Artifice

Casey Drake is a self-taught artist, author, illustrator, and mother currently based in Orlando, Florida. While always driven by a strong, intrinsic need to create, her artistic journey took an unexpected turn when her whimsical sidewalk chalk creations gained widespread recognition in 2020. Before this, Casey obtained a bachelor’s of science in Biology, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, and taught in under-served schools in Arizona and Florida. However, this sudden and extreme attention to her art ignited a newfound passion within her for illustration, as well as the motivation to pursue an artistic career path. Her diverse background in biology, education, and humanitarian work has led to an unique artistic perspective and irreverence in her work.

In 2021, Casey unveiled her debut children's picture book, 'Hi, My Name is Why!', a passion project that resulted in a fully funded Kickstarter campaign and physical book. Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Business of Art and Design at Maryland Institute College of Art, Casey's vision extends beyond her personal artistic endeavors. She envisions establishing a combination community art and maker space—a convergence of art, creation, and community—in her future home of Washington State. This space will fuse a coffee bar with a maker space to cultivate a haven for creativity and connection. As she navigates through grad school and cultivates her artistic identity, Casey Drake stands poised to leave an indelible mark.

CaseyDrake.com

instagram.com/caseydrakemakes

From Anna's Obituary: Mary Annaleen Mooy, beloved sister, aunt, teacher, and devoted friend to many, age 65, peacefully passed away on January 15, 2024, due to complications of a brain tumor.

I'm so grateful I have this conversation with Anna to remember and cherish, along with some truly impactful memories from my time as her student. It feels right to honor her by sharing this interview a second time. Rest in peace, beautiful Anna.

Anna's Bio:

Mezzo-soprano Anna Mooy received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in voice from BYU, Provo, and did doctoral study at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she studied with Glenda Maurice. She has received many honors, including Regional Finalist for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions on two occasions. She has also performed with many of the world’s finest choral organizations including the Dale Warland Singers, VocalEsssence and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; both as choral member and soloist. Performances with other organizations include the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Utah Symphony, among many others. She has also been a judge for the the Metropolitan Opera District auditions in Utah and North Dakota. Active as a recitalist, she has performed widely through the Midwestern United States, as well as the Rocky Mountain West and Hawaii. She has been on the voice faculties of St. Olaf College, Bemidji State University, Brigham Young University, Provo, and BYU Hawaii.

Pham was born in a Malaysian refugee camp in 1979. His parents are Vietnamese and fled the country during the Vietnam War. The family moved to the United States when he was five months old and has lived in the U.S. ever since.

Pham was teased often as a young child, and has said that he began to "resent being Asian" because of this bullying. He often avoided traditional Asian food while growing up, opting for McDonald's hamburgers, because he thought "if I could eat American food, it would make me feel more American.

Pham attended culinary school in San Francisco but began his career in software. His first chef job was at Casey's Irish Pub Downtown where he was hired in 2006 upon graduating from Le Cordon Bleu. After working in San Francisco, owner Blake Ballard convinced Chef Pham to join Spark Restaurant and Lounge in Provo, Utah. In 2009, Pham opened his own restaurant, Forage, in Utah with co-Chef Bowman Brown. In 2011 Pham received the Best New Chef Award from Food & Wine Magazine. In 2012, Pham was an Iron Chef America winner by beating Chef Bobby Flay. He also appeared on the second season of Extreme Chef. In 2018, he faced off against Chef Bobby Flay again on Beat Bobby Flay, securing a second victory against him.

In 2016 Forage closed, with Pham and Brown parting ways. Pham's next project was the fast-casual fried chicken restaurant, Pretty Bird Hot Chicken. Starting in downtown Salt Lake City, the Pretty Bird brand has expanded to four locations as of the end of 2022. These include the original downtown location as well as Sugar House, Midvale, and Park City.

https://www.instagram.com/chefvietpham/

https://www.instagram.com/prettybirdchicken/

Evan Werner is an avid woodworker, chef, outdoorsman, and entrepreneur. Living in a rural community in Utah has allowed him to spend more time with his artistic passions. He runs South Slope Wood-fired Pizza with his wife Priscilla. When he’s not serving up delicious wood fired pizza he’s in the mountains fly fishing or searching for unique logs to harvest to create furniture and wood turned pieces. He enjoys sharing his passion with others. There is great reward in teaching someone to have greater success in the kitchen or in the field.

https://www.facebook.com/southslopepizza2020/

Joey Anderson (he/they) is a movement-based artist and educator based in his hometown, Salt Lake City, Utah. He is currently a member of FLEET Co-Op, directed by Shelby Taylor, which just concluded its inaugural year. In collaboration with FLEET, Joey contributed in building and performing their immersive show, “Monomyth,” last Fall as well as their work shown at 801 Salon in May 2023. He also premiered his solo show, “Where Love Lived First,” at Burnswood Studio, which explored Dr. Kübler-Ross’ “Stages of Grief" and how they manifest in the body.

Before his time with FLEET, Joey apprenticed with SALT Contemporary Dance for their 2021-2022 season. During this time, he had the pleasure of performing in SALT’s Fall and Spring shows as well as in outreach performances in the schools in Salt Lake County.

As a freelance artist, Joey has performed both internationally and across the US. He has performed at Dock 11, The New Stage of the National Theatre in Prague, RAD Dance Festival, and Breaking Ground. Locally, Joey has performed in “reBloom” funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, multiple shows sponsored by Repertory Dance Theatre, 801 Salon (his own work), and the LDS Arts Festival.

Joey graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2021, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in dance. As a student, he was a member of their touring company, Contemporary Dance Theater (CDT), under the direction of Nathan Balser (2018-2019) and then Keely Song (2019-2021). Before CDT, he also was a member of their outreach company, Kinnect, under the direction of Marilyn Berrett and Heather Francis, which integrated movement to teach Utah’s K-6 core curriculum in schools. Joey’s education at BYU took him beyond its campus and in 2018, he performed at Dance and the Child International’s (daCi) conference in Adelaide, Australia with Kinnect. Then, in 2019, he toured with CDT in Germany and the Czech Republic. In addition to his degree, Joey has received technical training through b12, Impulstanz, FLOCK, and NVA & Guests.

Between his education and career, Joey has had the honor of performing work by Martha Graham, Antonin Rioche, FLOCK, LAJAMARTIN, Jesse Obremski, Jenn Freeman, Olivier Wevers, Garrett Smith, Shane Urton, Francisco Gella, and Joni McDonald.

https://www.jandersonoey.com/

Jennifer Madsen is a prized fixture on performing stages of the West. A lifelong singer and actress, her early career included being a cast member of Brigham Young University’s famed performing group the Young Ambassadors. That experience founded her love of the art and afforded her the chance to sing, dance, and act for audiences across the globe. Using her strong foundational understanding for the craft, Jennifer left BYU and began to formally instruct students in all areas of performing. Her students from these early days have gone on to lead successful careers as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artists. She has had several students on American Idol and its predecessor, Star Search. One such student even went on to become a Star Search season finale winner. Her celebrated instruction continues to this day, as a former voice and musical theatre instructor at Utah Valley University and currently as part of Snow College’s award-winning music department. Jennifer Madsen studied voice with Jeri Clinger and big band vocalist from Stan Kenton’s orchestra, William “Smiling Bill” Stoker. Her recent studies include spending several summers in New York City completing her professor’s certification in the Margolis Method for Acting. Her continued studies in this methodology infuse her vocal performance studio with techniques and tools for helping musicians and performers to connect viscerally with their music, lyrics and performance.

Jennifer’s accomplishments run deep as a producer, director, studio session singer and choreographer. Some of her more recent productions include The Sound of Music (Musical Director/Choreographer) at Robert Redford’s renowned Sundance Summer Theater; Inside the Outside (Music Producer) with Grammy award winning saxophonist, Jeff Coffin of the Dave Mathews Band (partially recorded on her musical tour to Cuba,) Don’t Look Down (Music Producer); the award-winning independent film Masque (Music Production); and various projects with BYU Broadcasting (Music Producer). Jennifer’s recognition for such work includes multiple Downbeat Music Awards and several Utah Best of State awards for her work with Caleb Chapman’s Crescent Super Band. She recently participated in the Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz at the Lincoln Center where her long time student, Isabella Johnson, was awarded outstanding vocalists. Aside from her many lauded achievements, Jennifer has never lost sight of the passion rooted in all of her life’s work – performing what she loves for the people she loves. She’s had the privilege of doing so with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, Salt Lake Choral Artist, the Utah Valley Symphony, and on numerous albums including work with Kenneth Cope. Recently, Jennifer completed a lifelong goal of performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City where she sang at the famous Dizzy’s Jazz Club to the delight of fans, friends, and family. Jennifer is a sought after clinician and presents vocal and performance workshops all over the world.

Aaron Schumacher is a dynamic vocalist, music director, and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. Known for his technical expertise and innovative approach, Aaron serves as the Soprano and Technical Director for m-pact, a globally celebrated vocal group renowned for their authentic and powerful vocal performances.

As an entrepreneur, Aaron founded VocalMist, a company offering specialized vocal health tools used by top artists like Lizzo, The Jonas Brothers, H.E.R., and Pentatonix. He also owns ASM Productions, which provides premium audio and lighting services for live music events in Southern California.

Aaron has a rich background as a commercial recording artist, contributing to high-profile projects like "The Voice," "Dune," and "Mulan." His versatility across genres such as pop, jazz, and rock makes him a sought-after performer and MC for events across the US.

Since 2016, Aaron has also worked as the Music Director for Top Shelf Vocal, a diverse and award-winning adult vocal group in Los Angeles, where he brings together individuals from various career fields through their shared love for vocal music.

With a degree in Vocal Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, Aaron's journey from Ennis, Texas, to becoming a key figure in Los Angeles's music scene highlights his passion and dedication to the art of vocal music.

aaronschumachermusic.com

myvocalmist.com

m-pact.com

asmproductions.net

topshelfvocal.com

Britt Linde is a rock climber and physical therapist living in the magical Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona. Her life circumstances led her to attend BYU for her undergrad degree in Exercise Science and serendipitously led her to experience rock climbing for the first time. There began her obsession with rock climbing and the life lessons it teaches, and she has continued to follow and fall in love with the process of climbing difficult routes on beautiful rock in remote places. Attending NAU in Flagstaff, Arizona her curiosity about the biomechanics of rock climbing began as she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has since spent 10 years treating and developing treatment protocols for rock climbing related injuries. She became a sought-after rock climbing specialist in Tucson after spending time coaching the Rocks & Ropes youth competitive climbing team. Recently, in keeping with the typical realizations of a life-long rock climber, she has decided to pivot and take a break from the never-ending road of chasing a specific career. She is now working in home health and adores her new geriatric caseload and the conversations she gets to have with people who have lived entire lives. She is now more focused than ever on letting go of the past and the future, living in the moment, and not worrying about what could happen. She is re-dedicated to climbing, and is now able to spend more time training for the aesthetic climbs of Mt Lemmon in her magical Tucson backyard. She lives with her partner, Bria, and 2 sons (dogs) Max and Diesel. She describes her little family as a little love puddle.

Grace was born and raised in Sandy, Utah where she grew up doing two things - playing soccer and making art. Today, she continues to do just that; she spends the majority of her time at Harmons Grocery painting and installing signs, at home painting original work or commissioned work for her art patrons, and of course, we mustn’t forget, playing soccer in

multiple adult leagues. She has certainly been blessed with life-long passion for what she does.

Grace graduated Utah State University in 2015 with a BFA and an emphasis in Drawing and Painting. She has since studied under a professional mural artist and a professional faux-finishing painter. Grace spends her time going on outdoor adventures such as rock climbing, hiking, and camping, or traveling the world (taking her art supplies with her) with family or

friends.

In 2018, Grace attended the University of Santa Monica where she studied Spiritual Psychology, a passion discovered in her early 20s along with cognitive therapy, trauma work, energy work, and somatic work. She now uses both her artwork and her passion for Spiritual Psychology and healing work as a Healing Coach. She spends a lot of her time trying to think of

ways to help people tap back into their own innate creativity and to heal their deepest wounds.

And playing soccer.

Alex Hyner is a writer, producer, and actor for film and television in Los Angeles. In his spare time, he has cultivated a passion for photography and digital art. You can find his work on Instagram @alexhyner and his website AlexHynerArt.com