Art & Isms

Layqa Nuna Yawar is a global muralist and founder member of Young New Yorkers, an art program that helps teenagers stay out of jail. He explains why he does this work and its relationship to his own migrant experiences and heritage. Created, hosted and produced by WBGO media-fellows Stephanie Avila and Mariah Matthews, the art & isms podcast features artists who use their craft to challenge the 'isms' in the world. "Isms," in this context, refers to the multitudes of oppression that exist to dehumanize and remove people of their agency. At the center of the podcast is this core belief: musicians, poets, fashion designers, and fine artists have the power to combat these 'isms' and promote social change through their art forms. Stephanie and Mariah interview what they call artivist s to understand what makes them tick, why they commit their lives to social change through artistic expression and what they believe are the most important issues right now.

Kyemah McEntyre is a 21-year-old mixed artist, fashion designer, and fine artist from East Orange, New Jersey, who is most well known for going viral on social media when she made and wore an African print prom dress she designed in 2015. She reflects on that experience and talks about how her art focuses on black empowerment and representation, and what it was like to have her designs worn by ex-3LW member Naturi Naughton, Tyra Banks and most recently, Janet Jackson. Created, hosted and produced by WBGO media-fellows Stephanie Avila and Mariah Matthews, the art & isms podcast features artists who use their craft to challenge the 'isms' in the world. "Isms," in this context, refers to the multitudes of oppression that exist to dehumanize and remove people of their agency. At the center of the podcast is this core belief: musicians, poets, fashion designers, and fine artists have the power to combat these 'isms' and promote social change through their art forms. Stephanie and Mariah

Shane “Haze” Fuller is a musician, community organizer, and co-founder of a Newark non-profit organization called Them Cloud Kids who is passionate about youth empowerment and self-expression. Fuller analyzes his music and talks about his non-profit. Created, hosted and produced by WBGO media-fellows, Stephanie Avila and Mariah Matthews, the art & isms podcast features artists who use their craft to challenge the 'isms' in the world. "Isms," in this context, refers to the multitudes of oppression that exist to dehumanize and remove people of their agency. At the center of the podcast is this core belief: musicians, poets, fashion designers, and fine artists have the power to combat these 'isms' and promote social change through their art forms. Stephanie and Mariah interview what they call artivist s to understand what makes them tick, why they commit their lives to social change through artistic expression and what they believe are the most important issues right now.

On this episode of art & isms, Jasmine Mans — an internationally known poet and author from Newark, N.J. — recites and explains a poem, talks about her relationship to the city of Newark, reflects on what she learned on the speech and debate team in high school, and explains one of her most controversial poems, “Footnotes for Kanye.” Mans is hosting free poetry workshops for teens and young adults at the Newark Public Library through Dec. 5. Created, hosted and produced by WBGO media fellows Stephanie Avila and Mariah Matthews, the art & isms podcast features artists who use their craft to challenge the 'isms' in the world. "Isms," in this context, refers to the multitudes of oppression that exist to dehumanize and remove people of their agency. At the center of the podcast is this core belief: musicians, poets, fashion designers, and fine artists have the power to combat these 'isms' and promote social change through their art forms.