpture and how he made Dave a better artist. How David met Prince and ended up working with him after jamming at a rehearsal. Commercializing Rhyme Capsule: Opportunities, pricing, and when to cut friends deals. How people have responded to Rhyme Capsule and David’s plans to show it. David’s plans to make more versions of Rhyme Capsule and lessons he’ll apply. Lessons David learned about the hidden successes in failure through this process. The challenges of COVID and the fires, and some hidden blessing in between. What is going on with David’s music pursuits and some recent gigs he has played for Prince. For more information and photos, visit here: https://notrealart.com/david-schwartz