ELEMENTAL

Flint, Michigan. The myth and reality intersect as we dig to understand the water crisis and fractured economy through an artistic lens. Our hosts are the Flint Public Art Project who let us into their work and stories. This is part 1 of 2 on Flint. Next week: BEAUTY.

In April 2015, Rutland, Vermont mayor Christopher Louras announced their city would serve as host to Syrian families as part of the US resettlement program. Met with pushback ranging from jobs to preexisting opioid problems, Louras works to set up an art exhibit titled the Syrian Experience as Art all in an effort to allow the community to understand the human element behind the politics. We travel to Rutland to talk with the community, the mayor, and see the art. At the very end of the episode, we call Mayor Louras for an update after the new administration has imposed their new plans.

Season 1, Episode 1 of ELEMENTAL. In this episode we explore an essential element of art-making: PROTEST. Sofiya and Keith have an exhilarating, whirlwind trip to the Women's March on Washington. An inside look at the massive, world-wide march spanning six continents with an estimated two million participants. We were there, protesting.

At 5:30pm on January 19, 2017, hundreds of theaters in all 50 states came together to embrace all audiences for the next four years. Inspired by the tradition of leaving a "ghostlight" on in a darkened theater, in this extra episode we visit the element: LIGHT.

Keith and Sofiya buy their tickets for the Million Women's March in Washington DC on the air. We discuss activism and the importance of listening is art making and politics. Join us for the premiere episode of ELEMENTAL on Sunday, January 22 and hear all about the March.

Music by Benjamin Weiner

An extra of the ELEMENTAL podcast. We check out "Cut Piece for Pants Suit" in Washington Square Park. Created by women theater artists and inspired by Yoko Ono, "Cut Piece" asks the audience to cut pieces of the power suit worn by the performers off and talk the pieces with them. We talk to some of the participants on the day of the Electoral College vote. Season 1 of ELEMENTAL premieres Sunday, January 22.

A new era has begun. A wall must be built. Though perhaps not the one you imagined. Artist Levee Chavez creates a piece in the Union Square subway terminal with a life of it's own. One than reflects a city mourning, a place transformed by political strife. With each participant The Wall grows. We talk to some of them and Chavez himself. The prequel to Season 1 premieres with The Wall on Sunday, December 4. Season 1 proper premieres Sunday, January 22.

Donate today: www.elementalcast.com

Hosted by Keith Paul Medelis and Sofiya Cheyenne

Recorded and edited by Eben Mannes

A podcast series of the Upstream Artists' Collective