In this 38 minute podcast, Matt Kalasky interviews Suzanne Seesman, Islam Aly, Abdul Karim Awad, and Yaroub Al-Obaidi from “Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary,” a two-year project out of Swarthmore College. “Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary” has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Read MoreArtbog contributor Matt Kalasky speaks with Josh Graupera– Philadelphia based organizer, artist, educator, and printmaker– to learn about their recent (now closed) exhibition, “Blockadia.” Tune into this 25 minute long podcast, brought to us by The Galleries at Moore (TGMR), to learn how Josh’s practice redefines the term “Blockadia,” a word originally coined by activist Naomi Klein.
Read MoreArtblog contributor Matt Kalasky speaks with Daniel Park and Arianna Gass (via telephone!) of the team of “Obvious Agency,” a multi-media game and interactive experience group. The “Obvious” team comes from theater and performance backgrounds and works to immerse people in fun activities in galleries and museums. The podcast comes to us through the courtesy of The Galleries at Moore’s radio station, TGMR. The interview is 26 minutes long.
Read MoreMatt Kalasky speaks with artist Jerry Kaba about his Arts Wrestling Federation Urban League (AWFUL Wrestling). What started as a joke between friends has become a genuine cultural phenomenon, taking Philadelphia’s DIY arts scene by nostalgic storm.
Read MoreMatt Kalasky speaks with artist Li Sumpter and educators Charlie McGeehan and Sam Reed about “Survival Guide for the Future” — an emergency preparedness, Afrofuturist and post-apocalyptic inspired curriculum conducted this spring at the U School High School in collaboration with The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design. Culminating in both a student-created zine and an exhibition at The Galleries at Moore (opening tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018), this project gave students a platform to reflect on their current lives and imagine a vibrant teen-centric Philadelphia of the future.
Read MoreWhen multi-media artists Lucia Alber and Katie Rauth first met as interns at Vox Populi Gallery, they recognized in each other a shared interest in the performance of gender and an attraction to similar forms and materials. Since their earliest collaborations in 2016, they have continued to build a powerful friendship both inside and outside of the studio — a friendship which served as an important source of support during Lucia’s recent experience being stalked by a man who serviced her car at a local Jiffy Lube. Here they speak with Matt Kalasky, about Leave Worry Behind, the body of work that emerged from that harrowing experience, on display at Practice Gallery beginning Friday, April 6th. This work, created by Alber and curated by Rauth, uses French boudoir aesthetics to examine the sexual politics of car culture. What is a “sulking room” and how much self-care is too much self care? Listen to find out. Matt interviewed Lucia and Katie at Moore College of Art and Design’s TGMR radio station on April 4th, 2018; the podcast is 20 minutes long.
Read MoreAs a Chinese-born artist making a life for herself in Philadelphia, Yixuan Pan thinks a lot about translation and the limitations of language. In fact, since earning her MFA from the glass department at Tyler School of Art last year, she has built a rich and varied practice around the insights gained from living with confusion. Here she speaks with Matt Kalasky, ahead of her February 28th collaborative performance at Vox Populi Gallery, about starting with wonder and chasing art across media. Can a conversation where no questions are allowed qualify as studio time? Listen to find out. Matt interviewed Pan at Moore College of Art and Design’s TGMR radio station on February 13th, 2018; the podcast is 21 minutes long.
Read MoreIt seems straightforward to say “Live with Yourself,” but is it? Matt’s word play and imagery conflates issues of injury and scars with the idea of the embracing the self, warts and all.
Read MoreIn this graphic essay, Matt Kalasky offers strong language and powerful Gothic imagery to lead us on the path to success. Are you enjoying these emotionally-charged word+art pieces like we are? The combination of positive energy and robust drawing is better than that second cup of coffee.
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Support for Artblog has been provided by The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.