Local Color

*A few sentences about how COVID19 has us all inside, near stir crazy, wishing we could go out for more than the essentials* but when we HAVE to go out on those essential runs, or to Druid Park to walk around wondering when that Trump check is gonna hit, health experts say we should wear a mask. In this interview I talk with Aaron Jones and Alysha January of Bushelers of Baltimore. Before the rona, they did alternations, tailoring and garment repair for the city. Now they're making masks to serve Charm City in its time of need. They don't want to get rich off the custom handmade masks, but it's put them in a position a lot of small businesses wish they could be in during this time; they're busy as hell. Listen as they talk about creating a comfortable and affordable mask, the feedback and response they've received from Baltimore residents, and how what they're doing today will impact and influence Bushelers tomorrow.

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A huntress is always at the ready; like a forward scout, they have a bow in hand and an arrow ready to fly. Erica Bentley calls herself a huntress, and she's always looking to add the next piece to her collection @keepersvintage. The hunt for vintage has always been in Erica's blood; when she was young she studied the monthly texts. As she got older, she gained experience from the fashion high scholars and artisans, and for a short time ran with a band of other huntresses. Eventually, Erica had enough experience and knowledge to start her own hunt, one that continues to this day...

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When you talk to Toluwalase, you have to say his entire name. No T, no Tolu (unless you're family), and definitely not "guy with the dreads". Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria Toluwalase saw the business end of a teacher's ruler for being disruptive. But when he moved to the States and he learned teachers weren't (legally) allowed to beat students...the disruptions got worse. He managed to turn it around and now does all he can to give back to the community in the form of opportunities for creatives, and charity for those in need.

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Comedy is inherently funny so of course it's not taken seriously as a genre (there is no comedy category for the Oscars). But, comedy also allows us to laugh at our flaws as humans, and as a society. Though Melvin never sets out to offend people with his stand up, it's a hazard of the job. Another hazard of stand up? Having it spill over into your normal/working life. Listen as Melvin tells the story of a client's child finding one of his profanity laced sets, the set that offended someone in the front row, and a PSA bringing awareness to an often looked over and underrepresented global minority.

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This episode of Local Color was full of "firsts". It was my first time interviewing a politician, and it was Senator Washington's first time on a podcast. A Philly native, she was drawn in by Baltimore's charm and has called it home for the last 10 years. Senator Washington is one of many candidates running for Mayor of Baltimore City. She went from teacher to congresswoman to Senator, and believes her experience in the public sector as well as her platform of reform and restoration makes her the right choice for Baltimore.

If you want to learn more, check the links below:

Senator Washington's website: https://www.marywashingtonforbaltimore.com/

Senator Washington's Public Safety Proposal: https://www.marywashingtonforbaltimore.com/public-safety/

Music:
Puar - Breakfast Bump

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Monica is an incredibly talent painter who has achieved many milestones you'd expect from an artist decades in the game. While still an undergrad at MICA, Monica has won numerous prizes in art contests, secured representation by a gallery out West, and above all, has earned the blessing of her parents to continue making art (and money). Listen as she explains why MICA wasn't her first choice, her process behind creating from idea to execution, and why being stubborn pays off, and sometimes backfires.

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Thomas James has been deep in the art game since college, but he didn't go to art school. He made his art world connections out in Western MD, an area more known for its mountains than its art. Those connections gave Thomas the experience and Rolodex to make moves in the Annapolis art scene, expanding his reach to D.C. and Baltimore. Listen as we talk about tattoos, the idea of a curator's life and the reality of a curator's life, and the road Thomas took to get where he is today.

Links to upcoming exhibitions Thomas is involved in:

We Are One: https://www.creativealliance.org/events/2019/we-are-one-ernest-shaw-jerry-prettyman-monica-ikegwu-latoya-hobbs-mark-fleuridor

On The Verge: 25 New and Emerging Artists: https://www.creativealliance.org/events/2019/verge-25-new-and-emerging-artists

Music:

Puar - Holiday

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I'm convinced the universe willed this interview. The first opportunity I had to interview Derrick fell through, and the next opportunity I had was on November 2nd, my birthday. Turning 30 was big for me, and the fact I got to interview an internationally renowned artist (with his works appearing in hit TV shows) was very reaffirming to me. Enough about me though, listen as Derrick talks about his interest in art, the disinterest he had in making money off art, and why he doesn't consider himself an optimist, but an "alternatist". It's not a word yet, maybe Derrick can use it to create a new art movement.

Links to Derrick's upcoming exhibitions and projects:
https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/jacob-lawrence-the-american-struggle

https://rxart.net/projects/pipeline-derrick-adams-for-nyc-health-hospitals-harlem/

https://www.hrm.org/exhibitions/derrick-adams/

Music:
Puar - Tropical Sprite

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Dagm’s an old friend and co-worker. Back then he was lifeguarding and running track at school, and I was fresh out of college and lifeguarding waiting to find a real job. One day, Dagm came up to me and said something I’ll never forget. Listen as we discuss Dagm’s time away from home, what it...

Dagm's an old friend and co-worker. Back then he was lifeguarding and running track at school, and I was fresh out of college and lifeguarding waiting to find a real job. One day, Dagm came up to me and said something I'll never forget. Listen as we discuss Dagm's time away from home, what it felt like to come back, the passion that drives him, and the lessons learned along the way. MusicPuar - Petal

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