The Inspiring Conversations Podcast

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/tXifEuiLfss

Jeff sits down with Steve Liggett, former Artistic Director of Living Arts of Tulsa and owner of Liggett Studio to hear about his life and work since he came to Tulsa in the 1970's. 

He shares deeply from the beginning of his affiliation with the founder of Living Arts, Virginia Myers and about some of the highlights of his career there. He also reflects about the impact of Living Arts on the arts community and culture in Tulsa.

Steve Liggett has been an arts advocate, teacher and artist in the Tulsa community for over 40 years. He is the recipient of the Harwelden Award, Jingle Feldman Award, Governor’s Art Award and John Hope Franklin Award for his artistic work in social justice. His own studio work has evolved from his ceramics and papermaking background to performance/video/installation work. He is the past Artistic Director for Living Arts of Tulsa and presently runs Liggett Studio.

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/yfWKcz4Nfyw

Jeff sits down with Brandi Ross and Tyler Huffman to hear about their experiences in participating in the recent exhibit at Living Arts, Project Hope, Unity, and Compassion.

EXHIBITION STATEMENT
Throughout history, downtowns and town squares have served as the foundation of society’s freedom of expression and the center of community discourse. Downtown Tulsa is certainly no different. 

At an incredibly tense time in our community, and in the midst of
planning for unprecedented events, we found an opportunity to showcase Downtown Tulsa’s core values on temporary canvases throughout Downtown.

More than 300 artists responded to a last-minute call for art on June 18, 2020. Within hours, commissioned artists began painting storefronts thanks to permission from businesses and the generosity of an anonymous donor. 

Within two days, we were able to mobilize more than a dozen artists to paint murals and messages inspiring hope, unity, and compassion throughout Downtown.

While the storefronts were restored and businesses reopened the following week, the conversations sparked by this art and the core values it represents continue.

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/k4Nc3ZagJG0

Jeff sits down with artist Krystie Bunch to hear her share deeply about her work and about how she got started creating art. 

She also speaks in a very heartfelt, moving, and a compelling way about the importance of community and culture and about what her experiences have been like facilitating and teaching art classes and participating in Downtown Tulsa & Living Arts Of Tulsa's recent project, Project Hope, Unity, and Compassion.

Artist Bio:  I’m a Tulsa-based interdisciplinary artist. I utilize art as a portal, allowing outsiders a glimpse into the beautifully complex layers of my daily existence. I’m a Black American female who lives as a lifelong creative, full-time mom, community activist, youth advocate and human who experiences a neurological disorder called misophonia/misokinesia. Life is a constant state of processing and readjusting. In my art I allow myself the opportunity to be still, heal and move in hope.

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/NzyhpFgyS8U

Jeff sits down with artist Terren Zinbi as she shares deeply about her artistic journey, about how she got started creating art, and about her experiences since she started working as an artist full time. 

She shares very compellingly and in a very inspirational tone about her experiences in working through her emotions as she creates her work and about the importance of putting herself and her work out there and taking chances in her career. 

To learn more about Terren and her work, visit
https://www.terrenzinbi.com

About Terren: 

"I am a 26 year old modern artist currently calling Tulsa my home with my bf, dog, + houseplants. i am a true enneagram type 7 wing 6. i believe that variety is the spice of life + fomo is real!! i’m always looking forward to my next big adventure + making plans with people i love. i’m an eternal optimist + i think my biggest asset is being able to find joy in every little thing! 

Because a huge part of my life ever since i could remember. creative work is truly my passion in life and biggest outlet.  i love getting to make art + designs that show a glimpse into my heart + creating things that point you to knowing + loving God more. my biggest hope in my work is that i am creating pieces that help you find joy in the little + the big things, and that they may help celebrate the everyday!"

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/TApB_QMFM1U

Jeff sits down with Natty Watson and Lauran Drummond with Cult Love Sound Tapes to hear about how their collective got started, about their vision and passion for supporting the Tulsa DIY music and art community, and about what their work and dedication to this community means to them at a deeper level. 

Cult Love Sound Tapes is a D.I.Y. community-based cassette tape, music, and art collective specializing in rare and limited releases from a wide variety of genres. 

They also have a large project, the Cult House, nearing its unveiling. Since the project's beginning in December, the Cult House, a 2 story 100-year old family residence, has been covered floor to ceiling in murals painted by local artists.

In the summer of 2018 before their debut show, Jeff sat down on a late summer evening in Uptown OKC with Topher Owen, Founder and Creative Director and LaRonn Marzette, Ann-Lisette Caveny, and Gabi Merchen from The Space, a local improv-based sketch comedy group as we go behind the scenes to learn more about their members, about their skit development process, and about their feelings regarding their upcoming debut show on August 24th and 25th of 2018. 

In this episode, Jeff visits with Kelsey Karper, Co-Founder of Current Studio and Factory Obscura and Thomas Thompson, a Co-Founder of Factory Obscura as well. We begin by hearing from Kelsey about Current Studio and how they provide opportunities for various artists-in-residence at their facility. She then speaks about the inspiration and the origins of Factory Obscura and how it came into being as well as how she and Romy Owens, her partner at Current Studio, decided to house the first Factory Obscura exhibition, SHIFT, at their facility. Kelsey then gives us an overview of how they created a vision for this group and how they brought area artists together to be a part of this first project at Current Studio. 

We transition into an overview about SHIFT and how it is the first fully-immersive and experiential art installation in the OKC area and what makes it so unique. Kelsey then shares with listeners about where they can find more information about SHIFT, and all of this information is at the bottom of this summary for those who are interested. 

After this, we hear from Thomas Thompson about his motivation for being involved in this project as he has an interest in human consciousness and in helping lead a project that will be providing both children and adults with the opportunity to have a full-sensory art experience that is so unique. He then reflects upon other art exhibits in other states that are somewhat similar to SHIFT. 

After this, we hear some details about SHIFT from Kelsey as well as an overview of what people can expect, and it is really exciting that each person will have their own unique experience We continue the conversation as Kelsey speaks about how it is very possible that people who feel that they aren't necessarily interested in art will find that they are partaking of it while interacting with the various full-sensory aspects of SHIFT as they progress through it. 

We wrap things up by hearing from Thomas as he reflects about how this exhibit really focuses on providing people with an opportunity to experience something genuine and authentic as they interact with it in numerous ways. Kelsey then shares an overview of the future vision of Factory Obscura as they plan to grow this project and ultimately have their own facility that will house larger-scale exhibits in the future. 

Lastly, we hear from Kelsey about the various opportunities for volunteers to help be a part of Factory Obscura, and the link to sign up and indicate how they want to help in the future. Visit the Current Studio website to learn about how to support Factory Obscura. Donations fund the creation of SHIFT at Current Studio including supplies and most importantly, paying the artists. Plus, donors will be the first to experience the fully immersive installation. 

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT  https://youtu.be/eOP2Vcv6Puw

Jeff has the honor and pleasure of being interviewed by Pam Savino of Live Authentically Podcast and spoke about his spiritual Journey and some of the most formative lessons that he has learned along the way.

Pam has an incredible Gift and has so much to share about living more authentically, and to learn more about her work and her podcast, visit
https://liveauthentically.today/

The Live Authentically Podcast can be found at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/570790

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/QVzdVzwMVGU

Jeff sits down with Francisco Treviño, Executive Director of Casa de la Cultura to hear about his life and work in Tulsa as he moved here in 1978 from Monterrey, México at the age of 11.

He reflects about his experiences in Tulsa as a performing musical artist since his teenage years, as the former Executive Director of Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he made it a point to collaborate with our local arts community, and about his current work at Casa de la Cultura and as a consultant with Vega & Treviño Consultants, where he helps companies reach their community engagement and diversity representation goals.

He also speaks in a very compelling way about his strong belief in the undeniable link between the arts and business communities and why it's so important for him personally to be able to still get along with others even if they don't agree about the larger issues of life.

The interview as Francisco also shares about what this time has been like during the pandemic for him and his family as well as for the Tulsa area Hispanic and Latin American community in general.

To learn more about Casa de la Cultura and their programs, visit
http://www.findglocal.com/US/Tulsa/1440132309431997/Casa-de-la-Cultura

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THIS INTERVIEW, GO TO INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS PODCAST CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE OR VIEW DIRECTLY AT https://youtu.be/JX6DlbHRBhc

Jeff sits down with artist Hershel Self to hear about his work and some deeper thoughts about transition as he has had the opportunity to experience that recently and offers some very enlightening and inspiring thoughts about his experience over the past several months.

To learn more about Hershel's work, please visit
https://www.hershelself.com/