Conversations from the Barn

We are joined today by writer Chris Clayton and visual artist Alex M. Peterson. In this conversation, we talk about the gift of time and what it means to be productive, especially as an artist. As Alex and Chris conclude, "productivity" can mean spending 8 hours working on your creative practice, but it can also mean spending a day disconnecting from work, wandering in the forrest, or even taking the time to get a hair cut.

Today's conversation is with visual artist Osvaldo Rodríguez Ruiz and musician and songwriter Thomas Sticha. Both Thomas and Osvaldo's work at Everwood focused on the idea of home and returning to one's inner child. Thomas and Osvaldo reflected on their early points of inspiration and the people, places, and sensations that make them feel at home.

In today's episode of Coversations from the Barn, we are speaking with multidisciplenary writer and theater maker Addie Ulrey. Addie spent her week at Everwood as a solo artist on retreat, which brought it's own challenges and opportunities. Addie has recently relocated back to the upper Midwest, and so her time at Everwood was a chance to reflect on space, community, and the art that comes from both.

Addie's website

Today on the podcast we are joined by writer Denise Santomauro and theater artist Karissa Murrell Myers. Denise and Karissa are both based in Chicago, and while they didn't know each other before their week at Everwood (although they did have mutual friends), they are leaving as friends and potential collaborators. In this conversation, we talked about the importance of getting away from the demands of daily life to focus on your art, and the way that slowing down and finding a moment of peace is essential to the life of the artist.

Denise's website

Karissa's website

Today, we are joined by singer, actress, and writer Kate Beahen and dancer, improviser, and deep listener Kaleena Miller. Our conversation focused on the role of sound in art — both as inspiration and as creation. Kaleena explored sound through her own body and voice while dancing in the barn, and Kate, who often works as a singer, explored the silence that comes from writing. We also discuss our working definitions of the term "artist."

Kaleena's website: kaleenamiller.com

Kate's website: meetkatebeahen.com

Today's conversation is with painter, muralist, and illustartor Keighley Sadler and writer Katrina Vandenberg. Keiley and Katrina brought somewhat opposite energies and art styles to Everwood. Keighley's style more outwardly tactile and Katrina's more interwardly focused. Still, their practices complemented each other during their week at the farm. In our conversation with them, we talked about composting, meteor showers, serendipitous connections, and the ways in which our future creativity is sometimes fostered in the present.

Keighley Instagram

Katrina Website

Today we are joined by actor, writer, and visual artist Senyah Haynes and songwriter and musician Molly Brandt. We talked with Molly and Senyah about when they each started to identify as an artist. Does being an artist mean you make all of your money off of your art? Does it mean you work on your art every day? Or is it something else? Molly and Senyah offer their own ideas about what it means to be an artist after spending a week writing and painting.

Senyah Insta: instagram.com/senyahhaynes2019

Molly website: instagram.com/themollybrandt

Today's conversation is with vocalist and songwriter Maygen Lacey and writer, poet, and birth doula Sarah Auna. We started the conversation off by talkng about the extended capacity Maygen and Sarah both felt as a result of being on the farm. We then followed that thread to explore what that extended capacity allowed for: vulnerability, deep connection, and courage. This conversation is a moving reminder of the intimacy that artists share while on retreat at Everwood.

Maygen Lacey: maygenandthebirdwatcher.com

Sarah Auna: sarahauna.com

We gathered in the barn at the end of Ann and Ariel's retreat week, after smoke from wildfires in Canada and Northern Minnesota had caused us to close the barn for a few days due to dangerous air quality. Ann and Ariel let the smoke and the land inspire a new piece that combines theater, poetry, movement, textile, florals, and more. We talk about the creation of this new work, and the ways that Ann and Ariel's stories — as well as the story of Everwood — intersect across time and space.

Ann Elizabeth Mekala Instagram Ariel Donahue Instagram

Today's conversation is with illustrators Jennifer A. Bell and Kayla Harren. Both visual artists, Kayla and Jen applied to spend their retreat week at Everwood together. While they don't often get to collaborate in their professional lives, they are frequently inspired by one another's practice. We talk about the importance of playfulness in making art — especially playing alongside other artists.