Finding the Words

In the non-objective paintings of Joseph O'Neal, one constant holds true: dualities. Eye-popping colors combine with stark black and white. Ambiguous shapes play off of thought-provoking text that seems to drift in on a stray radio frequency. Even his recurring series of paintings of Jackie Onassis contain hidden dualities, which we get into, as well as Joseph's journey as an artist, in our discussion from his studio in Easton, PA.

Though best know for his 2001 piece Guerrilla Public Service, which consisted of taking it upon himself to correct an oversight on downtown Los Angeles freeway signage, Richard Ankrom has had an extremely varied and interesting artistic career and creative journey.

I sat down with him to discuss sign making and his various forays into fine art. And, of course, we discuss Guerrilla Public Service, as well as other projects lurking in the shadows that he has yet to divulge.

https://ankrom.org/

https://youtu.be/Clgl63CWOkM?si=LZkToV0CBt-fdS0n

Photo: Gary Leonard

In the street art hub of Lisbon, one artist isn't aiming her spray paint can at buildings. Dear Anushka chooses instead to tag her particular brand of witty sayings, romantic longings, and universally relatable missives onto a much different canvas: discarded mattresses left on the streets. We discuss how these temporary queen-sized galleries provide a voice for the voiceless while performing an unexpected public service.

Instagram: @dear.anushka

website: dearanuska.com

Corita Kent, or Sister Mary Corita as she was known in her days as a nun, was an educator, activist, and widely-acclaimed artist, creating some of the most influential pop art serigraphs of the 1960s. Her career continued into the 1980s, and the steward of her art and legacy is the Corita Art Center in Los Angeles, led by Executive Director Nellie Scott. In this episode I sit down and talk with Ms. Scott about Corita's life, the history and legacy of her art, and what big things are in store for the center in the very near future.

https://www.corita.org/

Today's guest is New Hampshire-based painter, Chad Etting. We discuss Chad's influences, how the pandemic helped shape his practice, his surprising beginnings in New York City after graduation, plus a whole lot more.

https://www.chadetting.com/

On the closing day (10/19/2024) of his Los Angeles solo debut show "I'm Trying to Live Forever" at Lowell Ryan Projects, Eric Stefanski joins me from his studio in Chicago to discuss the themes in his work, the beginnings of his artistic journey, plus a peek at what the future holds in store.

https://www.ericstefanski.com/

https://www.lowellryanprojects.com/eric-stefanski-im-trying-to-live-forever

For today's episode Kenneth chats with Mexico City-based author Eloisa Hernandez Viramontes about her new book The Word as Artistic Language: Textual Practices in Mexico, which is the first book to ever tackle the topic of Mexican text-based art. But, you probably already know Eloisa for her Instagram account, Word Artworks.

Here's my discussion with Joshua Tree-based artist Judy Lichtman. We dig into how the events of 2020 ushered her into her text-based style, how her art practice and her painting practice coincide, and what life is like in her tight-knit desert artistic community.

judylichtman.com

https://www.mbcac.org/pages/hwy-62-open-studio-art-tours

For our first episode Kenneth talks to L.A.-based multi-disciplinary artist Tim Youd about his 100 novels series and its latest installments in Georgia Retyped at Atlanta Contemporary. By using a typewriter as an element of performance, Tim's art examines the act of reading closely by crushing an entire novel into a diptych. How? Join us to find out.

https://atlantacontemporary.org/exhibitions/tim-youd

https://timyoud.com/

Welcome! Listen to find out about the only podcast devoted to text-base art and the artists who create it.