Anne Ishii is a writer, editor, translator and the Executive Director of Asian Arts Initiative (AAI). As the leader of an important arts center serving the AAPI community, Anne is a big part of Philadelphia’s arts ecosystem. Roberta talks with Anne about her new role hosting of arts and culture documentary series, “Movers and Makers,” featuring regional artists and arts organizations. Anne and Roberta had a great 35-minute conversation that will introduce you to a fascinating, important and under-known leader in Philadelphia arts.
Read MoreLogan Cryer interviews Chelsey Luster– a curator and artist exploring topics like race, gender, and sexuality– about their newest curation, “Wading: When the Water Rises,” on view this Friday, Feb. 11, at Vox Populi thru March 13. Chelsey’s advice for other young artists of color is to protect themselves and never forget how much institutions gain from their ideas, representation, and diversity.
Read MoreRoberta interviews Eric Battle, artist and Art Director of the new book, “BLAM! Black Lives Always Mattered,” a graphic novelization of the life stories of 14 Black Philadelphians, illustrated by 12 illustrators and comics artists with connections to Philadelphia. The large hard-back book with many full-color pages is a project of Temple University Library’s Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. The book will be delivered to the city’s high school students and, in time, available to the public.
Read MoreRoberta interviews artist and photographer Terrell Halsey about his project interviewing, recording and photographing Philadelphians from all over the city about how they would make their neighborhoods better. The physical manifestation of the project, the exhibit, “Call Home,” at ImPerfect Gallery, was a collaboration with Nina “Lyrispect” Ball, who added poetic prose and exhibited poetry. The interview is 33 minutes long.
Read MoreNadia Hironaka & Matthew Suib’s ‘Field Companion’ is a mycology-inspired immersive film experience where relationships– mutualistic, parasitic, or otherwise– reign supreme. Themes of community, mixed with the collaged nature of the work, result in a poignant but disorienting exhibition that is certainly fitting of this pandemic time. On view at Locust Projects, Miami thru Feb. 5, 2022.
Read MoreAlissa Roach and Hannah Pang, co-presidents of the Artists of Color Collective at Temple University, join host Logan Cryer in this 23-minute podcast interview to talk about their recent “Digital Entanglements” exhibition at Tiger Strikes Asteroid, and their upcoming zine (AoCC’s second ever publication). You can support the Artists of Color Collective via Instagram DMs (@Artists_of_Color).
Read MoreRoberta speaks with performer, dancer, choreographer, Sanchel Brown, about her new project, “Wheelz of Life,” a live performance and film done on roller skates! Listen to this lively and life-affirming conversation and enjoy!
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