This episode's guests, co-curators Karen Lemmey and Tobias Wofford, join us from the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., as they talk about the exhibition The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture, which opened in November 2024. They talk about the origin of the show, a number of the works on view and why shows like this are so vital. The exhibition will also be featured in the January/February 2025 issue of American Fine Art Magazine, available at americanfineartmagazine.com. 

Joining the podcast (Episode 305) today is the esteemed painter, illustrator and writer James Gurney. Michael Clawson chats with James about his long career in art and illustration, including his experiences with dinosaurs for his famous Dinotopia series and also his work on the Frank Frazetta film Fire and Ice. James also discusses the rerelease of his 1982 drawing book, The Artist's Guide to Sketching, which he wrote with painter Thomas Kinkade. The book will come out in February 2025. James is also a contributor and columnist in one of magazine titles, International Artist. Learn more at internationalartist.com.

[Contemporary Realism] On today's First Look of the next issue of American Art Collector (Episode 303), co-publisher Adolfo Castillo chats with managing editor Sarah Gianelli about all the content in the December 2024 issue. Highlights include features on Joe Fig and Carol Maine, a look at the special section Figurative Art and also many other previews happening from coast to coast. Today's episode is sponsored by American Art Collector. Learn more at americanartcollector.com.

[Western Art] On this episode of First Look (Episode 304), co-publisher Adolfo Castillo chats with executive editor Michael Clawson about the December issue of Western Art Collector. Michael will fill listeners in on all of the content in the issue, including features on painters Alice Leese and Dennis Ziemienski, and special sections Art of the Cowboy, Winter Scenes and the annual Western Holiday Gift Guide. In addition, they also talk about all the shows and openings happening in the Western art world from coast to coast. This episode is sponsored by Western Art Collector magazine. Learn more about the magazine at westernartcollector.com.

[Native American Art] Joining us from Santa Fe, New Mexico, are two guests for today's episode: Hopi carver Mavasta Honyouti and Wheelwright Museum curator Will Riding In. They will be talking about Mavasta's new exhibition at the Wheelwright, which opening in October 2024. The exhibition features 16 carved wooden low-relief panels depicting the life of Mavasta's grandfather, who grew up in a Native American boarding school where his culture and traditions were stripped from him before he was able to return to his family and his home. The exhibition, Carved Stories, will be turned into a children's book, which will release in November 2024. To learn more about this show and other great Native American shows, visit nativeamericanartmagazine.com.

[Western Art] Sculptor LaQuincey Reed joins us from his Oklahoma City studio. The artist, who is quickly making a name for himself in sculpture circles (and beyond), talks about working on large monuments, his Black cowboy subjects and much more. LaQuincey has appeared several times in Western Art Collector, which is the sponsor of today's episode. To learn more about the magazine, and see work by LaQuincey, visit westernartcollector.com.

[Contemporary Realism] Joining us from across the Atlantic Ocean is special guest Mary Jane Ansell, whose works have appeared in American Art Collector for many years. Mary Jane, who lives in North Wales in the United Kingdom, chats with Michael Clawson about her studio, the dangers of shipping artwork around the world and her vast collection of antiques and other items that populate her paintings. She recently had a show at Arcadia Contemporary, and is already fast at work on her next batch of paintings. Today's episode is sponsored by American Art Collector. Learn more about the magazine at americanartcollector.com.

[Western Art] Returning to the podcast is co-publisher Wendie Martin, who speaks with executive editor Michael Clawson about the November 2024 issue of Western Art Collector. This month's issue includes a wide variety of features, including an in-depth look at a major watercolor by Charles M. Russell, a preview of Kim Wiggins' newest solo show and a peek into the new Maynard Dixon Museum in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to all of the great gallery coverage, the issue also includes the popular Western Small Works & Miniatures special section. Today's episode is sponsored by Western Art Collector. Learn more about the magazine at westernartcollector.com.

[Contemporary Realism] In today's First Look episode, co-publisher Wendie Martin chats with managing editor Sarah Gianelli about the November 2024 issue of American Art Collector. Included in the issue are features on artists Conor Martin, Jeremy Mann and Carrie Ann Baade, as well as nearly a dozen other gallery openings from around the country. The issue also has the annual Small Works & Miniatures special section inside, which is agreat place to start your holiday shopping. The episode is sponsored by American Art Collector. Learn more about the magazine at americanartcollector.com.

[Contemporary Realism] Painter, photographer and filmmaker Jeremy Mann joins us on the show to talk about his varied and exciting career, as well as his recent move to Spain, where he's been inspired by the land and the people. As one of the top contemporary painters in the world, Mann talks about creativity and all the various projects he's been working on in recent years. This podcast will pair nicely with the November 2024 issue of American Art Collector, which has a complementary interview with Jeremy about his work and where it might be headed. Read more in the November issue, available at americanartcollector.com.