Art Works Podcast

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by revisiting my 2023 conversation with Meg Medina, author and the Library of Congress’s 2023-24 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. As the first Latina to serve in this role, Meg discusses how her own immigrant background and experience growing up in Queens, New York, shape her writing. Her work, which includes the Newbery Medal-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears and the picture book Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, often centers on young Latina protagonists navigating the challenges of growing up while maintaining strong ties to their cultural roots.

Meg also shares her goals for the ambassadorship, including reconnecting kids with the joy of reading, supporting public libraries, and amplifying the voices of contemporary children’s authors. She speaks candidly about her journey from teaching to becoming a celebrated author, and how her experiences continue to inspire her mission to create stories that reflect diverse perspectives and universal truths.  

Art Works  is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the National Heritage Awards with a conversation with Chicano muralist and 2024 National Heritage Fellow Fabian Debora. Debora discusses his remarkable journey from growing up in the gang culture of Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, to becoming an acclaimed artist and advocate.  He shares how art became his lifeline during difficult times and the profound influence of the Chicano Mural Movement on his work, highlighting how murals serve as a voice for the voiceless, telling stories of his community with deep compassion and tenderness. 

Debora shares stories of his artistic success, including his large-scale public works like the ceiling mural at LAX. He reflects on his life-long relationship with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries a pathbreaking gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program where, in 2018, Debora established the Homeboy Art Academy, a space dedicated to healing through the arts for those impacted by gang life and incarceration. Throughout the episode, Fabian emphasizes the power of art to heal, build connections, bring attention to inequalities, and transform lives. He also discusses his ongoing mission to preserve the Chicano mural tradition and ensure that future generations of artists have the tools and support they need to succeed and how receiving the National Heritage Award can help him amplify this. 

Note: You can celebrate the 2024 National Heritage Fellows tonight, Tuesday, September 17 at the Kennedy Center in DC where the NEA will premiere short documentary films about each of the 2024 National Heritage Award recipients, followed by on-stage conversations with each of the Fellows about their culture and art. And tomorrow, Wednesday, September 18 at the Library of Congress, each Fellow will be honored at an awards ceremony.  Both events are free—you can get more information at arts.gov.  And if you’re not in DC, don’t despair--both the film screening and the ceremony will be webcast at arts.gov/heritage. 

We’re celebrating Arts Education week with James Rees, an accomplished visual artist and arts educator who has spent decades advocating for the importance of arts education. Rees talks about his early inspirations, his time at Brigham Young University, and his unexpected path to teaching. He emphasizes the need for student-centered learning in the arts and the importance of allowing students to find their own creative voices through critical thinking and exploration. Rees also shares how his own studio practice informs his teaching and how failure is an essential part of the creative process. And we touch upon his upcoming show at Wisconsin’s Trout Museum of Art.

Rees also discusses the significance of mentorship, providing young artists with opportunities to engage with professionals and showcase their work in public spaces. Rees reflects on his leadership roles, including his advocacy work for the arts at the local, state, and national levels, his times as panelist for the NEA, and how these efforts have impacted both arts education and the wider arts community. This conversation offers an exploration of the impact of art education on students’ lives and the transformative power of making and sharing art. 

As students across the country head back to school, we have a conversation with Dr.Thalia Goldstein about the significant impact of theater education on child development. Dr.Goldstein is an associate professor and director of the Applied Developmental Psychology program in the Department of Psychology at George Mason University where she directs the Play, Learning, Arts and Youth Lab (PLAYlab),  and co-directs the National Endowment for the Arts Lab, the Mason Arts Research Center (MasonARC)  which focuses on arts engagement, child development, and education. Dr. Goldstein discusses how engaging in the arts can foster critical skills like empathy, creativity, and collaboration in young people. She also shares insights from her research at the PLAY Lab, as well as her six-year longitudinal study, which culminated in her book Why Theatre Education Matters. Her research explores the benefits of arts-based learning across various age groups and educational settings.

Goldstein discusses what her work reveals about the powerful role theater can play in enhancing emotional and social development, from early childhood through adolescence. Goldstein explains how theater education fosters critical skills such as empathy, self-regulation, and collaboration, offering unique opportunities for personal growth and learning. Whether it's through drama games in preschool or complex improvisation in high school, her findings highlight the importance of integrating arts into education for holistic student development. It’s a fascinating conversation for educators, parents, and anyone interested in the transformative power of theater education.

A conversation with 2024 NEA Heritage Fellow Bril Barrett, a Chicago tap dancer and educator. Barrett discusses his early exposure to the arts through his grandmother’s encouragement, which led him to fall in love with tap dance at a young age. He recounts his journey from learning under Carlton Smith at a community center to meeting his mentor Ayrie “Mr. Taps” King, who introduced him to the improvisational and jazz aspects of tap and the rich history of the art form.

Barrett talks about his evolution from dancer to dancer/educator and his commitment to passing on tap’s history, particularly its roots in Black resilience and resistance.  We discuss the mission of M.A.D.D. Rhythms, the tap collective Barrett co-founded in 2001, which now serves as a leading force in providing arts education and mentorship to youth in Chicago. He shares how he incorporates tap’s cultural and historical context into his teaching, using what he calls "taptivism" to empower his students to use tap as a means of expression and social justice, and how M.A.D.D. Rhythms has created a "studio-to-stage" pipeline that offers young dancers a pathway to professional careers.

Barrett also discusses the significance of receiving the 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, highlighting how this recognition reaffirms his commitment to his community and gives him renewed energy to continue his work. This episode is a deep dive into the world of tap dance, exploring its past, present, and future through the eyes of one of its most passionate advocates.

Today, we revisit my 2023 conversation with Dr. David Fakunle, a storyteller, scholar, and public health expert whose work embodies the healing potential of the arts. Dr. Fakunle’ s  own story from a boy in Baltimore to a leader in public health and cultural advocacy is deeply rooted in his belief that storytelling and creativity are essential to individual and community well-being. Dr. Fakunle discusses his various roles, including his faculty positions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Morgan State University, and the University of Florida Center for Arts and Medicine. As the president of the Association of  Black Storytellers and the executive director of WombWork Productions, he emphasizes the importance of storytelling in public health, highlighting how it can address complex issues like HIV, violence, and trauma in ways that traditional approaches often cannot. Dr. Fakunle’ s work is a testament to the capacity of creativity in transforming lives and communities. Recorded at WEAA at Morgan State University, this episode is illustrates the enduring power of storytelling and its vital—if underutilized-- role in public health.

An interview with renowned jazz pianist, composer, innovator, and MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer.

 In this podcast, Vijay Iyer discusses his debut orchestral album "Vijay Iyer: Trouble," his classical music roots, and his dynamic journey through various musical genres. From his early violin lessons to his groundbreaking work in jazz and contemporary classical music, Iyer shares insights into his creative process and the collaborations that have shaped his illustrious career.

Iyer discusses the profound importance of jazz and Black music in his development as a musician, how the rich legacy of Black music has been a backbone of American culture and how it has significantly influenced his artistic journey. Reflecting on his collaborations with jazz legends--like NEA Jazz Master Roscoe Mitchell-- and his deep respect for the contributions of Black artists, Iyer highlights the ongoing impact of these traditions on his work.

Iyer also discusses the creation of "Trouble," recorded with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. He reflects on the challenges and joys of composing for an orchestra, and the process of merging classical and jazz elements in his compositions.

We’re marking Disability Pride Month by revisiting my 2022 interview with Dr. Joel Snyder, a pioneering force in the field of audio description. Dr. Snyder delves into the origins and evolution of audio description, a crucial service that makes visual media accessible to those who are blind or have low vision. He shares his journey from theater and voice work to becoming a key advocate and innovator in the field, highlighting the importance of audio description in theaters, museums, television, film, and streaming services.

Dr. Snyder explains the meticulous process of creating audio description, emphasizing the need for vivid, imaginative, and succinct language that complements the original artwork without overshadowing it. He discusses the growing acceptance and implementation of audio description across various art forms, including dance and opera, and the significant role that technology and advocacy play in its expansion.  Today’s podcast offers a profound look at how audio description enriches the cultural landscape for all and underscores the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.

Bonnie Jo Campbell discusses her novel, "The Waters," its fictional setting in Southwest Michigan, and the focus on the intricate dynamics within a family of women living in a swamp:  Hermine, the herbalist grandmother; her restless daughter, Rose Thorn; and Rosie’s mathematically gifted daughter, Dorothy.  Campbell discusses how the landscape shapes the characters' identities and lives, reflecting the struggles and changes in rural American communities. The women are outsiders in their own town, facing suspicion and blame from the men who feel displaced and troubled by the changing times.

Campbell also explores the novel’s use of fairytale tropes to deepen the storytelling, the importance of place in Campbell’s writing,  and the role of animals like donkeys and rattlesnakes. Campbell shares insights into her writing process, emphasizing the authenticity and depth she strives to achieve, and the challenges she has in portraying female characters because of their layers of complexities. This episode offers a look into Campbell’s creative journey and the themes that make "The Waters" a compelling read. My thanks to Recorded Books for allowing us to use an excerpt from the audiobook The Waters, narrated by Lili Taylor.

A conversation with Lissa Frenkel, the CEO of the Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Lissa shares the story of the Gaillard Center, a multidisciplinary cultural hub--whose renovation was completed in 2015 under the guidance of National Medal of Arts recipient  Mayor Joe Riley-- that has since become a cornerstone of the Charleston arts community.  Lissa discusses center's mission to present diverse cultural programming, its state-of-the-art acoustics, and its commitment to serving as a platform for essential dialogue on historical and contemporary issues.

Lissa Frenkel also reflects on her role in steering the center’s initiatives, highlighting key projects such as the Denmark Vesey Bicentenary and the production of "Finding Freedom: The Journey of Robert Smalls." She emphasizes the importance of partnerships with local institutions and the impact of community-focused programming. She also discusses the center's educational outreach, which reaches thousands of students annually,  the upcoming "Fall for Democracy" series-- which aims to foster conversations around democracy and inclusion through the arts, and  how the Gaillard Center is not just a venue but a vital part of Charleston's cultural and social fabric, working to present art that is accessible and relevant to all members of the community.