In this episode, we connect with Denys Kushnarov in Kyiv and Yuri Boyko in Los Angeles, regarding their two-person exhibition: "War and Peace" (Ukrainian Voices) in honor of Ukraine and Slow Art Day, April 2, 2022. The exhibition is located at El Nido art space in Hollywood and curated by VC Projects. Both Ukrainian artists talk about the current war with Russia and the artwork on display; six short films, "Make War Not Peace", "Rocketman", "United Systems", "Annihilation","There is a Place" (about Chernobyl), "Memorial Choir Ukraina", by Denys Kushnarov and a series in pigment on linen (photography), "Departure and Arrival" by Yuri Boyko. This is an insightful talk, bringing together two artists that share a love for their country, and the pain and hope of people besieged and uprooted by the war.

Exhibition website: https://www.vcprojects.art/slow-art-day-2022

Connect with the artists:

www.yuriboyko.com

https://www.instagram.com/den_kushnarov/

Vimeo: Denys Kushnarov

In this episode, we speak to Quantum Soprano and Composer, Shooka Afshar. The talk centers around Afshar’s opera, Women / Immigration / Fight or Flight, and her upcoming performance at El Nido art space, presented by VC Projects located in East Hollywood. This is a short talk discussing the inspiration and how the opera came about.

Women / Immigration / Fight or Flight is a mixed media opera based on Shooka Afshar’s true-life story, composed by Shooka Afshar. This opera depicts the challenges of women who had to immigrate to another country to follow their dreams, to be able have a normal life, and to fight for their basic rights. This is opera tells the story of Shooka Afshar's life who changed her circumstances from being ridiculed of wanting to be a singer, to a women who is now praised for her art and knowledge in the US. This opera has a universal message to all the women of the world who have been working hard to improve their lives and reach their dreams, in the midst of the most suppressed societies and lack of resources. Shooka Afshar’s first bachelor’s degree was in Physics, due to not being able to study arts and music academically. Moreover, to this day, women are not allowed to sing in public in front of men in Iran. In this mixed media opera, Shooka is sharing the strength of a woman who’s been receiving the message of “women shouldn’t be loud and laugh loud”, “women are not allowed to sing” and “womanhood is a shame”, and yet she decided not to be a victim of her circumstances. “I hope this opera inspires all the women who self-doubt and second guess themselves, and remind them the power of choice”, Shooka Afshar.

Shooka Afshar, Soprano, City of Boston Certified Artist, is a classical/opera singer from Iran, composer, flutist, pianist, and music entrepreneur. She finished her undergraduate and received her Master’s degree in Classical Vocal Performance at Longy School of Music in Boston in 2014. Shooka is an advocate for women’s rights, and her recent mixed media project is an opera based on her life story, portraying women who overcome extreme challenges to find out who they truly are and break free of society’s chains. She premiered her opera Women / Immigration / Fight or Flight at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston online in March 2021. She is currently planning to tour her opera nationally and also internationally, including a performance at Casa Regis, Italy in summer 2022. Shooka’s life story documentary will be released soon, created by Asma Khoshmher for the documentary department at Emerson College, Boston.   

For more information visit: www.vcprojects.art and the artist’s website: www.shookaafshar.com

In this episode, I speak to Los Angeles-based Natasha Rudenko about her upcoming solo exhibition: Be/longing conceptual photography at El Nido art space presented by VC Projects, located in East Hollywood, from February 19th – March 24, 2022.

This is an enlightening conversation not only about belonging but also about the concept of home. We could have talked for hours! We touch on how the series came about as well as the technical aspects of composing the shot. I ask, “Was this an intuitive process?” Rudenko’s answers reveal a great deal of depth.

Longing to belong or to simply be present, seen. What is longing? Defined as a “yearning desire” it leaves out both a nature of the object of that desire and the reasons behind it. The object of longing seems irrelevant and the yearning - directionless. We say: longing for home, for love, for acceptance, for recognition, for friendship. The concepts that through their platitude deceive you into familiarity but that in fact persist in their ambiguity. 

Susan Stewart in her book On Longing quotes the 1748’s Anson's Voyage Around the World: “Our native country, for which many of us by this time has begun to have great longings” and thus places the narrative of the “yearning desire” into the narrative of homesickness; and socially and colloquially the two experiences are still connected. 

For an immigrant, and I, myself, am one, defining home becomes a task of a lifetime. But for me, the longing for home started long before I left what now official documents call a “country of origin”. My being originated there, but what does it really mean? What non-severable ties did that event create in the process? Has it so happened that I am destined to long for home or rather for that sense of belonging with the unquenchable thirst of a traveler stranded on a raft in the middle of the shoreless ocean? How the relationship with a place is created to form a bond that would make one say “I belong here”? 

In this project, I am not so much as looking for answers to these questions but rather reflecting on them and the experiences that posed them. The angst of presence, of “being seen” is resolved through creating photographic self-portraits, that loop the “looking” and the “being looked at” in a perpetual echo while the act of photographing turns them into the evidence of presence. - Natasha Rudenko

Natasha Rudenko was born in Moscow and received honors in Photography from the British Higher School of Art and Design, She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from State University – Higher School of Economics, Moscow, and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography at New York Film Academy, Los Angeles. Since 2013, Rudenko has been exhibiting her work in various group shows in New York, Los Angeles, Athens, Tempe, Moscow, and Budapest. Her work has been found in a number of annual publications of feminist and queer art, including Issues II and Femme Fatale Volume III Analog and Femme Fatale Volume IV Leafless. Rudenko is also an educator of Fine Art Photography at the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles, and UCLA Extension. She currently makes Los Angeles her home.

Visit: www.vcprojects.art to learn more about the exhibition. Visit the artist’s website at: www.natasharudenko.com

This episode is the continuation of “The Bay of Naples Paintings” podcast with Los Angeles-based international artist, Shane Guffogg. During this talk, we hear about Guffogg’s trip to Naples, Italy where he was given the task by Cynthia Penna, International Curator and Founder of ART1307, to interpret James Fenimore Cooper’s “Gleanings of Italy” writings dated 1838. 

Throughout our talk, Gufffogg shares the significance of seeing “The Bay of Naples Paintings” on view at the incredibly historical and significant, Museo Ercolanese Reggia de Portici located in Naples.  Guffogg’s paintings are part of a larger group exhibition, “Inspirational: the Influence of Place” curated by Penna and also feature artwork by Kelly Berg, Laddie John Dill, Ned Evans, Justin Garcia, Miguel Osuna, and Todd Williamson. Guffogg’s historical paintings and the rest of the group exhibition will be on display from 10 December to 13 March 2022. Towards the middle of our discussion, Guffogg talks about his trip to the ancient city of Pompeii, and onward to the Amalfi Coast. We hear about the artist’s perceptions and inspirations during his amazing two-week journey, getting first-hand knowledge about the exhibition’s opening reception, meetings with public officials, and much more. We also discuss what it means to be an American artist greeted by the Italian public. Finally, we scratch the surface about a potential upcoming project that involves a Caravaggio painting. 

Shane Guffogg is an American artist who looks through the lens of humanity at civilizations, both past, and present, and views time as threads that connect all people. His work is a visual language that is informed by the spiritualism of abstraction and the realism of the old masters. These two ideas are usually seen as separate but Guffogg fuses them seamlessly into works that transcend and become testaments to thoughts that inform us of who we are in the 21st century.

To learn more about Shane Guffogg visit, www.shaneguffogg.com

In this episode, my guest, Shane Guffogg and I discuss his current project, which consists of two oil on canvas paintings, (6 x 8 feet), and (40 x 30 inches), created for a group exhibition at the Royal Palace of Portici and the Museum of Herculaneum in Naples, Italy. This exhibition is  curated by Cynthia Penna and opens on December 10th, 2021.

The curator assigned each of the 6 American artist, an American author who wrote about Naples. Guffogg was given the 19th century historical romance author, James Fenimore Cooper, and the book, Gleanings of Italy. The artist took the following passages for his inspiration, 

“The Mediterranean, on the other hand, is unusually blue, and its bays and gulphs appear to have as deep a tint as the open sea.

The bay itself was asleep, with its bosom dotted with a thousand boats, and crafts of different sizes. The deathlike calm that pervaded everything was in exquisite accordance with the character of the entire view. The mountains were dreamy, the air was filled with drowsy repose, while the different objects of historical interest over which the eye rather lingered than glanced, gave the whole the semblance of a physical representation of things past, adorned and relieved by a glorious grouping of so much that is exquisite in the usages of the present.”

- James Fenimore Cooper

“Gleannings of Italy” (Naples, 1838)

In this discussion, Guffogg shares how he created his paintings and the developments that ensued. He further explores how he planned-out the beginning layers of each painting, which were devised from aspects of the I Ching, which was the bases for the patterns. Guffogg spent long periods of isolation in the studio working, which was a necessary task in order to paint in this systematic format. But as is Guffogg’s working style, he had some wiggle room for his intuition to respond to the continuously changing colors and shapes that came out of the countless layers of glazes. The industrious project took two-months and the significance of the conceptual blueprint set down the truth to the inherent outcome. The final composition that transpired from mind to heart, and hand to canvas is astounding. But this was not done without difficulty. Guffogg shares some of the tough stages he went through to complete the finished works. Towards the end of this discussion, I sarcastically ask, “Is painting dead?” Of course not! Guffogg reveals his testimony. Listen in, to hear first-hand what he has to say.

Shane Guffogg is an American artist who looks through the lens of humanity at civilizations, both past and present, and views time as threads that connect all people. His work is a visual language that is informed by the spiritualism of abstraction and the realism of the old masters. These two ideas are usually seen as separate but Guffogg fuses them seamlessly into works that transcend and become testaments to thoughts that inform us of who we are in the 21st century.

To learn more about Shane Guffogg visit, www.shaneguffogg.com

In this episode, my guest, Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson, and I continue our talk about body consciousness in painting, by visiting his studio outside Reykjavik. We move through the space studying the process of the six-painting series related to the heart. These paintings were created from May – September 2021 and are roughly 10 x 10 feet tall. The artist talks about each work and how it came about. Looking at the finished paintings, we explore perception and sensation, touching again on Merleau Ponty's 'Eye and Mind' and 'Logic of Sensation' by Gilles Deleuze. The aftermath brings me to reflect on Deleuze and Guattari's "What is the Body Without Organs?". The project was based not only on exploration of the heart cavity but also on where consciousness exists within the body. The artist inquires, "Does consciousness lie within the flesh or within the movement … the painting process will be the vehicle for exploring that."

In viewing the first four paintings one gets a sense of the density of the heart cavity with all its depth and dimension. In the last two paintings, there is a shift, and the palette changes with a revelation of light. The artist mentions Turner, and how his use of light was an inspiration. This comment informs me to ask about Iceland and how it might feel living in little or much light at different times of the year. Our discussion is genuine. Towards the end, I had to ask, "Did your interviews with medical and spiritual professionals in the field of the heart alter your intuitive process to create these paintings?" The artist answers, "No, but they did inform me on some level." Listen in to learn more. 

Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson received his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Art at San Francisco Institute of the Art. After completing his degrees, he returned to Reykjavik to continue his career in art. The artist received a two-year stipend from the Icelandic Government for a sizeable site-specific land commission that combined painting and sculpture. In 2003, he took part in Los Angeles International Biennial, and the following year, he participated in the Pilsen International Biennial of Drawing. Over the past 25 years, Sigurbjörnsson has had numerous gallery and museums exhibitions in the U.S.A. and Europe.

Visit the artist's website: http://www.bjarnisig.com

In this episode, I speak to the ever-dynamic fashion and life guru, Barbara Flood. We explore Barbara's early beginnings as a model, and actress, along with her colorful life living amongst theatre, art, and music. Barbara explains her styling career and work as a life coach, which she refers to as "The Clinic." – an honest approach, via telephone. Barbara reveals her secrets on living life to the fullest, engaging the community, and directing individuals toward their own personal authenticity, identity, and finding inner peace.

Barbara Flood is a New Yorker through and through who modeled for Rudi Grenreich, and introduced the "Topless Bathing Suit". She was recently featured in the 2019 exhibition, Rudi Gernreich: "Fearless Fashion" at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles. During the 1970's she was represented by Mannequin Modeling Agency in New York for runway modeling. Barbara has been featured in numerous films working with film director, Henry Jaglom's, in "Tracks" with Dennis Hopper, "A Safe Place" with Tuesday Weld, Jack Nicholson and Orsen Wells, and again with Wells, in the enchanting "Someone to Love", to name a few.

In this episode, Shane Guffogg, and I speak to the most talented and gifted Stanley Dorfman. We weave in and out of his history and also talk to him about his upcoming episode on The art of Art, where Guffogg is the host. The television series explores artists in their studios and what makes them tick. 

Stanely Dorfman has had many lives and some of which have shaped our cultural history of what we know today. For starters, Stanley was the original producer and director of the Top of the Pops in the ’60s at the BBC in London. In tandem, Stanley has also worked with, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, The Who, Led Zepplin, Joni Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Ravi Shankar, Yoko Ono, Jimmy Hendrix, and Linda Ronstadt to name a few. Equally important, in terms of this discussion, is that Stanley started his life as a painter in the late 40’s at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Whereas a young person, he was fortunate enough to meet and become friends with James Baldwin, Alberto Giacometti, Simone De Beauvoir, and Jean-Paul Sartre. This conversation was recorded at Guffogg’s Strathmore ranch, 2 ½ hours from Stanley’s home and studio in Hollywood, where he returned to painting some twenty years ago.

Shane Guffogg is an American artist who looks through the lens of humanity at civilizations, both past, and present, and views time as threads that connect all people. His work is a visual language that is informed by the spiritualism of abstraction and the realism of the old masters. These two ideas are usually seen as separate but Guffogg fuses them seamlessly into works that transcend and become testaments to thoughts that inform us of who we are in the 21st century.

In this episode, Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson and I, continue our discussion on body consciousness in painting with a focus on the flesh and mind. I open the discussion by reading a passage from an essay the artist wrote years ago quoting Merleau Ponty, “It’s not the mind that paints it is the body.”

We further talk about aspects of Gilles Deleuze, “The Logic of Sensation” where the philosopher states: “There are two ways in which I can experience the viewing of a painting: One, is the abstract form which affects the head and brain. Second, in the “figure” which Cezanne labels the sensation. The sensation is the form which interacts “immediately upon the nervous system which is the flesh.” This influential text brings about a deeper conversation regarding Sigurbjörnsson’s current body of work related to the heart.  The artist shares his research and findings. 

Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson received his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Art at San Francisco Institute of the Art. After completing his degrees, he returned to Reykjavik to continue his career in art. During this time, the artist received a two-year stipend from, Icelandic Government for a sizeable site-specific land commission that combined painting and sculpture. In 2003, he took part in Los Angeles International Biennial, and the following year, he participated in the Pilsen International Biennial of Drawing. Over the past 25 years, Sigurbjörnsson has had numerous gallery and museums exhibitions in the U.S.A. and Europe.

Visit the artist's website: http://www.bjarnisig.com

In this episode, my guest, Shane Guffogg, and I talk about the influence of Los Angeles, and his Central California ranch, and how it affects his art. We learn about how he adapts to each studio and the environment and how this feeds his passion for his art-making process. 

Shane Guffogg is an American artist who looks through the lens of humanity at civilizations, both past, and present, and views time as threads that connect all people. His work is a visual language that is informed by the spiritualism of abstraction and the realism of the old masters. These two ideas are usually seen as separate but Guffogg fuses them seamlessly into works that transcend and become testaments to thoughts that inform us of who we are in the 21st century.

To learn more about Shane Guffogg visit, www.shaneguffogg.com