Art’s Explanatory Comma

MERRY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND SUCH!!! This was originally called "Christmas Wrappin" but it is after Chirstmas soooooooo, is not call that no more. We just wanted to kinda review our season like we did last year. So this is the AEC team @blackgirlmeetsworld (Raquel Seymone) @vhutch (Vernique Francis) and me @mfranciscreative (Mark Francis) reflecting and talking and having a good time. Thank y'all for listening to us for 2 seasons, we'll be back soon and It will be better. If yall have any thoughts on how we can improve or anything of that nature hit us! Peace, M.

I was a little skeptical about Alex and his voice, I was only familiar with his mural's. Did some research and dug what he was making, and after only moments of rapping with him did I see that he really has so much to say about his work and life and with his work and life. We also talked about influences, expensive bananas (not a reference to genitalia), switching the game up and much more. Y'all check out https://www.breakfreehouston.com/ and find out how you can help contribute to furthering their success. Enjoy listening to the episode as usual and let us know what you think. Peace, -M.

We had the pleasure of speaking with one of the newest gallery owners in the city, Kevin Watson of Winston Contemporary Arts. He comes from a world much different from the world of art, but that allows him to have some different approaches that may make him that much more of a success in this ever changing art market. We had a wonderful time having the conversation and hope that you all have a great time listening, even the part where Raquel tells a long story, cut for time, about why she will no longer buy artwork from some dude in Atlanta named PAPER FRANK. Ya'll shouldn't either. Enjoy and as always... Peace -M.

This conversation, like all of our conversations, was expansive, humbling, enlightening, heavy and funny. Ann is amazing to say the least. I can't over sell this, of that I am sure. Please listen like you listen listen. Ann Johnson founding (1 of 2 Founders) member is our 3rd member of Roux that we have been able to speak to and connect with and again there was no disappointment. Just start listening already!!! Not like Ya'll read this. But first person to DM us on our IG or Twitter... who has read this gets a free AEC logo Tee. Enjoy, Peace. -M.

We had a good time making this friend this week. David Anderson has been an enterprising Entrepreneur since the age of 16 and has never looked back. He now collects art, manages artists and is the managing partner of and marketing agency. Art is a central and essential part of all of the things he does. I hope ya'll enjoy learning about him as we did and what makes him appreciate the art that he does. Listen and Enjoy.  Peace,  M. 

Marc Furi is the creator of Project Row Houses most successful/viral homes. He is not stopping there though! He is poised to take his place in history by telling the story of a great man who contributed to him being a great man. Intrigued yet? He is funny too! We had a great time talking with Marc and reminiscing about all he's created and accomplished in these H-Town streets! Salute to a legend in the making! Listen and enjoy! Peace, -M.

Ronald Llewellyn Jones, sage, intelligent, thoughtful, warrior. You listen, and I think you will get it. Peace, -M. Also check out The Silent Auction of Creatives for Asylum Seekers & Migrants Sunday, November 3rd, 5-10pm 1120 Naylor St. Tickets are inexpensive and you could walk away with some bomb art, FOR THE LOW!!!

Vernon Akili and I worked at the same educational organization for more than a year before I found out about his wonderful portraits he makes. I don't work there any more, but I am glad he still does. He has a lot to teach the kids about being an artist and how to find their voice. You will hear it in the way he speaks and in the part of the conversation where Raquel and I have a little spat about voice. LOL His work is great and so is he. So, listen and enjoy! Peace -M.

This interview is a SPECIAL one. I think you all can see why. Delita Martin is an amazingly talented woman, but that still does not do her work nor her any justice in terms of describing her, her work, nor her role in this life. She is a talented printmaker who is ready to regale you with her wisdom and still get back to the grind like she is just waking up. That is all I have to say about this one. Enjoy! Peace, M.

We are back!!! With season 2 and ready to keep this thing moving! The AEC team has a great line-up for you this season and we kick it off with Diedre Thomas! And, okay, okay, okay, she is not a grant mom (I made that up), but it rhymed, and she is the Associate Director of Grants for Houston Art’s Alliance. We enjoyed talking to Diedre and learning about what draws her to this important work that she does and what exactly her and her team do! We also talked about equity in the arts and what that looks like and how it is changing in the HAA organization and in the arts community at large. Enjoy and Let us know what you think! Peace, -M.

Thank you for listening. It has been an amazing run! We are sad that Season 1 is coming to an end, but we are proud of ourselves for making it through it. We are also happy that we have been able to make something that others give a damn about!!! In this episode we reflected season 1, and look to our future! Thank you all for your support and love. We look forward to coming back with more content and taking you all along on our journey in this art shit! Peace. -M.

Unlike most of the other interviewees we've had, this weeks guest is a relative stranger, but he was vouched for by Robert Hodge. LaMonte French is an abstract expressionist, who's works deals with his passion for the content of today, and how we have found our way as a world of people where we are today and more. We learned a lot about LaMonte and his work and we are excited to share it with you all.  Enjoy and Peace!!! -M.

Our guest this week is a special one and y'all may be tired of hearing from him, but we hope not. It's me, and I'm in the seat that all of our guests have been in and it is AWKWARD! We all made it through. Please listen and enjoy.  Peace. -M.

India Lovejoy, effed with the vision so we got her to sit down and collab with the AEC team, lol. Listen to the ep and you will know where that comes from. Seriously, though, India does a lot for artist and the arts. We didn't really know where to begin, so we just did. We enjoyed our time rapping with her and hopefully you enjoy listening to the conversation. Peace. -M.

Our guest this week is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work centers around the topic of blackness and the pride in and of everything related to the privilege of being black. Music is extremely important to his practice as well. One could call it the driving force, and even the art at times. He is taking art to the people in unconventional ways, and enriching the people and communities. He started with the community that both he and Beyoncé hold very dear, 3rd ward Houston, Texas, and is going beyond. Robert Hodge is a hustler few have seen the likes of. This dude is the Kevin Gates of this art shit. He does not get tired!!! Don't take my word for it. Just give the episode a listen and count the jobs. Also go and Enjoy his work at www.robertleroyhodge.com Peace, --M.

Raquel, Myself, and Vernique took a trip out to ATX (Austin), the home of SxSW, to speak with the incredible figurative painter...Nigerian American artist, Dawn Okoro. I did not know what to expect, but the artwork drew us in and so we road tripped it. I have to say, there was no disappointment. Dawn was open honest and awesome. I think it is safe to say, we all became even bigger fans of her work. Dawn speaks unapologetically about her love for blackness, black art and makes certain to uplift black women. This was special and fun. As usual, please listen enjoy and give us your feedback if you would. Peace. --M.

Living between is a weird place to be, but a good place to be, sometimes. For artists, this means, often times, being able to pay bills and make work that fills you. Hopefully. It could mean that you can't do either very effectively... For our guests this week it means the former. This is a balance that must be found one way or another when creating for a living. It becomes a battle of principles, though, for fine artists. Our guest share some of that with us this week. As always enjoy, listen and give us some feedback, if you so choose. Peace. --M.

Thank you all for sticking with us! In this ep we recap the first half of out first season and offer you our explanation for our "Scandal Break", as Raquel Calls it. We really do appreciate you, and this podcast has been part of my saving grace, not as instrumental as my wife, family and friends, but this is important too! If you need help please get that if you need convincing hit us on explanatorycomma (at) gmail.com or use the resources below. Our mental health and well being is ALWAYS more important. DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE AND CHECK ON YOUR STRONG FRIEND! -M. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: 1-800-273-8255 HOPELINE: https://www.thehopeline.com/ TALKSPACE: https://www.talkspace.com/

This is the continuation of our conversation with Danny Dunson. In this half of the conversation we discuss Ghana. Ghana, the place that brought so much fullness to Danny's life and helped us all get a bit closer to black art, and for a lot of us, home. Danny has been a conduit for many of us, through which we have gleaned so much from the images we have seen and the artist's who have made them. This conversation was eye opening in the same way that the @LegacyBros IG account is. Just listen and enjoy. Tell us how transformative it was later. Peace. --M.

Yes, we finally thought that an interview was too long to be just a one part episode. But seriously, we just had too much to talk about and maybe even forgot some things we should have asked. Danny is an art historian, writer and curator with a unique perspective on life and art due to an upbringing and support system most dream of. That doesn't mean his road was easy and definitely doesn't mean that he did not bust his ass to get where he is now. This was an art history class we always wanted to have. It was a reverent, enlightening and entertaining time. Go a head and give us a listen and enjoy. -- M.

We spoke with Moe penders about their work. What is it about? Why does it exist? Who is it for? What drives it? The answer is culture. The things, people and places that make Moe, Moe. The things, people, and places that Moe holds near and dear and help Moe be even more Moe than they knew they could be. Those things that have taught Moe what life is, can and should be. These are the things that drive the work. These are the things that radiate from the work and resonate with the viewers. We enjoyed this conversation and Moe's company. We love the work, and we hope you do too. Listen, enjoy and don't hesitate to let us know what you think. --M.

Raquel is back!!! This week we were granted the pleasure of sitting with my boy! Brian Ellison. Brian is an amazing and hard working man, who is able to capture some of the most authentic moments, both big and small, all over his community of 3rd ward. He approaches with a trust of himself that many of us can aspire to. His work has been seen at Museum of Fine arts Houston and various other institutions. He once said I inspired him, but he is definitely an inspiration to me. Look, as always, we love you all and please continue listening. --M.

Off top, let me apologize for the absence of Raquel Symone for this interview, but she will be part of the next. I think you will still be pleased though. This week is more specialer (not a word) than others in that I had an opportunity to sit down with my brother. His work deals with, self, representation, reflections of self and identity all through the vehicle of portraiture. There is so much more to say about him and his work, but just trust me it's a great interview where you even learn more about me, not that that matters. As Always, enjoy and listen. --M.

This week we share our wonderful conversation with Tony Paraná. Tony is a teacher of Brazilian culture by way of copoeira, music and other forms of art. His perpetuation of the culture that shaped him are odes to places he's been and the people and experiences have shaped his country and subsequently him. While that is and we want you to know about all of it, the real reason we spoke with him is his ambitious and noble way of taking his work of arts education on the road! Enter MASA Houston. We'll let him explain all of what he has in store, so just take a listen, and as always... Enjoy!!! --M.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Rabéa Ballin (Ru-bay-uh B-eye-een). She is a woman I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with since 2008. Her work reeled me in and helped me make some important decisions. The time Raquel and I got to spend with her was confirmation that I made the right decisions and AEC is on the right path. This was a great moment in time for both Raquel and myself we hope you both enjoy and glean something from this conversation. Also, please excuse the obvious fan boying that was going on lol. --M.

We spoke with Moriah Alise about juggling her various roles as artist, gallerist, curator, and her experiences navigating the art world as a young black woman. We also got off topic a lot, but we had fun recording this and we hope you have fun listening. Peace --M

Our hosts introduce themselves, and let you know a bit more, but not that much more. Just listen... and then stay tuned for more. --M.