If you’re a regular listener of the Not Real Art Podcast, you’ll likely agree that art has the ability to educate, entertain, provoke thought, and illicit a wide range of emotions. Today’s guest believes that, as long as you can make a viewer feel something, you’re on the right path! Joining us is Michael Massenburg, an African American teaching artist and community organizer. Born in San Diego, raised in South Central Los Angeles, and based in Inglewood, Micheal says that he began his career at the Watts Towers Arts Center in Los Angeles, influenced by the Watts Rebellion, the Black Art Movement of the 1960s, and the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. His socially-informed practice speaks to historical, cultural, and personal narratives and incorporates a diverse range of materials, combining painting, collage, photography, and assemblage to explore the African diaspora experience in the Americas. Michael is also what you would call an “artivist” (or an art activist), devoting much of his time to art education, lectures, and community organizing. In today’s episode, Michael shares how travel helped shape his perspective, why he believes that he was called to be an artist, and why labels like “Black art” are important. We also discuss how his former arts organization, The Collective, carried the torch for Black artists, and why Michael believes that artists and educators can be a voice for those who have had their own voices suppressed. Tune in for all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Memories from Michael’s childhood and how his upbringing inspired his love for travel.
• Some of the first journeys he made as an artist, including a life-changing trip to Haiti.
• The “three Americas:” Indigenous people, immigrants, and those brought over as property.
• How traveling shifted Michael’s perspective on what it means to be an African born in America.
• Spiritual Nature, Michael’s exhibition about the African diaspora experience in the Americas.
• Why he chooses to create work about community, family, sociopolitical issues, and history.
• Unpacking Michael’s belief that artists and educators are the voice of the people.
• The story of how he realized that he was called to be an artist.
• How Michael gained his knowledge of business and entrepreneurship.
• The influence that Charles White had on Michael’s decision to study at Otis.
• How The Collective carried the torch for Black artists who are no longer with us.
• Michael’s take on the significance of labels like “Black art.”
• An experience in Barcelona that made Michael recognize art as a common language. 
• A look at the Future of Dreams project that he created with a collaborator in Columbia.
• The importance of traveling “without entitlement.”
• Ways that Michael believes artists can minimize the problems of the world.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/michael-massenburg

One essential trait that differentiates us from animals is creativity—you could say it’s what makes us human. Today’s podcast guest believes creativity not only cultivates connection, better health, and critical thinking but can also “help humanity save itself.” 

In today’s episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power introduces 2022 NOT REAL ART grant winner Ellamaria Foley-Ray, a visionary artist who combines ceramics, literature, anthropology, and quilt-making to magical effect. The annual grant, established in 2019, provides financial backing and creative support to working artists across the US who challenge the meaning of “real art.”

“[The phrase] ‘not real art’ has Western, colonial, oppressive tones that define some creatives as legitimate art-makers and the rest of us as imposters who fail at making ‘real art,’” says Ellamaria, whose work explores African culture across the continent and throughout the diaspora. Treating clay like cloth, the professor of African American studies and visual anthropology creates ceramic quilt sculptures that chronicle the rich history of African art, expression, and storytelling the world over. “When I carefully listen to my internal ancestral voices and consider ways to bring clay to cloth, I’m no longer interested in making ‘real art,’ but in creating ceramic quilts that touch viewers from the inside out,” she continues. 

As both a visual artist and anthropologist, Ellamaria strives to educate viewers on the complex cultural aesthetic of Africans across the globe in the 21st century. The Denver artist incorporates quilting into her practice “as a way to talk to ancestral women,” who were considered keepers of the domestic craft. Instead of traditional cloth, Ellamaria sculpts with clay because it speaks to her soul: “I am using clay because that is how I write the narratives I tell,” she says.

Viewing artmaking as a “portal to healing,” Ellamaria encourages adults to “come home” to their creativity: “Life is calling us to come back to that space where we are creating beauty, to come home to who we are as poets, novelists, playwrights, dancers, comedians, sculptors, and painters,” she says before adding, “Life is calling us to do this in an attempt to help humanity save itself.” 

Tune into today’s episode on the player below to hear our conversation with NOT REAL ART grant winner Ellamaria Foley-Ray.

In Today’s Episode

Ellamaria Foley-Ray discusses…

• Winning the NOT REAL ART grant and her subsequent plans for the award
• Her current body of work, which is inspired by civil rights leader Rachel Noel and writer Octavia Butler
• The power of ancestry, storytelling, and creativity for healing
• How her deep emotional connection to clay began
• How she balances teaching with studio time
• Why the pandemic brought so many people back to their creativity
• Her advice for staying healthy, safe, and curious
• How art and fiction offer opportunities to solve social justice problems
• The ceramic quilt she wants to make next

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/ellamaria-foley-ray

Is the term “artist” simply assigned to those who paint, draw, or cook? Or is there more to being an artist than owning a great easel or a luxe set of oil paints? 

“Guess what? You don’t have to go to art school to be an artist,” says NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power in this month’s auditorial episode, which poses the question: “What does it really mean to be an artist?” along with its inevitable follow-up: “How do you know if you are one?” In today’s episode, Scott weighs in on the famously thorny topic, challenging preconceived notions (including his own) about the nature of art, creativity, empathy, and ego. 

“It strikes me that being an artist is not just a job; it’s a calling,” says Scott, reflecting on the artist’s innate compulsion to create, make, and express themselves. “It’s how we’re wired. It’s who we are,” he continues. Scott touches on the less common traits that characterize a “real artist,” including curiosity, open-mindedness, discernment, and compassion: “Whether we see [opportunities, problems, or injustices] that other people don’t see, [artists] are not myopic,” he says.

The standard industry definition of an artist celebrates a limited few while excluding others. But Scott suspects there might be more to being an artist than swanky gallery parties, high-end clients, or name recognition. Throughout the episode, he also touches on profit as a secondary motive, imposter syndrome among the creative classes, and suspicion surrounding tradition and the status quo. 

In today’s episode, you’ll discover why Scott is an artist (and you might be too!). Tune in to the episode on the player below to hear 10 uncommon traits, signs, and signals of an artist with a capital “A.”

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why even Sourdough’s view of what a “real artist” is can be seen as conservative.
• An artist’s complicated relationship with imposter syndrome.
• How artists see the world through a unique lens.
• Reasons that many artists dislike or distrust the status quo.
• Why profit is a secondary motivation for artists.
• What it might mean if you enjoy being around art and artists.
• The empathetic artist’s tendency to find human greed incomprehensible.
• An argument for why artists are global citizens.
• Why you don’t have to go to art school to be an artist!
• Artists as innately open-minded, curious, and discerning.
• The compulsion to create that drives many artists.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/10-reasons-why-i-am-an-artist

“Anybody can be a collector of beautiful things,” says Michael Hawley, who heads the Getty Museum Photographs Council (GMPC), a donors’ group that helps the museum acquire work from underrepresented artists. The world of art collection and custodianship is historically elitist, so it’s no wonder many people find the idea of simply entering a gallery intimidating. An established collector himself, Michael reassures would-be collectors that art is for everyone and anyone can be a collector with the right mindset. 

On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Michael to discuss the curator’s avid love of art and his mission to democratize ownership for collectors of all different incomes. “We're very interested in this democratization of art,” Michael says of the Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles, where he is also a sitting chairperson. To draw in a younger audience, the council recently instituted an affordable membership level for educators and students of all ages. “We don't want it to be or feel elitist,” he continues. 

Michael shares pieces of his personal story, describing how his growing art collection led to a position with the Getty: “Some of the curators from the Getty came and saw [my collection] and thought it was interesting, and the way that I collected was interesting, and what I collected was interesting, and asked me to be part of the Photographs Council,” he tells Scott. Michael also chats about the intersection of art and AI, the role of NFTs in democratizing art, and how to get a collection started on a budget.

This episode is dedicated to anyone who’s ever felt too intimidated to start an art collection. To start your collection with confidence, tune in to our fascinating conversation with Michael Hawley, who firmly believes “art is for everyone.”

In Today’s Episode

Michael Hawley discusses…

• The story behind the first piece in his collection
• His personal approach to art collecting
• Why philanthropy and support for the arts and are so important
• How to become a collector on whatever budget you’re working with
• His advice for collectors intimidated by high-end galleries 
• The premise and purpose behind the Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles
• The specific challenges that go along with democratizing art
• Why collecting art is really a form of self-care
• The contemporary artists he’s particularly excited about right now

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/michael-hawley

Was the iconic Roy Lichtenstein a great artist, a thief, or both? This is the question posed by Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation, a documentary film directed and produced by today’s podcast guest, James L Hussey.

“When I set out to make [the film], I viewed it as a very straightforward, intellectual, technical film about appropriation,” says James, who released the film in November 2022. “When is it OK? When is it not OK? What surprised me and surprised audiences is that [it turned] into a human-interest story.” On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with James to discuss Whaam! Blam!, Lichtenstein’s legacy, and the thin line between appropriation and plagiarism.

A key figure in the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Lichtenstein borrowed directly from comic books, advertisements, and historical art sources to create bold, graphic paintings. His recognizable works are housed in the world’s finest galleries and can fetch upwards of $150 million a piece—but some see him as nothing more than a plagiarist. “[Whaam! Blam! raises] this question about appropriation and whether what Lichtenstein did was right or wrong,” James tells Scott. “Like so many things, it’s not always black and white. There’s a lot of gray.” 

Today, James shares stories from the last living comic artists Lichtenstein copied from, and why they’re unhappy about it: “[The art world] very casually refers to the original comic art as ‘low art,’ while almost an exact copy of it, blown up and hanging in the Tate Modern, is [considered] ‘high art,’” James says, explaining that some of these comics toiled in obscurity, below the poverty line. Tune in for our thought-provoking conversation with James L Hussey  on plagiarism, appropriation, and giving artists credit where credit is due.

Watch the trailer for Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation here or rent the documentary via Amazon.

In Today’s Episode

James L Hussey discusses…

• His personal (and eclectic) comic book and art collection
• What led him from politics to documentary filmmaking
• The evolution of Whaam! Blam! from intellectual documentary to human interest story
• Why he sees working on Whaam! Blam! as “a great privilege”
• How appropriation differs from plagiarism, and the often fine line between the two
• Whether or not Lichtenstein was a product of the ‘60s, when attribution wasn’t common
• The relationship between the commercialism of art and its legitimacy
• How the art world distinguishes between low and high art
• What most people don’t understand about intellectual property rights
• The documentary project he wants to tackle next

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/james-hussey

“My art has become my way to play,” says photographer Y Hope Osborn, who “never had any art education” but grew up with a camera in her hand. 

In today’s podcast episode, the 2022 NOT REAL ART grant winner sits down with our host, Scott “Sourdough” Power, to talk about the healing power of art, writing, and play. “As a child, I was so stifled by abuse that I didn’t know how to play,” Hope says. “I didn’t know how to be a child. You’d put these toys in front of me and I’m like, ‘They’re just things, I’m supposed to do what with them?’ And it didn’t make any sense or mean anything in my world.”

Hope, an Arkansas-based writer and self-taught photographer, describes her art as a form of play, an outpouring of expression, and a tool to transcend the trauma she experienced as a child: “Now I have this freedom,” she says, “even in bad health and in still dealing with trauma and everything, I have this freedom to be creative and play in my art. Whether it's in my digital, abstract art or in finding a creative perspective of an old building.”

Taking us back to her childhood, Hope chats about her interest in photography as a timeless medium—“moments slip by so fast and memory slips by so fast but photographs can last for centuries”—and expands on her fascination with old buildings and barns. "I can't tell you how many times I passed barns without a second or even first glance,” Hope says of Roundup, a digital photographic series that impressed NOT REAL ART grant panel judges during the 2022 cycle. “Now I notice these ordinary structures for the extraordinary variety of architecture from unnamed architects, and for being stalwarts of the rural. When all else falls, these rural stalwarts stand.”

To Hope, art is freedom and safety all at once, a tool for both deep catharsis and lighthearted experimentation. Tune in to this week’s episode with photographer Y Hope Osborn to hear an inspiring story about courage, creativity, and resilience.

In Today’s Podcast Episode

Y Hope Osborn discusses…

• Why she was drawn to photography at a young age
• How art and writing helped the artist reclaim her childhood 
• The subject matter that inspires both her photography and writing
• The healing role the natural world plays in her life
• How writing supports creative and critical thinking, and why it’s a valuable skill
• Why focusing too heavily on STEM subjects is a disservice to society
• Why artists should speak about and promote their work publicly

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/y-hope-osborn

It’s no revelation that success is the sum of preparation and opportunity, yet it’s always inspiring to witness the philosophy in action. On today’s podcast episode, San Diego-based painter Ezra Brown joins host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power to chat about the power of perseverance in an oversaturated industry. 

“I’m a late bloomer,” says Ezra, who dropped his day job during the pandemic to focus on a career in fine art. “I’ve been [painting] for such a long time, and I had been waiting for my opportunity to hit,” he tells Scott, adding, “In this day and age, you’ve got to do what makes you happy.”

Ironically, Ezra’s signature character, a vintage-style cartoon called Happy the Clown, is anything but. Starring as the protagonist in Ezra’s recent show at LA’s ThinkSpace Projects, Trying to Keep It Together, Happy drinks, smokes, and cries as his house burns, his soul leaves his body, and his girlfriend leaves him. Like many artists before him, Ezra encourages viewers to access and cope with their own emotions as he puts Happy through the wringer. “I’m tired of the norm ... just watching art on a wall, walking away from it, having a drink, and forgetting about it,” Ezra says. “I’m creating an experience that somebody’s going to remember and talk about for the rest of their life.” 

In the episode, Scott and Ezra chat about humanizing classic iconography to access raw emotions. They also cover the pitfalls of parenthood, the dangers of social media, and Ezra’s recent collaboration with collectible toy company Tenacious Toys. Tune in to the episode below to hear about Ezra’s creative success, and the dedication it took to get there. “You have to make those sacrifices,” he says, “and put in the extra work.”

In Today’s Podcast Episode

Ezra Brown discusses…

• How the pandemic bolstered his fine art career
• Why people connect with his raw, emotional, often funny works
• His instinct to challenge the status quo and create memorable experiences
• How his father, also an artist, inspired his creative career
• The exaggerated narratives portrayed on social media and national news
• The challenge of being a parent in the age of social media
• The surprising overlap between the fine art and the collectible toy markets
• The recent explosion of experiential and immersive art
• The many benefits of perseverance, fortitude, and determination

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/ezra-brown

For 48 years, the quick-witted comedians, writers, and actors of Saturday Night Live (SNL) have inspired both belly laughs and giddy tears. Whether broadcasting John Belushi’s cartwheels, Will Ferrell’s cowbell routine, or Tina Fey’s biting commentary on Weekend Update, the long-running show has guided multiple generations through cultural changes with humor and professionalism. 

In today’s auditorial episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power recounts a recent, once-in-a-lifetime experience: attending a taping of SNL at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Scott shares his observations on the big night, reflecting on the collaborative spirit between cast and crew that contributes to the show’s lasting impact. “I was so moved by the level of precision, commitment, and practice that was essential and necessary to create the best-in-class cultural, creative institution,” Scott says in the episode.

An important part of SNL’s unrivaled execution, according to Scott, is the artful leadership of producer Lorne Michaels. “One of the things I observed is [...] Lorne on the floor, quietly making his presence known, showing support, nudging and prodding where needed, but calm, cool, [and] collected,” Scott notes. He also touches on focus, discipline, passion, mutual respect, and gratitude, virtues that have sustained SNL’s creative momentum through the decades: “You’ve got to be passionate in what you’re doing because you can’t be focused, disciplined, or have integrity without it.”

Find out how you can apply the same virtues to your life and craft by tuning in to the episode on the player below. Though Scott praises the cast and crew at SNL, he also offers his listeners some practical tips based on his experience at Studio 8H:  “If you want to compete at the highest levels in whatever art form or whatever business or organization you’re in, you absolutely need to be disciplined.” Step up your creative game with Scott’s thoughts on timing, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

In Today’s Podcast Episode

Scott “Sourdough” Power discusses…

• SNL’s lasting legacy as a creative institution
• Former and current SNL cast members
• The overall level of professionalism permeating everything at Studio 8H
• The seamless transitions between scenes, despite little preparation time
• The incredible behind-the-scenes teamwork at SNL
• The mutually respectful environment and gratitude he observed
• Lorne Michaels’ undeniable leadership
• Why great risk is required for great reward
• How to perform at a higher level of excellence
• Why it’s important to celebrate accomplishments

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/saturday-night-live

This year at NOT REAL ART, we’re introducing a brand new exhibition series designed to inspire you with the artwork and artists we love. For this week’s special podcast episode, host Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with NOT REAL ART Editor-in-Chief Morgan Laurens, who sheds some light on our 2023 First Friday Exhibitions program. 

Opening on the first Friday of every month, the series explores contemporary ideas and issues with innovative works from leading lights in the creative industry. Kicking off the series in February, our 2022 Grant Winner Exhibition celebrates the accomplishments of last year’s six NOT REAL ART grant winners. March brought Women in Love, an exhibition exploring the power and complexity of love on the cusp of an increasingly unsettled future. This month’s exhibition, Art and the Environment, features nature-centric work that explores the devastating effects of climate change on the world around us. Up next, Sugar Rush looks at the communal aspects of food and eating in May. “It’s going to be a feast for the eyes,” says Morgan. 

“[These exhibitions are] an awesome way of fulfilling our mission and our purpose to help artists tell their stories and promote their work, amplify the amazing artists and artworks that are out there, but do it in the NOT REAL ART way—do it online, do it in a very accessible way,” Scott says. “We are not in the white cube space exclusive to only a few. We are online, we are ready for the world.” 

Tune in to this week’s episode to get the lowdown on our past and present exhibitions. Morgan also offers an exclusive sneak peek into our schedule for the rest of the year, which includes artists who push the boundaries of new media and tech. “This is something that we’re trying to step into more this year,” says Morgan. “Trying to look at more new media, artificial intelligence, web-based art, and see what artists are exploring there.” Listen to the episode below, then head over to our exhibitions announcement for the full roster of shows. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Insight into the past and present First Fridays Exhibition program.
• Standouts from our first online exhibition, which featured Not Real Art Grant winners.
• A curatorial overview of Women in Love, our second exhibition of the year.
• What you can expect from Art and the Environment in April.
• Hilary Baker and other artists that Morgan has worked with on this program thus far.
• A sneak peek of Sugar Rush, a “feast for the eyes” coming in May!
• Sourdough and Morgan reflect on their favorite Midwestern treats.
• Highlights from the exhibition program for the rest of the year.
• How the December exhibition will celebrate our very favorite art from 2023.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/morgan-laurens

Food and the environment are inextricably linked—everything we eat has a footprint. Since the 1950s, industrialized food production and modern-day overconsumption have contributed to climate change, environmental degradation, and economic depression. Still, many innovators are working to find sustainable ways to feed the world's population. 

Food as a means to create positive change has long inspired Taiji Terasaki, a Japanese American artist and activist based in Hawaii. Raised in a family of scientists and creatives, Taiji combines the best of both worlds to create work across a wide variety of mediums. From large-scale installations to pioneering “mist” photography, Taiji’s cutting-edge presentations emphasize the urgency and importance of environmental conservation. 

On today’s podcast, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power chats with Taiji about the artist’s mission to improve life on Earth for all its inhabitants. “Believe me, I never dreamed I would be an activist,” Taiji tells NOT REAL ART. “I never dreamed that I would be [sharing] my opinion on a podcast, but what I’m learning is [how artists] can find a voice.” Taiji also discusses his latest project, Recipes to Nourish Communities, an interactive mural on display at the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles’ recently renovated headquarters. The mural invites viewers to consider food as nourishment for the body, a direct exchange between themselves and their environment. “I really believe that the visual arts should make a difference in our world and what our future will become,” Taiji says. 

Join us today as Taiji and Scott discuss the most pressing issues of our time: food insecurity, the organizations that seek to tackle it, and the ultimate resilience of the natural world. “When you see what nature is capable of, how it can rebound, it is amazing,” Taiji tells Scott. Don’t miss this crucial conversation on the health and wellbeing of planet Earth. 

In Today’s Podcast Episode

Taiji Terasaki discusses…

• What artists and scientists have in common
• How an unconventional childhood impacted his innovative art practice
• Why raising his own children forced him to consider the world they’ll inherit
• His advice for building a studio team and taking criticism from gallerists
• How Recipes to Nourish Communities tackles food insecurity in LA
• The four organizations that benefit from Recipes to Nourish Communities
• The concept of rewilding and the importance of biodiversity in food production
• Why he ultimately feel positive about climate change and our ability to stem its rising tide

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/taiji-terasaki