Something (rather than nothing)

Rebecca Mills is an artist and arts professional who has  independently curated exhibits, facilitated events, wrote a successful one act play, and is a creative writer as well. She freelances as a teaching artist and arts educator, having taught youth and young adults through workshops, special programs, and as an adjunct professor. Her primary medium is oil painting with mixed media such as glitter, sequins, found objects, and very feminine materials. Rebecca's work is directly influenced by transcendentalism; involving science, philosophy, history, and discussions based on cultures, religions, and the ancient past. She is an activist for cow protection, veganism, and environmental preservation / restoration.https://www.ultraplasticgalaxy.com/SRTN WEBSITE

This land runs through Katherine Paul’s blood. And it called to her. In dreams she saw the river, her ancestors, and her home. When the land calls, you listen. And KP found herself far from her ancestral lands during a time of collective trauma, when the world was wounded and in need of healing. In 2020 she made the journey from Portland back to the Skagit River, back to the cedar trees that stand tall and shrouded in fog, back to the tide flats and the mountains, back to Swinomish.It is a powerful thing to return to our ancestral lands and often times the journey is not easy. Like the salmon through the currents, like the tide as it crawls to shore this is a story of return. It is the call and response. It is the outstretched arms of the people who came before, welcoming her home. The Land, The Water, The Sky is a celebration of lineage and strength. Even in its deepest moments of loneliness and grief, of frustration over a world wrought with colonial violence and pain, the songs remind us that if we slow down, if we listen to the waves and the wind through the trees, we will remember to breathe.There is a throughline of story in every song, a remembrance of knowledge and teachings, a gratitude of wisdom passed down and carried. There is a reimagining of Sedna who was offered to the sea, and a beautiful rumination on sacrifice and humanity, and what it means to hold the stories that work to teach us something. . .Special thanks to co-host Bonita Randklev.https://www.blackbelteaglescout.com/SRTN WEBSITE

Show creators Ken Volante (Creator and Host) and Peter Bauer (Editor and Producer) have a fun conversation that will let you know what THINGS you will see in 2023!We hope you enjoy this conversation and that some of the bigger ideas inspire you in your ART and LIFE.ONE LOVE!Check out Peter's workFlaming Bison- Freeform Cosmic Groove: https://flamingbison.bandcamp.com/ https://youtu.be/NJGdcKfgyp8High Cascade Lakes- Guided Meditations: https://highcascadelakes.bandcamp.com/album/aniccaSomething (rather than nothing) thanks you.SRTN WEBSITE

SRTN's visiting Philosopher, Jakub Ferencik is back!We first heard from Jakub Ferencik in Episode 60. Then Jakub wrote another book (!) entitled Beyond Reason: Why We Fail at Understanding Each Other.  Jakub and host Ken Volante discusssed that work in SRTN Episode 130.For this episode, Ferencik helps engage complicated topics such as censorhsip, hate speech, and free speech with attention to the complicated engine of  modern social media. Enjoy this conversation and help formulate the conceptual backdrop for these important conversations.SRTN WEBSITE

Shara Nova has released five albums under the moniker My Brightest Diamond and has composed works for The Crossing, Conspirare, Cantus Domus, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Roomful of Teeth, many community choirs, as well as yMusic, Brooklyn Rider, violist Nadia Sirota, Aarhus Symfoni, North Carolina Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, American Composers Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra, among others.In 2019, she composed for over 600 community musicians and the Cincinnati Symphony in celebration of their 125th season, a piece entitled "Look Around," with director Mark DeChiazza. Her baroque chamber p’opera “You Us We All” premiered in the US in October 2015 at BAM Next Wave Festival. With co-composer and performer Helga Davis, Nova created a four-screen film entitled “Ocean Body,” along with director Mark DeChiazza, which premiered at The Momentary in August 2021, shortly followed by the premiere of “Infinite Movement,” her baroque masque for 100 musicians, set to text by artist Matthew Ritchie, which premiered at The University of North Texas in November 2021.Ms. Nova is the featured singer on “The Blue Hour” with the string orchestra A Far Cry and co-composers Rachel Grimes, Angélica Negrón, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Caroline Shaw on Nonesuch Records (Sept ‘22).  A collection of songs by Nico Muhly with Detroit’s acclaimed wind ensemble Akropolis Quintet also features Ms. Nova’s voice entitled Hymns for Private Use (Oct ‘22). A number of music composers, including Sarah Kirkland Snider, Bryce and Aaron Dessner, Steve Mackey and David Lang have created works specifically for her voice. She has collaborated with Matthew Barney, The Decemberists, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Sufjan Stevens, David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, and many others.Shara has a couple different branches to her life:Singer and Composer Branch: https://shara-nova.com/Pop Music Branch: https://www.mybrightestdiamond.com/Instagram: @mybrightestdiamondTwitter: @MyBrightestDmndWriting on Substack: https://substack.com/profile/91251132-shara-novaSRTN WEBSITE

After releasing her first EP ‘everything is light work’ in May 2021, Blair  Borax released her debut full-length album “Keep Walking” in June 2022.“Keep Walking” will take you on an emotional journey of moving forward ~with your head held high~ beyond trauma and heartache.It is the perfect companion to help you keep walking too.New single 'Delight Me' out on December 9, 2022.Check out her website for calendar update and merch blairborax.comFollow Blair on Instagram and TikTok @blairartthouHer music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and wherever you listen to music.https://www.blairborax.com/SRTN WEBSITE

Taubnernaut was formed several months before the first pandemic lockdown with the intention of creating a power trio with the improvisational intensity of Jimi Hendrix and the darkness and heaviness of Black Sabbath. In the end, what you have is heavy psych with a variety of influences and always a hunger for improvisation. Taubnernaut is Guitar-Vinny Taubner, Bass-Nathan Crumpler, Drums-Mike Land.https://taubnernaut.bandcamp.com/musicSRTN WEBSITE

Shea Glasheen is an innovative, musical craftsman from Long Island. His artistic work includes sound design and film production as well as musical work with CRONIES and The Real Codington FactoryMatthew Kyle Levine is a filmmaker and cinematographer based in New York City.  His short films have won awards and played at numerous film festivals throughout North America, including the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival and the Canada Shorts Film Festival, most notably for his short film “Miss Freelance”.Daddy's Wallet was recently screened at the Bowery Film Festival in NYC.Watch Trusted Hands (clip played at the top of the episode) and other short films on Mathew Kyle Levine's Vimeo: MKL VimeoSRTN Website

Elyse Kelly is an award-winning director based in Washington DC. Her strength and passion is storytelling through an animated lens, and leading teams of world-class artists to create content that entertains, challenges and changes the hearts and minds of audiences. Elyse runs a full-service animation studio, Neon Zoo, that specializes in content for documentaries, brands, and NGOs.In 2020,  Elyse was animation director on the feature documentary, In the Dark of the Valley. The film won a number of awards in festivals and was released in 2021 by MSNBC Films. In 2022 it received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.In 2017, Elyse co-directed Fired Up, an animated short that depicts the origins of President Obama’s “fired up, ready to go” chant. Released on the final day of the Obama presidency, the film was featured by The Atlantic and has been viewed more than 8 million times.Elyse Kelly  over 15 years of experience in animation and film, working for clients such as Netflix, the ACLU, The Atlantic, Sesame Workshop, Sony Music, the United Nations Foundation, and Disney Research. Her films have won awards and been exhibited in festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Tribeca, Annecy, Zagreb, and OIAF.Check out Elyse's work in:Smart JusticeEmmy nominated In the Dark of the ValleySpeech WarsMiss AmericanaVisit the Neon Zoo Animation Studio homepage and follow Elyse on @e.l.y.s.e.k.e.l.l.yNeon ZooSRTN Website

Born in Latrobe Pennsylvania, Kenneth Nicholson received his AFA from Westmoreland County Community College in 2010, BFA from Seton Hill University in 2014, and MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2016.  He currently teaches as an adjunct instructor at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Seton Hill University, and Westmoreland County Community College.  His work has been exhibited in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Ohio, Washington DC, New Jersey, and New York.Follow Kenneth's works in progress on Instagram @grosssferatuCheck out the finished pieces at https://kennethnicholsonart.comSRTN Website