Join Kate Stanton Melendez for an interview with Jeanette McCune, the Executive Director of Cleo the Project Space, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit arts organization, located at 915 B Montgomery St., Savannah, Georgia. The space is open on Saturdays from 12-5PM, or by appointment. 

Join Kate Stanton Melendez for an interview with soft sculpture artist, performance artist, and college professor Kelly Boehmer. 

Kelly has exhibited and performed her work nationally and internationally in over 175 exhibitions including shows in Baltimore, Dallas, Miami, New York City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Juan, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

She received her BFA in Studio Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art and her MFA in Studio Art at the University of South Florida.

She is a member of the performance art band, Glitter Chariot.

Kelly is a Professor of Foundations Studies at Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, GA.

Boehmer's soft sculptures combine tragic humor with a celebration of the hidden beauty found within anxiety. Her creatures serve as metaphors for personal struggles with anxiety and aging. She finds humor in her attempts to become "comfortable in my own skin" and to navigate these challenges, particularly with social anxiety.

Though the imagery may appear grotesque, with flayed and molting forms, these creatures represent growth, transformation, and positive change. She uses glittery sheer fabrics and vivid faux fur, to contrast difficult emotions with inviting textures. This creates a tension between attraction and repulsion, softening the rawness of the subject matter and making it more approachable for the viewer.

Many of her works draw inspiration from iconic pieces in art history, such as the Unicorn Tapestries, the Laocoön Group, Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal, and The Arnolfini Portrait. Her aggressive hand-sewing technique is similar to an expressive line in drawing.

A key element of the process involves repurposing materials from previous sculptures, cutting them up after an exhibition and combining them with upcycled taxidermy. This gives the materials a “second life,” creating a layered history of growth and change embedded within the pieces themselves.

Check out Kelly's work here:

https://www.kellyboehmer.com/

Kelly Boehmer (@kelly.boehmer) • Instagram photos and videoshttps://www.instagram.com/kelly.boehmer/?hl=en

Buy Kelly's work from Cindy Lisica Gallery in the Atlanta Art Fair:

https://artcloud.market/show/cindy-liscia-gallery-atlanta-art-fair

See her husband Chuck Carbia's work here:

https://www.chuckcarbia.com/

Join Kate for an interview with Lisa D. Watson, an artist, gardener, and activist. 

Lisa D. Watson (b.1967) grew up in Northeast Ohio where she spent many days in the wooded forest behind her childhood home. The day the bulldozers flattened the forest to a suburb was the day she found her lifelong mission; tell the stories of the voiceless species of the natural world. 

Watson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio. Since her academic studies, she has used salvaged objects as her medium. 

Through her art and garden designs, Watson strives to find balance between urbanization and conservation. Her company, Plan it Green Design, LLC, provides homeowners with creative and sustainable design solutions, emphasizing the use of native plant species. Currently she is collaborating with The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, The Longleaf Alliance, and the Georgia Native Plant Society.

After receiving a Certificate of Interior Design in Chatsworth, California, Lisa moved to Savannah, Georgia and works out of her studio and native garden. I was lucky enough to be able to visit and chat.

Check out Lisa here:

https://www.art-ldw.com/

https://www.instagram.com/art.ldw/

https://www.facebook.com/planitgreendesign/

Theme song by Jose Ray, an artist, DJ, & friend of the show!

Join Kate for an interview with Jose Ray, a multi-faceted artist. You can find his work on gallery walls, in public murals, in the bookstore, and you can find him in the DJ booth downtown. 

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jose grew up with a love for wide-open exploration and do-it-yourself spirit. That outlook took him in many different directions while always building the knowledge and skills toward a creative path…and eventually, profession.

In visual arts, Jose works with Mixed Media to achieve lush and vibrant floral landscapes. The trail of abstraction is left to shine through in some moments, and in others, rendered into beautiful and fantastic floral forms. Playing with contrast and balance is always a motivating factor for this loaded-with-contradiction Gemini. 

In audio arts, DJ Jose Ray has the knowledge and skills to set just the right tone with an eclectic mix of styles and a love for genre-jumping. Whether we're poolside chilling or sweating it out on the dancefloor, Jose will make sure you're lost in the groove!

Catch Jose DJing:

Club Bardo on Friday nights from 8PM-11PM

Starland Yard on Saturday nights from 7PM-10PM

Hotel Alida on Sundays from 2PM-5PM

Check out Jose here:

https://www.joseray.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/joseraysay/ 

Notes:

In this episode we referenced his friend Marc, the owner of one of Jose's murals, & a super talented poet. We've realized we didn't give him appropriate credit. Marc's full name is Marc Thomas -  his most recent book is "Wetlands - Low Country Haiku", which was illustrated by Jose Ray. This latest book was released last month & is available at The Book Lady & Locally Made Savannah, among others. 

Join all AOTA past hosts Tamara Garvey, Rob Hessler, & David Laughlin as they welcome new host Kate Stanton Melendez, and serve as a transition team. The artists and arts journalists share background info on the show's roots, give advice on becoming a podcaster, and dispense wisdom on the state of the arts in our beloved Savannah, Georgia (i.e., reminisce and gossip). We enjoyed catching up and goofing off, and hope you enjoy it too. 

Check out Tamara's work and follow her here:

https://www.instagram.com/tamgarv/

Check out David's work and follow him here:

https://www.instagram.com/theidofdav/

Rob's grown tired of being popular, so leave him alone. But you can view past artwork here:

https://loislambertgallery.com/rob-hessler

Join Tamara for an interview with musician (upright and electric bass) Marc Chesanow, whose music plays at the beginning and the end of every episode of this show! 🎉 

He played drums and trombone in HS band and then came to bass later: attending Eastman School of Music in NY for undergrad and then University of Memphis for his master's degree. He's been a working musician ever since, with occasional stints as a music professor. 

Marc has lived in Savannah since 2016 and emphasizes the necessity of diversifying your time amongst bands, private gigs, orchestras, etc in order to pay the bills as a musician.

He's 1/3 of beloved Savannah jazz group The Eric Jones Trio, and performs regularly with the Savannah Music Fest, Savannah Jazz Fest, and Savannah Philharmonic, as well as various "Dancing With the Stars" fundraiser shows and Juneteenth celebrations. 

⭐️ This episode is extra special! It's Tamara's 3 year anniversary of hosting the podcast, and after this one she'll be handing the hosting mike over to Kate Stanton Melendez. Listen through the end of the show for all the details! ⭐️

Check out Marc's music and follow him here: 

https://www.instagram.com/marcchesanow/  

Tune in and get all the details! 

Join Tamara for an interview with artist/illustrator (my fellow artist at the co-op Gallery 209 on River Street!) Erica Catherine, who draws "Vintage Inspired Designs for the Old Soul." 

Erica is a native Savannahian who graduated from Savannah Arts Academy and then SCAD, with a BFA in Illustration. After graduation she started her business, selling her paintings and products made from her art, including prints, cards, scarves, and tea towels. She also has her work on a few print-on-demand sites, in order to license for fabric and wallpaper. 

Her illustrations are created using layers of watercolor and graphite to give an ethereal feeling that harkens back to turn of the century illustration. She is known for creating large series around a theme, such as all of the US state flowers, one lettered alphabet combined with animals and one with flowers, maps of various Savannah neighborhoods, and all zodiac signs. 

Check out Erica's art and follow her here:  

https://www.ericacatherineillustration.com/ 

Tune in and get all the details!

Join Tamara for an interview with musician (singer-songwriter, drums, guitar, bass) Markus Kuhlmann, whose IG description reads: "Pandemic-Born Dad-Bod Rock." He's a "recovering architect" originally from South Carolina who moved from Charleston to Savannah in the late 90s/early 00s.

Over the past decades Markus has been in a number of beloved Savannah bands - The Train Wrecks, Clouds and Satellites, and now East Bay-Ardsley - generally as a drummer and singer. In recent years he also taught himself guitar and then bass.

During the pandemic he recorded and released a solo five track EP, “We got Yr Smile on File" under a solo name, Mike Kilo. He regularly performs around town in solo gigs, and in May the Train Wrecks reunited at The Britannia Pub, for the first time in years! Keep an eye on his IG for upcoming gigs, and you can also chat with him most weekday mornings at Henny Penny (his partner is Jen of the Foxy coffee shops!). 

Check out Markus's music and follow him here: 

https://mikekilo.bandcamp.com/

Tune in and get all the details! 

Join Tamara for an interview with Armando Nieto, an artist/illustrator born in Caracas, Venezuela. He has an Associate's degree in Illustration, and then came to Savannah to complete his B.F.A in Illustration with a concentration in Concept Design for Animation and Games from SCAD. He became proficient in working in Procreate, as well as in traditional painting media. 

He worked as a freelance Illustrator right out of graduation, and since 2023 he has been teaching art classes for both kids and adults at Scribble Art Studio in Starland: https://www.scribbleartstudiosav.com/. More recently he also teaches art online (you can request a specific lesson/project too!) - https://www.superprof.com/master-the-art-watercolor-and-acrylic-personalized-step-step-lessons-where-you-improve-your-skills-with-expert.html  

Armando also takes on commissioned painting projects (landscapes, portraits, and pet portraits) and recently completed a mural with fellow artist Nico Moscosa, at the soon-to-reopen Troupial Cafe. 

Check out Armando's work and follow him here: 

https://www.instagram.com/armasketch/ 

Tune in and get all the details! 

Join Tamara for an interview with Jazz Howington, a versatile painter, muralist, and illustrator who started her career in 2012 (SCAD Illustration Alumna 2011). She has a day job in UX Design and creates art part-time, out of her studio at Cedar House (go visit her on weekends, receptions, or by appointment!).

She'll have work in the upcoming Cedar House show “SPECTRUM,” June 6th - 27th, with a reception on Friday, June 6. 

Her "Project Adoration" is a life-long endeavor to capture authentic queer relationships and the affection and adoration of those relationships, both romantic and platonic. The continued consideration of bold color, negative space, and degree of finish are constant themes in her works.

She is always looking for authentic relationships to capture, so if you and your partner(s) feel comfortable being photographed and then painted, sign up to model! 

Check out Jazz's work and follow her here: 

https://www.jazzhowingtonart.com/ 

Tune in and get all the details!