Jim Costanzo of the Aaron Burr Society stops by to talk about working for the US Army in Germany, studying intermedia in Ohio, joining REPOhistory, the president of the New York Stock Exchange complaining about their work, occupying Wall Street, and the story of Aaron Burr killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

Remy tells me about growing up in Suriname, giving up the comforts of working as a mechanical engineer to become an artist, moving to Amsterdam after an invitation to study at the Rietveld Academie, being considered a ‘Dutch Master of the 21st Century’, and how visiting his family altar had a profound effect on his artistic perspective.

Sonia joins me to talk about making work for and within her local area of Harlem, performing in and in spite of the rain, the benefits of improvisation, authentic movement, being an amateur (at some things), fairly paying artists, and how her work could be considered as singing without singing.

Elisabeth speaks to me about never intending to be an artist, the Danish festival of Fastelavn, cats in barrels, elevators, directing ants, our childhood fears, and how facing her own fears is often the starting point for many of her works.

Anna tells me about what it was like growing up in the remote town of Kaustinen, Finland, working on the Finnish Big Brother TV show, studying at the Department of Time and Space; the dailyness of the studio, dressage, always wanting to be a dancer and how that is informing her latest film work.

Joe gives what he describes as the most comprehensive account of his life he has ever given, from circumnavigating the failings of comprehensive education, his unlikely and grievous route to becoming an artist, and to how moving to America gave him a greater perspective on racism in Britain.

Merry Christmas!

Josie shares her thoughts on silliness, confidence, skills (or lack thereof), being too emotionally connected to your work, art not always making you feel good, feeling special, status, and tells me the story behind that (in)famous graduation photograph of her holding her degree with bandaged hands.

After getting through over thirty jobs by his mid-twenties and just before setting off to serve as a combat medic, Stephen made the decision to give it up and enrol on an Art & Design Access course at Wirral Met College. Only a few years later I now catch up with him upon his return from participating in the Karachi Biennial, Pakistan.

Jade tells me about her complex but clearly loving relationship with living in Scarborough and a little bit of what that entails, the discomfort of making others comfortable, the duty of care of artistic institutions, the officer class, and shares an unsuccessful proposal with a really quite serious anecdote.