Disturbing the Piece

What’s art history without the inclusion of female artists? My guest explains why a complete picture of history is impossible when you view it through the dominant narrative instead of hearing a plurality of voices. Associate Curator, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum and co-curator of “Half the Picture: A Feminist Look at the Collection,” Carmen Hermo.

Carmen talks with me about the exhibit (at the Brooklyn Museum through March 31, 2019), the themes that are still relevant today, how we grapple with it and try to do better moving forward. With Artsy writing just last week that “A study found that 85% of artists in U.S. museum collections are white, and 87% are male,” the exhibit seems timelier than ever.

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In this special episode of the podcast, I speak with Dan Gilroy about his latest movie, Velvet Buzzsaw. Set in the contemporary art world of L.A., the film follows 8 characters through the discovery of an outsider artist’s secret body of work, their rise to fame as it’s distributed, and the meteoric fall they all must inevitably face for doing so.

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I have Catherine Couturier on the podcast to talk about the ins and outs of running a for-profit art gallery. Having worked in the non-profit sector, I was curious about how this industry operated, and Catherine delivered. We get into the challenges of the job, how artists can successfully work with galleries, and why you should be embracing your inner prom queen. Catherine is the owner and director of Catherine Couturier Gallery in Houston, TX.

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A listener suggestion episode! What is Americana? Stephanie delves into our complicated national identity to discover how its shaped art history. We look at the period of the 1920s to 1940s as the origin of this distinct style. From Abstraction to early Pop Art to Regionalism, everyone had an opinion as to what should define “American.”

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I have Erin back on the podcast to help me define what makes a blockbuster exhibit (not the extinct video store). Will look at when they came into vogue and why museums seem to rely on them more and more. Are these money makers making art museums great again or are they a sign of a slow death? We don’t have all the answers, but we will get into the controversy surrounding these mega exhibits.

What goes into creating an art history textbook? That’s what I wanted to find out in today’s episode. I’m speaking with Dr. Michael Cothren, editor of the Stokstad survey textbooks. Michael and I spoke about finding the balance between writing for those who will major in art history and those who will end up only taking the survey course. He also talked about how the books were a serious departure from others on the market when Marilyn Stokstad first published them in 1995.

This episode features curator Risa Puleo and the exhibit Walls Turned Sideways: Artists Confront the Justice System at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston. From profiling to incarceration, Risa takes us through each step of the criminal justice system and how artists are responding to it.

These episodes will give you background information on exhibits currently on display somewhere in the country. They are perfect if you want to know more about the artwork before going in, or if you’re curious and want to learn more about the topic.

I’ve got Erin back on the podcast to help me dissect the idea of the “artist as genius.” Since the rise of Romanticism in the 19th century, artists have been handed the baggage of genius. It’s common to hear tales of illegal activities and debauchery alongside artworks labeled “masterpiece.” Erin and I go into depth discussing the pros and cons of the idea, how the idea of genius is gendered, and wonder if you really can separate the artist from the finished product.

This August I took a trip to Mexico City. The museums and food were great but there was one site I couldn’t wait to see. Almost an hour outside of the city sits the remains of Teotihuacan. I knew a little about the site but wanted to talk with an expert. My guest today is Dr. Annabeth Headrick at the University of Denver. Even if you haven’t been to Mexico City (or don’t have plans to), this episode will provide insight into the culture that rivaled Ancient Rome.

An Exhibit Revisit episode just in time for Thanksgiving. The time of year when we gather with family, eat too much food, and maybe think about our nation’s founding. So how about we discuss that here with a 1991 exhibit organized by the National Museum of American Art. "The West as America" went on to enrage Republican Congressmen and resulted in four large comment books filled with visitor feedback.

In this series, I’ll examine an exhibit that’s had a lasting impression on art history. Maybe it galvanized a movement or maybe it was too radical for its time. Whatever the outcome – the decisions made, the artists included or excluded – brought us to where we are today.