On this episode of ReCurrent, Jaime embarks on a journey to uncover the life and legacy of avant-garde composer Julius Eastman. Through conversations with those who knew him, Jaime explores how Eastman’s bold compositions challenged the boundaries of minimalist music, blending classical rigor with raw emotion and cultural defiance.

Jaime dives into the compelling story of Julius Eastman, a Black, openly gay composer who revolutionized minimalist music in the 1970s and ’80s.

With interviews from key figures in Eastman’s life, like his brother Gerry Eastman and music archivist Mary Jane Leach, Jaime pieces together Eastman’s complex legacy. Through this intimate portrait, season one of ReCurrent wraps up by revealing how art can serve as both a reflection of identity and a powerful means of breaking through boundaries.

For a full list of credits and to find additional resources, visit Getty Podcasts.

In season three of Recording Artists, artist and futurist Ahmed Best examines the groundbreaking art-science organization Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.). Through the stories of E.A.T.’s co-founders, artist Robert Rauschenberg and Bell Labs engineer Billy Klüver, as well as artist Fujiko Nakaya, who continues to make technology-inflected artworks, this season investigates how artists and engineers collaborated to explore the creative potential of new technologies. Learn about this innovative group through audio from Getty’s archives and commentary by contemporary artists, scientists, and art historians. Coming October 8, 2024.

On this episode of ReCurrent, Jaime visits the ancient and tranquil landscape of Wupatki National Monument in Arizona. Immersed in the natural beauty and rich history of this sacred site, Jaime reflects on his personal connection to the land, a place his late mother once cherished. His journey also delves into the deep cultural and spiritual significance of Wupatki for the ancestral Puebloan people.

This episode highlights the ongoing efforts to protect Wupatki’s legacy, ensuring that the stories, traditions, and spiritual connections of this remarkable place continue to inspire future generations.

For a full list of credits and to find additional information on Wupatki and the programs mentioned in the episode, visit Getty Podcasts.

In this episode of Recurrent, host and producer Jaime Roque delves into the rich cultural heritage of Pacoima's community barbershops, starting with StylesVille Barber Shop and Beauty Salon. Through conversations with Greg Faucett, a second-generation barber, Jaime uncovers how these spaces function as cultural hubs, preserving traditions and fostering deep community bonds. The episode not only explores the history of StylesVille but also reflects on Jaime’s own experiences with barbershops, from his high school years to adulthood, emphasizing their role as sanctuaries of history, culture, and personal connection.

ReCurrent illustrates the vital role barbershops play in maintaining cultural continuity and supporting community identity.

Find out more about the barbershops mentioned in the episode and see a full list of credits at Getty Podcasts.

On this episode of ReCurrent, Jaime Roque explores the music and instruments of the Florentine Codex, a 16th-century manuscript that recorded the life and culture of Mesoamerica at the time.

A family home video floods host Jaime Roque with memories and emotions as he recounts how on that particular day, his love of music was sparked.

This week, we're exploring the rich and resonant history of music from our past and how it continues to resonate with us today.

Learn more about the Digital Florentine Codex.

To see photos of the instruments discussed and to learn more about this episode, its guests, and more visit Getty Podcasts.

On this episode of Recurrent, Jaime Roque explores the hidden story of América Tropical, a mural painted by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros in 1932 on Olvera Street, Los Angeles. Commissioned to depict an idyllic tropical scene, Siqueiros instead delivered a politically charged image featuring a crucified indigenous figure overshadowed by an American eagle, sparking immediate controversy and eventual censorship. Jaime interviews local historians and community members, delving into the mural’s impact on cultural identity and its role in inspiring the Chicano mural movement.

As Jaime walks through Boyle Heights, he discusses the effects of gentrification and mural whitewashing with local poet and activist Viva Padilla, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to preserve cultural heritage. Reflecting on how public art serves as both a canvas for resistance and a means of education, Jaime and his guests explore the resilience of cultural memory in urban spaces. This episode not only uncovers the story of a censored artwork but also invites listeners to consider the broader implications of art in shaping and maintaining community identity.

Learn more at Getty Podcasts

In this inaugural episode of ReCurrent, host and producer Jaime Roque shares a heartfelt journey through his family’s history and the role of food in preserving cultural heritage. Jaime takes listeners into his mother Gabriela’s kitchen where she recounts her early days in Guerrero, Mexico, helping her mother sell homemade bread and tamales. The kitchen, filled with memories of four generations, is where Jaime’s childhood unfolded, enriched by family traditions and stories. Jaime also reflects on the deep impact his mother had on his life, especially during her last days, and his ongoing efforts to understand and carry forward the cultural heritage through both physical and spiritual legacies left by past generations.

For more information on this episode and its guests, visit Getty Podcasts.

Starting from his own mom’s kitchen, Jaime ventures out to uncover the hidden tales that lie in everyday places—from lively murals in downtown Los Angeles that tell our collective history, to ancient sacred sites filled with the echoes of indigenous voices, to cozy barber shops teeming with stories passed down through generations.

In each episode, Jaime delves into the personal struggles, triumphs, and deep-rooted traditions that define who we are. He shows us how even simple things like a family recipe can unlock a world of cultural insights. Join Jaime as he uncovers the profound impact of keeping the past alive in the present, and discover the treasures of our heritage.

ReCurrent is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Find out more at Getty Podcasts.

In this special live episode of Recording Artists, season two host Tess Taylor speaks with Getty Research Institute curator Pietro Rigolo about the making of the series, what she discovered through the letters, and artists’ stories and letters that didn’t make the cut. Author Maya Binyam joins them to bring the letters to life via dramatic readings.

This program is co-presented with the Los Angeles Review of Books.

The Getty Patron Program is a proud sponsor of this podcast. Learn more about the Getty Patron Program.

In 1975, Meret Oppenheim’s small painting Würgeengel, or Angel of Death, is included in a sprawling exhibition organized by famous curator Harald Szeemann. She had painted it over 40 years earlier, when she was only 16 years old. The only problem now is that the curator has totally misunderstood her artwork—and placed it in a sexist context in the show. Rather than meekly accept this, Oppenheim writes Szeemann a deeply personal letter. Across five pages, she details the challenges she faced as a young woman who didn’t want children and was trying to make it as an artist in a heavily male sphere. Writing at age 63, Oppenheim speaks to burgeoning feminist ideals after decades of fighting back against sexist stereotypes.

In this episode of Recording Artists: Intimate Addresses, you’ll hear Oppenheim’s little-told story: an artist best known for lining a teacup in fur but who never stopped innovating, who socialized with the Surrealists as a teenager and kept a pistol in her studio to fight Nazis, and who took up the feminist cause towards the end of her career. Anna Deavere Smith reads the letter. Curator Bice Curiger, Oppenheim’s biographer, shares stories of Oppenheim’s life while artist Barbara T. Smith provides insight into the challenges facing women artists, particularly in the mid-20th century.

The Getty Patron Program is a proud sponsor of this podcast.