Matthew Thurber joins us as our first in-studio guest!! We discuss his new book Art Comic, now available through Drawn & Quarterly. The book has direct parallels to our lives, it’s kinda nuts, I’m still not over it. We discuss art school problems, new models, ideals, concessions, and debate the merits and pitfalls of book … Continue reading "Episode 17 – Art Comic with Matthew Thurber"

We got a modest amount of funding to travel to the Midwest to participate in Erin K Drew’s amazing art talk show, Putty! Although we had some incredible support, we definitely returned to NYC in the red. Please consider supporting us on Drip for the full Putty show including a heated discussion we get into … Continue reading "DISPATCH – Midwest Fun"

Go to the 3rd Anti-Columbus Day Tour: https://www.facebook.com/events/235077237185003/ We build on our “Artwashing and Soho” episode using our direct experiences and observations of gentrification in our neighborhoods. We do a “Goofus and Gallant” for anti-gentrication art. Shoutout to the locals, but also these thoughts can be applied all over the place. It’s a layered topic, but … Continue reading "Episode 16 – Housing and Displacement"

We went to many events so you didn’t have to. We discuss the Festival Workers Association born during the many controversies of this year’s Small Press Expo. While OK was in Maryland Lucia went to the Marx@200 show at Verso Books, which was a celebration of Peter Frase’s new book “The Four Futures” and included Alfredo Jaar’s … Continue reading "Episode 15 – W.A.G.E. & SPX & Marx@200"

Sorry for the delay, I was working the polls from 5AM-10PM yesterday!  Fucking wild! We will discuss it and SPX next week when I escape the hurricane zone. Today we read Ben Davis to you. For more, buy his entire book of the same name. Boots Riley interview where he mentions Ben Davis: https://www.buildseries.com/video/5b2a8966523dc33ffe4c79de/ Follow … Continue reading "READING – 9.5 Theses on Art and Class"

Jingoism! For the inherently racist American imperial project?? Capitalism with a conscious??? We’re NOT having it. We talk destroying and deconstructing the American flag at home and abroad. Please check out the full show notes of this one. If you like us please consider donating for bonus writing, memes, and art: https://d.rip/art-and-labor Follow our new … Continue reading "Episode 14 – What is the Proper Way to Display a U.S. Flag"

We go through the demands of Bad Art World’s A contribution towards a programme for the arts on a brutally hot August evening in NYC. It’s a contemporary application of Trotsky’s manifesto on revolutionary art. “Eighty years ago the world was entering another great opening. Then, too, there was a gap between what was necessary … Continue reading "Episode 13 – Bad Art World"

We’ve decided to start reading art manifestos in full and providing light commentary. First up, of course, is 1938’s Towards a Free Revolutionary Art ghostwritten by Leon Trotsky, signed by Diego Rivera and André Breton. Trotsky was one of the leaders of the Russian revolution, he was famously forced to flee to Mexico. Thanks to … Continue reading "READING – Manifesto: Towards a Free Revolutionary Art"

We yelled at the mayor! This episode is a response to a recent Chapo Trap House interview about music, identity politics, and activism (listen here: https://soundcloud.com/chapo-trap-house/unlocked-amber-interviews-aaron-j-leonard).  We want to challenge the podcast left to do better coalition building, and to think more critically about art’s potential in revolution. We encourage folks to consider Rivera’s Manifesto: … Continue reading "Episode 12 – Art as Agency (and The Dirtbag Left)"

A Fucking Didactic Educational AUDIO File! We basically spin a weird collage about surveillance and privacy (a lost cause). A lot of time traveling this episode. We go back in time 5-7 years when folks were rushing Youtube with How To videos like it was the dang gold rush. We receive a prescient transmission from Jack … Continue reading "Episode 11 – HOW NOT TO BE SEEN"