Part 1. Why We Make Art - We celebrate our 100th monthly episode with a survey of special moments from our history. This first of four episodes, Why We Make Art, is a sampler of a few stories of artists and why they create or in some way a description of trying to see the big picture. These stories come from painters Brian Kershisnik and Fidalis Buehler, scholars Mason Kamana Allred and Amanda Beardsley, dancer/choreographer Lisa Hess Jones, and artist/animator Annie Poon. I wanted to share some performances of artists, too. Included, too, are short clips of Lance Larsen reading a newly published poem and Stephen Anderson talking about and playing music inspired by the Dominican Republic. 

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Part 2. Moments of Faith - This second celebratory episode of our 100th podcast includes six conversations with artists and includes intimate stories with a spiritual touch: Historian Richard Bushman in New York, then choreographer Vanessa Cook in Switzerland. James Faulconer tells a miraculous story from Brazil, we hear about a treasured but divided heirloom from Salt Lake City, Utah and the miracle of its reunion. We listen to religious music from Texas, and hear from a political prisoner and painter in Angola. 

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Part 3: Unexpected Insights - In this third of our Audio Exhibition to celebrate The Center’s Studio Podcast’s 100th episode, 7 clips were collected from podcasts where artists inform us about the world. These artists become the most engaging and delightful teachers you can imagine on a variety of topics: Barrett Burgin talks about horror films, Jeremy Grimshaw speaks about music and traditions in Bali, Jihea Hong-Park muses about classical music and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, Kate Monson gives some surprising statistics about Utah and dance, Gonzalo and Susana Silva bring their Argentinian art and ideas to New York, Steven L. Peck talks about the ways that scientific truths can be even truer in a novel, and Trevor Reed provides illuminating thoughts on Native American objects and music and their repatriation to the tribes from which they sprang. 

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Part 4: Emotional Moments -- In the finale of our celebration, we revisit clips from guests: Jamie Erekson, Samuel Evensen, Laura Allred Hurtado, Mauli Bonner, and Valerie Atkisson. These moving discussions become teary and include family tragedy, real-time stories happening during Covid, the highs and lows of careers, and complex social challenges. Finally, Glen Nelson summarizes some of the lessons he's learned from 100 episodes spread out over nine years.

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Take a listen to the innovative, forthcoming Art Lab by the Center for Latter Day Saint Arts. It focuses on how art enhances family and group and experiences through interaction. Join four volunteers--Lauren and Nick Bazzarone and Emily and Jamie Erekson--as we preview a lesson from Art Lab about music, and jump into the experience with us.

Music performed by Scott Holden, The Unknown Galaxy: A Century of Classical Mormon Music, part of the Center's Art Festival.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Choreographer Vanessa Cook discusses her newest work, A Brief Collection of Moments, premiering at the Utah Metropolitan Ballet. Cook explores how dance combines with music, text, and visual art into this ambitious new piece, winner of the 2025 Ariel Bybee Endowment Prize. The conversation ranges from philosophy and choreography to the power of a single voice, echoing Bybee's own, growing into something much larger.

What begins with a single voice becomes a duet, then a group, then something larger than any one artist. In this episode, choreographer Vanessa Cook takes us inside the making of a new work blending dance, with LDS collaborators in music, text, and visual art. Along the way, she reflects on curiosity, creative processes, and why movement can sometimes say what words cannot.

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

Explore the fascinating profession of scenic art with Tessa Jorgensen, a professional artist working on Broadway, opera, ballet, tv, film, advertising, and immersive experiences. Learn about her unique skills painting 50-foot murals, backdrops, cycloramas, and theatrical set pieces for some of the country's biggest theatrical productions.

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

In this episode of The Center's Studio Podcast, Glen Nelson interviews Mauli Bonner, a multifaceted artist and filmmaker. They discuss Bonner's diverse career, including his work on the Elijah Abel project, which combines dramatization and documentary to explore sensitive aspects of Black history within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bonner reflects on his previous film, His Name Is Green Flake, and shares insights on navigating difficult questions about race and faith. He emphasizes the importance of mental health, finding joy in challenges, and empowering the next generation through his nonprofit, Lift Up Voices Foundation. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling in bridging communities and addressing real questions with honesty and hope.

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

In this episode, Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner specializing in assisting artists, discusses their unique financial challenges. Artists face unpredictable income, healthcare access, and the societal pressures that often devalue their work. She also points out that many artists have advantages regarding tax deductions, for example, of which they are unaware. The episode touches on the broader implications of the arts on society, the need for government support, and the potential threats posed by economic changes and technological advancements like AI. Sylvie concludes with empowering advice for artists, encouraging them to take control of their financial futures while remaining resilient in the face of a fast-changing professional landscape.

Sylvie Scowcroft can be contacted at https://www.financialgrove.com/

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.

In this engaging episode about Christian painting, artist Rose Datoc Dall, explores her artistic journey, the curation of the book Expressions of Jesus, and the importance of cultural representation in art about Jesus Christ. The new book of hundreds of images includes over 100 artists throughout history and from around the world. It raises important questions: How should a contemporary artist represent the Savior right now? Should the image reflect the artist's heritage, give a nod to the historical Jesus, or follow an existing cultural tradition? Rose Datoc Dall is a thought-leader in LDS culture regarding this powerful and complex topic.

Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission.

Liked this episode? Send us a text.