Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie

We hope you’re staying safe and healthy in this bizarre time of self-isolation. We also know the power of engagement through the arts in times of uncertainty, and so we’re reaching out to you (virtually) with a brand new episode of Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie! Our newest episode, Episode 28, “Art vs. Ageism: Rewiring Perceptions,” features a discussion with Maura O'Malley and Ed Friedman of Lifetime Arts. In this conversation, Courtney and her guests discuss the mission of Lifetime Arts, a New Rochelle-based entity that aims to “connect the people, funding, ideas and strategies necessary to increase the number and quality of professional arts programs for older adults." The biggest challenge to the arts education field, we learn, is the exclusion of the folks in our society who have the most life experience from which to draw and, through that experience, create art! In this enlightening conversation, Courtney, Maura and Ed discuss topics like: changing the narrative around aging from a negative to a positive, strategies to combat ageism and the idea of “creative aging.” They also ask questions like: what does it mean to develop meaning strategies to engage older adults in the arts? What does it look like to tackle ageism in a society that gears programming to younger generations?

Our newest episode begins with a continued discussion with Courtney's friend and colleague from across the pond, Rhian Hutchings—Operasonic (Creative Director); ArtWorks Cymru (Partnership Manager). Courtney then speaks to artist, arts administrator, activist and author of "The Teaching Artist Sutras," Michael Wiggins. This conversation is a continuation of last week's episode, which digs deeper into why humanity needs art, compassion and drive in order to survive and thrive. If you remember from episode 24, Michael's driving statement is always that "art is the answer, no matter the question." That holds true here! In this episode, Michael and Courtney discuss art and speak more on the profundity of theater, the arts as a whole and how art is woven into the very fabric of our humanity, but our society refuses to acknowledge the true need for the arts. Courtney and Michael's conversations delve deep into philosophical topics like: the details of our individual pasts, how traumatic events shape our "now," and projects for today's youth that can create space for leading remarkable lives and drive society into a brighter future. Listen to hear more about Michael's journey into Teaching Artistry and how it has fueled his artistic trajectory. This enlightening and entertaining lovefest is one you won't want to miss.

Our newest episode, Episode 27, Act 1: “Shifting Systems with Rigor and Love,” which again features the inspiring Michael Wiggins, begins with a fascinating chat with Courtney’s friend and colleague from across the pond, Rhian Hutchings—OperaSonic (Creative Director); Artworks Cymru (Partnership Manager). Together, they discuss the important work that Participatory Artists (similar to Teaching Artists) are doing in South Wales. They also discuss how their chance meeting at ITAC3 (Edinburgh, 2016), where Courtney was presenting on the Teaching Artist Pathways (TAP) Tool, inspired Rhian to dig deeper and think more broadly about how to empower Participatory Artists to be leaders in the field of arts integration. When the episode shifts back to Courtney’s conversation with artist, arts administrator, activist and author, Michael Wiggins, the conversation shifts dramatically. Discussing and debating the word “enrichment,” Michael and Courtney explore how we, as Americans, don’t care nearly enough about the arts enrichment of our young people because “enrichment,” both as a thing and a term, doesn’t exist or is too nebulous. They also talk about the shifting paradigm, within the context of the arts and social structures, and where the state of the art and the state of humanity is headed. This enlightening and thoughtful episode is one you won't want to miss.

Oh, my. If you enjoyed the first part of our crossover series, "A Rosé by Any Other Name," you're in for a real treat—and a dramatic tonal shift! We're back with Episode 26, Act 2 "A Rosé by Any Other Name." In this crossover episode with the fabulously feminist minds behind the podcast, "Rosé All Day Anyways," Courtney continues to sit, sip and trade quips with Katie Rainey and Erika Atkins as they chat. But, this time around, they delve into some very poignant and relevant topics, such as the gender pay gap across the arts education field, a field dominated by women; racial inequities in this country, especially concerning positions of power; and choosing an intersectional feminist approach to dismantling the patriarchy and tearing down barriers that allow institutional racism to thrive. These three fierce feminists plan to do this through art, compassion, laughter and copious bottles of wine. So, grab a glass, pop those earbuds in and give our newest episode a listen.

What do mules, the Golden Girls and rosé all have in common? Our newest episode! That's right. We're back for Season 4 of Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie with Episode 26, "A Rosé by Any Other Name." In this crossover episode with the brilliant, bubbly minds behind the podcast, "Rosé All Day Anyways," Courtney sits and sips with Katie Rainey and Erika Atkins as they chat about the impetus behind the creation of their respective podcasts, both hoping to challenge the patriarchy through art, laughter and copious bottles of wine, and dissect the question: Is podcasting itself an art form? They also discuss the importance of podcasts and how they give voice to the traditionally marginalized or silenced, allow for human connection and address the complexities of the spectrum of humanity. You won't want to miss this entertaining episode.

In Episode 25, "Find Your Way", Courtney speaks to urban sketch artist, Jason Das. The continuation of this conversation discusses art, the ways in which we seek or find it and how process is so much more meaningful than product. Art is all around us, and it's more and more accessible through digital media. In Act 2 of this series, which was recorded on a park bench in New York City's bustling Washington Square Park, Jason speaks personally and profoundly about what it means to create and consume art. He also speaks passionately about meaning-making through visual art by considering: What kind of artist are you? Where, in the world, do you fit in as an artist? What is your personal approach to viewing or making art? Where does your art place within the arts continuum? Listen to hear more about Jason's artistic philosophies and how they fuel his artistic journey and the ways through which he views the world. As you listen, consider this: When you create art, are you saying something about the world around you? If so, what? Why? This enlightening and entertaining episode is one you won't want to miss.

In Episode 25, "Find Your Way", Courtney speaks to artist and educator, Jason Das. This conversation discusses art and the ways in which we seek or find it. Art is all around us, after all. In this thoughtful and sometimes delightfully meandering episode, which was recorded on a park bench in New York City's bustling Washington Square Park, Jason speaks personally and profoundly about what it means to be an artist. To feel like an artist. He also speaks passionately about meaning-making through visual art by considering: What kind of artist are you? Where, in the world, do you fit in as an artist? What is your personal approach to viewing or making art? Where does your art place within the arts continuum? Listen to hear more about Jason's artistic philosophies and how they fuel his artistic journey and the ways through which he views the world. As you listen, consider this: When you create art, are you saying something about the world around you? If so, what? Why? This enlightening and entertaining episode is one you won't want to miss.

In Episode 24, Act 2: "Art is Always the Answer", Courtney speaks to artist, arts administrator, activist and author of "The Teaching Artist Sutras", Michael Wiggins. This conversation is a continuation of last week's episode, which posits, "art is the answer, no matter the question", discusses art (and artist) as instigator. In this thoughtful episode, Michael speaks more on the profundity of theater, the arts as a whole and how art is woven into the very fabric of our humanity. Courtney and Michael's conversation delves deep into philosophical topics like: the details of our individual pasts are subject to question, how the things we endure when we're young affect us differently, how we as individuals approach the world, how the world interacts with us varies from person to person and how the work that artists do truly does change lives. Listen to hear more about Michael's journey into Teaching Artistry and how it fueled his artistic trajectory. This enlightening and entertaining episode is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode, Courtney speaks to artist, arts administrator, activist and author of The Teaching Artist Sutras, Michael Wiggins. This conversation, which posits early on that "art is the answer, no matter the question", discusses art (and artist) as instigator. In this podcast, Michael speaks about the profundity of theater, how its intrinsic presence is in all that we do and that art is woven into the very fabric of our humanity. Listen to hear about Michael's journey through life and into artistry, his feelings on social media platforms as unique access points for artistry and how kids today, whether folks think so or not, are creating art in ways that older generations can't begin to understand, but must start to do so.

In Episode 23, Act 2: "Queens of Empowerment", Courtney continues her conversation with a panel of extraordinary women who use art to create community, to heal and as activism. This inspiring community of women, led by Shirlene Cooper and Esther McGowan, are artist members at Visual AIDS, a non-profit organization established in 1988, which is committed to using art in AIDS activism and support HIV+ artists. In their conversation, this passionate, driven group of women discuss Visual AIDS's programs like Love Positive Women, which aims to create hundreds of paper Valentine's Day cards, made by hand, to be mailed to women around the world living with HIV; and Women's Empowerment Art Therapy Workshops, which employs art-making "to reduce stigma, build community, and empower women living with HIV." They also share their personal stories, how they, as women who are themselves living with HIV or AIDS, have used art to not only change their outlook on the value of life, but also the intrinsic positive impact they've seen on other women who have taken part in their programs.