The (art)Scene Podcast

Today’s guest is Shannon Rogers, an artist and painter based out of Oakland, CA. You’ll hear us discuss his early beginnings in Little Rock, Arkansas and his growth as an artist exploring geometric abstraction during his studies at both the SAIC in Chicago and the New York Studio School. We also talked about his time as an art professor in his home town and finally his current solo show currently on view at Pt. 2 Gallery in Oakland titled, Dreamlands

Learn more about Shannon and his work by either visiting his website: https://www.jonshannonrogers.com/ or follow him on Instagram.

• Shannon Rogers
• Shannon Rogers

Today’s guest is Drew Grasso, an artist and printmaker based out of Oakland, CA. We discussed 222 Press, the new publishing project he recently founded and Sun Night Editions, the former print publishing house he once ran with Yoni Asega. We also talked about what motivated him to pursue his passion to be a printmaker and the amount of hard work that goes into operating your own printing press. 

Be sure to follow 222 Press on Instagram to see their latest updates and projects.

• Drew Gasso & Yoni Asega at Sun Night Editions (Credit: Lenworth McIntosh)
• Mai Ta for Sun Night Editions

The newest episode of the podcast features, Meryl Pataky, a multi-disciplined artist known for her amazing neon pieces. Based here in the Bay Area, I visited Meryl in her studio to discuss her early beginnings as a mixed media artist, her neon practice and  She Bends, an organization she founded to create a more equitable future for neon. Finally, we also talked about the new exhibition curated by She Bends at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco titled First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art. The exhibition features neon work by various artists including Meryl, that “explores mastery in craft as a devotional pursuit, presenting breathtaking artworks that connect both artists and viewers to spirituality, wonder, and universal questions of human existence.” The show is up at the CJM through April 28, 2024. Visit the museum website for more details. For more info about Meryl and her work be sure to visit her website at merylpataky.com  or follow her on Instagram at @merylpataky. Learn more about She Bends at shebends.com. 

This week’s guest on the (art)Scene Podcast is Oakland-based artist Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa whose art practice focuses on charcoal, airbrush painting, and most recently mixed media painting and installation. For our conversation I had the pleasure of visiting Esteban in his studio in Oakland to discuss his early beginnings in Sacramento and the community he surrounds himself with that ultimately inspires much of his work. We also discussed his new solo exhibition titled Ain’t No Dogs in Heaven currently up at Pt. 2 Gallery through September 9, 2023. Follow Esteban and his latest projects at https://www.wulffvnky.com/ or follow him on instagram @wulffvnky

After a long hiatus the (art)Scene Podcast is back with a  brand new guest: Isaac Vazquez Avila, a painter & sculptor based in San Francisco. I stopped by his studio in Bernal Heights to discuss what drew him to the Bay Area, his art practice and his recent projects including the exhibition that wrapped up at pt. 2 Gallery in Oakland and teaching. Follow Isaac and his latest projects at https://www.isaacvazquezavila.com/ or follow him on instagram @aliencitizen

On today’s episode I am joined by Liz Hernandez, an artist based in Oakland, CA whose work includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and writings deeply influenced by the memories & surroundings of her hometown in Mexico. We discussed her art practice and the mural she conceived for SFMOMA’s Bay Area Walls exhibition titled Conjuro para la sanación de nuestro futuro. 

Liz’s mural is up until September 5, 2022 on the 3rd floor of SFMOMA. Click here to To learn more.

You can also learn more about her work on her website

After a long hiatus, the (art)Scene Podcast returns with an all new episode featuring Oakland-based artist Lena Gustafson who discusses the projects she worked on during the pandemic including a group exhibition at Pt. 2 Gallery in Oakland titled Holding.

Holding runs through July 2, 2020. Check out the Pt. 2 Gallery website for more info.

To learn more about Lena’s work visit her website at www.lenagustafson.com. To learn more about her work with Night Diver Press visit www.nightdiverpress.com.

Muzae Sesay returns to the podcast this week to catch up with me about the various projects he’s worked on since he’s last been on three years ago such as the blacktop mural he did at the Rainbow Recreation Center in Oakland for Project Blackboard and the two solo shows he recently had at Pt. 2 Gallery. We also talked about latest commission he did as part of SFMOMA’s “Bay Area Walls” exhibit titled “Cut Trees. Cut Trees is currently on exhibit at SFMOMA for more information visit https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/bay-area-walls/. Learn more about Muzae and his work by visiting his website muzaesesay.com or visit the Pt.2 Gallery website.

After a brief hiatus, I am back with a brand new episode featuring Oakland based artist and graphic designer, Lenworth Macintosh who is also goes by Joonbug. On today’s episode you’ll hear us discuss his background in creating his own clothing brand, his graphic design work and his eventual foray into the fine art world. We also discussed his recent solo show at Pt. 2 Gallery and the mural he created along the side of the Fox Theater in Oakland. 

Learn more about Joonbug and his work by visiting his website at www.bugs87.com or follow him on Instagram @thebugs87

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Back on the podcast is Mark Sabb, Senior Director of Innovation, Marketing and Engagement at the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD). On today’s episode we discuss what museums such as MoAD, are doing to adapt to being closed during the pandemic.  We also talk about the work they can and need to do in resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

To learn more about MoAD’s programming visit moadsf.org or follow the museum on Instagram @moadsf.