Artistories

This is a special episode of Artistories because we welcome our first poet, Cameron Quan Louie. He talks about the project for which he received an Arts Foundation grant; “Domestic,” is a hybrid poetry, essay, and photography project, exploring how gender-based violence impacts our community. This is a piece about Louie’s personal childhood experience and connecting that experience with broader conversations around domestic violence, also known as intimate partner terrorism. It is worth acknowledging that listening to conversations about these experiences can be re-traumatizing.

In some ways, Louie’s personal history is entwined with the history of Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse. Louie tells us about the role this organization played for him, interviewing their CEO and how Emerge has evolved over the years, changing a focus from preventing domestic violence to ending domestic violence. Louie also talks about his own voice as a male voice in the conversation on intimate partner terrorism and the different ways we can come at this positionality. Louie closes our conversation by talking about the accessibility Tucson poetry scene, naming The University of Arizona Poetry Center and POG Arts Tucson.

Listen to the full-length podcast by hitting play above (link to the mini below)!

https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Artistories-5.11-5.24.mp3

2012 portrait of Adam Cooper-Terán by Denise Uyehara

“Of Flight & Correspondences” Digital Collage (w/ Circle of Protection and scanned ephemera), 2009

ACT-magus portrait by Steven Johnson Leyba, 2012

Live pic from Annia Jekka (P1070112) by Steev Hise, 2020

 

Verbobala – Sonoran Strange performance at Arcosanti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this episode we hear from Adam Cooper-Terán, Multimedia Designer and Performer. We go deep into the world of grief, loss, art and spirit in the times of COVID-19. Cooper-Terán talks intimately about how art has helped them process the way death and grief have touched their life. We also talk about their identity as a first gen Tucsonan decendent of Mexican, Yaqui and East Coast Jewish lines. Grappling with “home land” becomes the subject of ANNIA JEKKA where Cooper-Terán takes on connecting this land’s (the Tucson Mountains) past and present by mashing up representations of different historical moments in a mediatic collage. Generational trauma is a thing here; a present day example involves for-profit detention facilities to house immigrant children. There’s currently a petition circulating to restrict their presence after it was announced that VisionQuest is moving into The Dunbar Pavilion. We discuss going back in time to bring generational trauma to bear when there is so much denial in mainstream society; denial about things ranging from this country’s history of slavery, to a brown migrant underclass to the reality of mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex…Cooper-Terán answers the question why they you running into the fire that everyone else is running away from? 

Our listeners may notice that this recording sounds a little different than usual. KXCI studios are still closed in response

Teresa Truelsen

 

Teresa Truelsen (not recent)

 

Courtyard and exterior of the Carnegie Building, current home of the Children’s Museum Tucson

 

A young visitor has fun with Jovert Steel Drum Band at Art After Dark

 

In this episode, we hear from Teresa Truelsen, Director of Marketing at the Children’s Museum Tucson. (Our listeners may notice that this recording sounds a little different than usual. That’s because the KXCI studios are closed in response to CDC guidelines. That said, we’re still working around the clock to prepare new content, so this episode of Aristories was recorded remotely–both Teresa and I recorded from our respective homes. I want to thank all of our listeners for your continued support as we fine-tune.) Teresa tells us about what the staff of the Children’s Museum have been up tp while it has been closed to the public, including exhibit upgrades, posting staff-made content on social media and re-evaluating. Teresa also talks about a family that really exemplifies the value of having the Children’s Museum in our community and how when they were surprised with twin girls, the museum helped them learn how to parent and got their kids kindergarten-ready.  She also tells us a bit about how the Children’s Museum of Tucson came to be, the struggles it’s going through now and how people can help support the Children’s Museum now and when they re-open. (Evening of Play is a night when adults get to drink, eat and enjoy the museum like children–FUN.)

Listen to the full-length podcast by hitting play above (link to the mini below)!

https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Artistories-4.13-4.26.mp3

Serena McRae

 

Card from Serena McRae’s series, “Affirmations Moms Actually Need”

 

In this episode we hear from Serena McRae, watercolorist and creator of the card deck Affirmations Moms Actually Need. Serena tells us about how she came up with the idea for Affirmations Moms Actually Need , revealing her artistic journey and path to motherhood are intertwined in interesting ways. She actually has to leave art school because of the intensity of morning sickness that eventually causes her to wreck her car into a ditch! She talks about choosing watercolors out of a desire to save space and money; the medium ends up being perfect for her. She also talks in detail about how she felt after her first child was born, the grand expectations of how mothers are “supposed to feel,” curated images of motherhood on social media, and how that doesn’t pan out with postpartum struggles. Serena ultimately tells a story that so many people can relate to right now; a lengthy struggle with mental health that is won through family, friendship, resources and self-care.

To follow Serena’s work, visit Cactus Clouds Art on Instagram: instagram.com/cactuscloudsart/

Listen to the full-length podcast by hitting play above (link to the mini below)!

https://kxci.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Serena-Mcrae-Mini.mp3