Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast

This week, Elise is joined by Eliana Vélez, a mixed-media collage artist who focuses heavily on self portraiture in her works.

Born and raised in rural Eastern PA, with a Jewish mother and a Puerto Rican Father Eliana was inspired to create art that could encapsulate her specific experiences with adversity and trauma throughout her life. As a survivor of sexual abuse, and a person with a learning disability, she tries to create self-portraits that can allow people to understand her perspective, whilst also working through her traumas emotionally. Her work is both a representational self-portrait of her face, but also an emotional self-portrait created by the vintage collage materials, and found objects from her own life. These paintings are almost like diary entries and scrapbook pages, making comments about capitalism, and institutionalized prejudice in the United States. In her experience, when you are a minority every facet of your life is inherently political, and she works to convey this message within her work.

You can find Eliana on Instagram at @elianavelez_art.

This episode's opportunity of the week is for Eliana's solo show at The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios. The exhibition's opening reception will be on September 21st from 6:30-8pm. It will be at 701 N New St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. The exhibition will be on display from September 14th through the beginning of November.

This week, we feature a fun conversation between Matt Molchany & Josh Berk about local music, the importance of participating in the local music scene, and why accessible recording studios are important to the community!

Josh Berk is the Executive Director of the Bethlehem Area Public Library as well as an author and musician in the Lehigh Valley. Josh comes from a family of librarians and has deep roots in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to being a librarian, Josh is also an author. His first book for young adults, The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, was set in a high school in PA coal country and was placed on several “best of” lists. His first book for younger readers, Strike Three You’re Dead, allowed him to write about his passion for baseball. It was a finalist for the prestigious Edgar Awards presented by the Mystery Writers of America. In addition to writing, Josh is also a musician and plays Bass in the band Fictional Name! When he’s not working, writing, or playing bass, he’s fanboying on instagram over the new face of the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Scene, Chloe the Chug. You can find Josh Berk on instagram at @jberkjj, the Bethlehem Area Public Library at @pabapl, Cloe the Chug at @cloethechug, and Fictional Name at @fictional_name!

Alongside Josh on this episode is Mall Molchany, the seasoned sound engineer who started Tape Swap Radio owns Shards Recording Studio in Southside Bethlehem. Matt is also a member of the bands VoirVoir & Wipes. You can find Matt on instagram at @shards_recording_studio, tape swap radio at @tapeswapradio, and VoirVoir at @voirvoirband!

This week, Elise talks with Devyn Briggs & Katie Hovencamp about their work in the community and how it ties to their personal art practices.

Katie Hovencamp received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2009 and her MFA from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Hovencamp has exhibited her work in numerous exhibitions within the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her work has been reviewed in Sculpture Magazine, Chicago Reader, and several online and print publications. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Achievement Award for Contemporary Sculpture in 2014 and the University Graduate Fellowship at the Pennsylvania State University in 2012. Hovencamp has participated in residency programs at Vermont Studio Center, Serde Interdisciplinary artist group in Latvia, and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. In 2016, she was awarded an artist residency with International Sculpture Center at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, NJ. She has taught at various institutions such as the Edna Vihel Center for the Arts, Totts Gap Art Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Area Community College, Keystone College, and Northampton Community College.

Devyn Briggs grew up in Bethlehem, PA and studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. She studied drawing, painting, sculpture, fiber arts, and ceramics and earned a BFA with a major in Ceramics in 2013. She then earned a masters degree in the Business of Art and Design, studying creative entrepreneurship before opening a studio at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA. In addition to making art, Devyn is an educator and arts activist dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion within the Lehigh Valley arts community. She has worked in numerous areas of the arts world including fine art collection management, creative start-ups, community and public art, and non-profit management. She currently works at Northampton Community College as a Career Readiness Specialist, empowering students to start successful careers, and as an adjunct instructor in the art department. She previously served on CACLV’s Color Outside the Lines Quality of Life Committee and as an advisory board member of the Guild of Creative Citizens, a non-profit dedicated to arts equity in the Lehigh Valley. She is an active member of the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley Steering Committee and African American Business Leaders Council Events Committee.

You can follow Katie on Instagram @katiehovencamp or visit her website at www.katiehovencamp.com.

You can Follow Devyn on Instagram @devynlenor or by visiting her website at www.devynlenorbriggs.com.

This week, Kendal Conrad, singer/songwriter, and Kate Hughes, Director of Fig Lehigh Valley, talk about Kendal's music, inspiration, story, and so much more!

You can follow Kendal Conrad on Instagram at @kendalconrad and follow her food page at @kendalsbites. Make sure to check out her new song, I Don't Need You Now, at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kendalconrad/i-dont-need-you-now.

You can follow Kate Hughes on Instagram at @ih8kate and Fig Lehigh Valley @figlehighvalley. Visit Fig Lehigh Valley's Website by visiting https://linkin.bio/figlehighvalley.

This week, we talk with Rachel Peri.  Rachel Peri is a lifestyle and portrait photographer as well as jewelry maker who operates out of the Lehigh Valley. In addition to being an artist, she is the current acting president of ACE, also known as the Arts Community of Easton. ACE was founded in 1999 and incorporated in April 2000 by artists, business owners, art institution representatives, and art lovers, seeking an organization for arts education programs, exhibitions, workshops, information dispersal, and networking. Given its proximity to large cities, Easton has been a magnet for artists who are looking for a place to work and live. Since the 1980’s, many artists have joined with long time artists in making Easton their home. ACE’s mission is to encourage and promote all the arts; foster an appreciation of the arts; and enrich the quality of life by offering arts involvement, education, and community programming to the Easton area.

For our opportunity of the week, we wanted to share some information about how you can get involved with ACE - The Artists Community of Easton!

Monthly meetings are held by ACE as an opportunity for members to learn about the organization, upcoming events, and the work being done by the committees. There’s also an open forum for all members to share their thoughts and announce their own exhibitions that are done outside of ACE. Frequently, guest speakers are invited to discuss various topics of interest to the arts community.

Artists of all mediums are welcome, as is anyone who would like to support the arts.  ACE Monthly Meetings are open to the public.  You do not need to be an ACE member to attend. ACE is a membership-driven organization, and there are numerous ways to contribute to and benefit from participation. As an ACE member, you will receive multiple opportunities to exhibit artwork, receive discounts, and more. Become an active ACE member and help lift and encourage our community through the power of the arts. ACE offers individual, family, and student memberships that offer benefits such as participation in meetings and events, marketing and networking resources, special exhibition opportunities and announcements, and more!

You can find Rachel on Instagram as @rochperi and @rachelperiphoto.

You can find ACE on Instagram as @ace.artscommunityofeaston or visit their website at www.eastonart.org.

This week, we talk with local musician Seth Witcher. Seth is a seasoned musician described as being "Current, contagious, and in demand" according to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley Style Magazine. He is the Season 2 winner of FOX 29’s “Spotlight Under the El,” and has also recently been featured on both WFMZ 69 News and the Q Show on FOX 29. Seth is a singer, song-writer, producer, and a luthier who has accumulated over a decade of guitar and vocal experience. His popularity has blossomed over the past several years, averaging just under 200 performances annually. Ultimately, he desires to be heard by as many people as possible, so stay tuned and keep an eye out for when he's performing near you!

You can keep up with him by following him on Instagram @seth_witcher or by checking out his Linktree at https://linktr.ee/SethWitcher.

His new song "We're All Human" comes out on May 20th. Keep an eye out for that new song and make sure you stick around until the end of the episode for a quick surprise!

Seth read the opportunity for the week, which is a listing of all his upcoming concerts! For more information about his upcoming shows, check out the shows tab on his website: https://www.sethwitcherofficial.com/shows.

All the music used in this episode is by Seth Witcher.

This in this episode, we went to the opening reception for Anthony Smith (@ansmithjrnyc) and Doug Boehm's (@dougbohemart)exhibition Sweet Distress at The Art Establishment (@theartestpa). We talked with Ellen Flynn, the owner and general manager of The Art Establishment. and both artists about the show, space, and the exhibited works. We also talked with a few attendants about their experience.

The closing reception for the show will be on Saturday, April 30 (2022) at 2pm. We hope to see you there!

The Art Establishtment's website is https://www.theartestablishmentstudios.com/
Anthony's Website is https://www.anthonysmithjr.com
Doug's Website is https://dougboehm.com/

This week, we kick off our 3rd season with an interview between Elise and Hannah Ehret! Hannah is a local artist and gallery owner who recently found herself back in the Lehigh Valley! She is a visual artist and self proclaimed mud larker with a master's degree in art from Fontbonne University. Currently living in Easton, Hannah is also the owner of Hemlock Art Space & Gallery. You can find her on Instagram either through her personal art account: @hannahehretartist or by following her Business account @_hemlockart_.

Our opportunity for the week is Hemlock's funeral. Hemlock will be closing its brick and mortar location at 9 N 2nd St. in Easton-- but this is not the end! Join Hannah in having a funeral for the physical gallery, to pave way for an exciting new afterlife! The Funeral will be hosted in the gallery, for a fond farewell. Funeral garb is encouraged but not required. Drinks, small bites and an arty little gift bag for the first 20 guests. The event will be on April 24th from 1-5pm.

This week, Ben and Elisabeth talk with Rachel Bell (@rachellbel). Rachel Bell is a mixed media artist living and working in the Lehigh Valley. 

After graduating from Tyler School of Art at Temple University with a BFA in painting and drawing and a minor in art history, she immersed herself in the Lehigh Valley art scene. 

She began working as the front desk receptionist at the Banana Factory and soon after that she started interning at the Allentown Art Museum in the exhibition and collections department. After putting in a year at the art museum, she then went on to work as a gallery assistant at Bethlehem House Gallery. Over the course of 2018 she went back to Temple and became a certified floral designer. Furthermore, in 2019 she started working under a local florist in the Easton, PA flower shop “Bloomies”. 

Her role as a floral designer influenced her contemporary painting style and brought her work into the 3D realm. In 2020, during the pandemic shutdown, she was able to expand her portfolio and create a body of new work, which was on display in the Bethlehem House Gallery’s Holiday Show 2020. The exhibit included many of Rachel’s mixed media paintings & drawings, floral arrangements, installations, and prints. 

Currently, Rachel has elevated her role at the House Gallery to Assistant Director, continues to create fresh floral arrangements at Bloomies, which was rated 2021’s Best Flower Shop in the Valley by LV Style Magazine, and she also manages her art practice in Studio 248A at the Banana Factory.

Our opportunity for the week is the artist reception for  for “Black Vision.”  Femi J. Johnson is the guest curator for this celebration of Black History Month. Femi has chosen three prominent local artists to feature in the show — Berrisford Boothe, Al Johnson and Charles Stonewall. The reception is Thursday, February 3, 5:30-7:30, at ARTHAUS (645 Hamilton St). 

This week, Elise talks with local pet portrait artist, beer can designer for Lost Tavern Brewing, wife, and mother of 2 Gretchen Gross. Gretchen, who goes by @thetwistedplottco on Instagram, was recently had a design of hers voted "Best Beer Can Design in PA" for a can she designed for Lost Tavern Brewing. The can featured a realist depiction of Allen Iverson on the can for Lost Tavern's beer titled “Not A Game.” This beer can design memorializes the famous “practice” rant from Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson. The 10% NETIPA is dry hopped with Galaxy, Sultana, & Citra with strong notes of candied peach rings and tropical fruit cocktail.