Foreground/Background with Noah Scalin

Sonya Clark is a Winifred L. Arms Professor of Art and Humanities at Amherst College in Massachusetts. Her work has been exhibited in over 450 museums and galleries across the globe and she is the recipient of multiple awards and residencies. And you may have seen her work featured in the New York Times, Sculpture, Art in America, Time Magazine, Los Angeles Times and many many others. In this hour long conversation we discuss: Navigating the complexity of humanity in the art world and its relation to marginalized communities.   Embracing different styles and methods in learning and teaching art. And so much more! Sonya's site: sonyaclark.com Sonya's IG: sysclark Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Noah-O is an innovative rapper and entrepreneur that has been a staple on the Virginia Hip Hop scene since his debut project Monument Avenue in 2014. He founded the Charged Up Entertainment record label and recently launched a flagship store in Richmond, Virginia. He's made appearances on Sway in The Morning and Hot 97 and was named one of Style Weekly's Top 40 Under 40. His latest release is the deeply personal album TRILLipino, which captures his experiences as a Filipino American growing up in San Francisco & Richmond, VA. In this hour long conversation we discuss Dissolving self-pressure to allow for creative experimentation Translating storytelling and poetry skills into a creative career And so much more! Noah-O's site: noah-o.com Noah-O's IG: @chargedupnoaho TRILLipino: Link to Album TRILLipino is Noah-O's most personal project to date. Original conceptualizing this album began in 2016. Noah wanted to create a body of work that would capture his experiences as a Filipino American growing up in San Francisco, CA & also Richmond, VA. Through having a desire to tell his own story he began to realize that the album to not only tells his family's story but also touches on the collective experience of the Filipino diaspora. Musically TRILLipino is a project that combines Noah's diverse influences From Bay Area Rap, Boom Bap to Lo Fi & Southern Hip Hop. Searching hi & lo to find a producer who could pull this together Noah met Suttahomz. A Brooklyn native who now resides in VA. Suttahomz is a seasoned veteran formerly of Roc Nation with production credits from Amerie to 2 Chainz. Through years of hard work, becoming friends and finding a cohesive sound, we now present "TRILLipino." Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jonathan is known for writing a Song-A-Day, which he has done every day since January 1st of 2009 - which means he is rapidly nearing 5,000 original songs. His songs have gone viral, gained him worldwide recognition and are now even available as NFTs. In this hour long conversation, we discuss the benefits of daily creative projects, what NFTs can offer artists, and so much more! Jonathan Mann's site: jonathanmann.net Jonathan Mann's IG: @jonathanmann Additional Links: Fun-A-Day As It Happens: Song A Day Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jennifer is the Pulitzer prize winning author of the novel A Visit from the Goon Squad, she also wrote Manhattan Beach, which won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and many other multi-award winning books. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Granta, McSweeney's, and The New York Times Magazine. And her new book The Candy House, a sibling novel to A Visit from the Goon Squad, came out from Scribner on April 5, 2022. In this hour long conversation we discuss: pursuing a career in writing, the process of publishing novels, and so much more! Jennifer Egan's site: jennifergan.com Jennifer Egan's IG: @jennifereganwriter Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Hamilton, AKA Ham, is a Richmond, Virginia based artist with a background in architecture and design. Ham is a prolific painter and muralist, who is well known for using his art as a tool for inspiration and healing in the community. In 2020, Ham founded the influential large-scale public art project: Mending Walls which was created to bring about healing through public art while adding to the conversation of Black Lives Matter. In this hour long conversation we discuss: The power of public art Shifting career paths And so much more! Hamilton Glass' site: whosham.com Hamilton Glass' IG: @hamglass Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Kate is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, NY. She is also an adjunct professor at New York University. Her work has appeared in Electric Literature, Catapult, Racked, Popula, and in SCRATCH: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living. She writes the fantastic substack newsletter Agents & Books about, you guessed it, literary agents and books. In this hour long conversation we discuss: What exactly a book publishing agent does (and why you might need one) As well as the reality of what it means to get a book published. And so much more! Kate McKean's site: morhaimliterary.com Kate McKean's substack: katemckean.substack.com Kate McKean's IG: @kate_mckean Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Freehand is an LA based multi-disciplined artist who's infamous for destroying coveted sneakers to make unique masks - a body of work stemming from a year long, daily project called MASK365 (inspired by own Skull-A-Day project!) Since 2010 he has made more than 200 one of a kind sneaker masks, working with brands like Nike, adidas, Puma, Cadillac, Converse and more. Freehand was also my very first podcast interviewee and I'm excited to have him back for the 2nd time to specifically talk about the world of NFTs. In this hour long conversation we discuss: - Navigating Non-fungible tokens as an artist - The pros and cons of this new digital space - and more! Freehand Profit's site: freehandprofit.com Freehand Profit's IG and Twitter: @freehandprofit NFT Twitter Thread HERE NFT Database HERE Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Michael-Birch is a fiber artist and fashion designer. Pierce has interned for Diane von Furstenberg, embroidered Christmas decorations for the Obama White House, and designed an exclusive collection for Levi's. They have performed their embroidered portraits at Oscar and Super Bowl events, Design/Miami, and SXSW, and worked with clients such as Visa, Target, Amazon, Delta, NBCUniversal, and Airbnb. And they have exhibited in numerous galleries and museums both domestically and abroad. In this hour long conversation we discuss: - Surviving as an artist during a pandemic - Collaborating with corporations - Dealing with scam inquiries - and more! Michael-Birch's site: michaelbirchpierce.com Michael-Birch's IG: @michaelbirch Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

For this very special episode I'm interviewing my own parents, Mim Golub and Chuck Scalin! Both Mim & Chuck are artists and art educators and were of course fundamental in my own foray into the art world. It's always a pleasure for me to hear the stories of their career arcs and I'm so glad to have captured this conversation in my studio earlier this year, before the Covid-19 Pandemic hit the United States. Thankfully both of my parents are healthy and continuing to stay safe through this unusual time. In this hour long conversation we discuss: growing up in immigrant households, being first-generation college graduates, sexism in the education system, creating art internationally, and more! Chuck's site: ChuckScalin.com Chuck's IG: @chuckscalin Mim's IG: @mimgolub Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Jesse is an internationally known artist whose goal has always been to translate his skewed perspective of the world onto paper, canvas, concrete or skin. He has been published in almost every tattoo magazine, has won a ton of awards for his unique use of color and even found his way onto the reality TV show Ink Master. He currently works in Richmond, Virginia where he runs his own studio called Loose Screw Tattoo. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: running a creative business, collaboration, tattoo art, reality TV, and more! This interview was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic so be sure to listen through our entire conversation to hear a follow-up with Jesse about the many things that happened to him since we talked earlier in the year (including multiple rounds of quarantine AND the birth of his first child!)... Jesse''s site: https://jessesmithtattoos.com/ Jesse's IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessesmithtattoos/ Jesse's FB: https://www.facebook.com/jessesmithtattoo Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Terry Border worked in the commercial photography industry for a dozen years before leaving it to follow more artistic ambitions. He began his world famous Bent Objects project in 2006 and since then he has published many, many books of his art He also speaks about and exhibits his work internationally and lives with his wife and cat in Indiana. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: Finding humor and inspiration in our current political climate, blogs and social media, working with everyday materials, and more! Also be sure to stay through the entire talk to hear a follow up conversation about how COVID-19 has impacted Terry and his work since our original conversation was recorded before the global pandemic had reached the United States. Terry's site: http://terryborder.com/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Kat Roma Greer is based in Hong Kong and works as an urban disruptor and curator of public art interventions for positive social change. She is the founder and artistic director of Micro Galleries, curator of Urban Nasty, and was named as one of Australia's 100 Women of Influence for 2015, for her work in the cultural sphere. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: The global impact of COVID-19, increasing the accessibility of art, the power of street art, and more! Kat's site: https://microgalleries.org/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax

Sarah Cameron Sunde is an interdisciplinary artist and director working at the intersection of performance, video and public art, including her project 36.5 /A Durational Performance with the Sea, which is an ongoing work spanning seven years and six continents. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: Finding your artistic direction, running a creative business, applying for grants, and more! Sarah's site: https://www.sarahcameronsunde.com/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Alfonso Pérez Acosta is a Colombian artist who received a Fine Arts Degree as well as a Masters in Education in Bogotá. Since 2007, he has been actively involved in art education as a teacher for elementary, middle and high school groups at various schools and non-profit organizations. He is now the Art Program Director with Sacred Heart Center in Richmond, VA. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: finding comfort in art making, teaching art, changing perspectives, and more! Alfonso on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrawingtable/ Noah on Patreon: https://patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Mica Scalin is an innovator in the use of art and media for community engagement and creative development. She also happens to be my sister! She was among the first producers hired by NBC Universal Digital Studios, she launched social media strategy at Showtime Networks and consulted on CBS Interactive marketing. She has produced documentary films, art exhibitions and cultural events including being one humans behind dOGUMENTA: America's First Art Show For Dogs. She is also co-author, with me, of the book Creative Sprint: Six 30-day Challenges to Jumpstart Your Creativity and she is the managing partner of our art and innovation consultancy Another Limited Rebellion. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: creative activism, pioneering digital media, strategizing a career plan, and more! Mica & Noah's company: https://www.anotherlimitedrebellion.com/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Ika Vantiani is a self-taught artist from Jakarta, Indonesia with an extensive communications background who now mostly works with what's available within her surroundings. Her work sparks conversations related to women, media, consumption and art in general. Apart from being an artist and crafter, she also curates and organizes art and culture events as a communication consultant. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: growing up in creative families, entrepreneurship, creating music, following your passions, the spirituality of creativity and more! Ika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vantiani/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

*Heads up, this episode has a lot of not safe for work language, so headphones on! Taraka Larson is most well known for the band Prince Rama, a collaborative, decade-long project made up of herself and sister, Nimai. Her visual art practice, an extension of her music, has garnered her opportunities to show internationally, including exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of Art, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, and Brooklyn Museum. Since Nimai's departure from the band, Taraka has recently released Rage In Peace a solo Prince Rama album as a farewell EP. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: growing up in creative families, entrepreneurship, creating music, following your passions, the spirituality of creativity and more! Taraka's website: https://www.princerama.com/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Rob Tarbell has been recognized for developing unique and unorthodox processes involving the indirect manipulation and exploitation of the inherent material properties of smoke and porcelain. Tarbell's work has been shown in numerous solo exhibitions and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Korea, China, and England. He is currently teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss art education, careers, burnout, networking and more! Rob's website: https://robtarbell.com/home.html Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Jenny Kendler is an interdisciplinary artist, environmental activist, naturalist and wild forager who lives in Chicago and various forests. Jenny holds an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as a BFA from The Maryland Institute College of Art. She currently helps run the artist residency ACRE and the art/research/activism initiative Deep Time Chicago. Jenny is also the first Artist-in-Residence with the Natural Resources Defense Council! Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. In this hour long conversation we discuss: protected knowledge, imposter, syndrome, finding your community, online platforms, and more! Jenny's website: https://jennykendler.com/ Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: https://soundcloud.com/jantr4x

Joe Seipel is a sculptor and conceptual artist who served as a Virginia Commonwealth University faculty member for over 40 years, including 17 years as chair of the sculpture department, 8 ½ years as the Senior Associate Dean of the School of the Arts. And in 2018 even returned from retirement to spend a year as the interim director of VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art (not to mention a two year stint as vice president at Savannah College of Art and Design). Now a professor emeritus, Joe has returned to a studio art practice. His work is monumental in scale and ranges from conceptually-based objects to multimedia pieces and robotics. His work has been shown internationally including exhibitions in New York City, Peru, Milan, Baltimore, and of course Richmond, Virginia. In this hour long conversation we discuss: fine art education, grad school, job opportunities, goals, retirement, and more! Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Music by Jantrax: https://soundcloud.com/jantr4x

Pallavi Sen is a multi-talented artist from Bombay, India who works with installation, printmaking, textiles, and intuitive movement. Pallavi has obtained an array of creative jobs in addition to receiving a handful of artist residencies and currently teaches as an Assistant Professor of Art at Williams College. Her recent art-making has focused on nature in the form of landscaping. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Pallavi Sen: https://www.hoophouse.org/ Pallavi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superfeministgirl/ Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

Matt Bilfield is self-described fastidious minimalist. He is an LA based artist who combines pointillism with wood dowels to create dynamic, dimensional images. His work has been internationally showcased in multiple galleries and when he's not fitting round pegs into round holes he makes on-air television graphics. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. Noah on Patreon: http://patreon.com/noahscalin Matt Bilfield: http://www.mattbilfield.com/ Music by Jantrax: https://soundcloud.com/jantr4x

On this episode I'm interviewing Eva Rocha. Eva is a multimedia artist from Brazil who's studied Theater, Cultural Studies, and Fine Art. she has an MFA in Kinetic Imaging at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work has been shown in museums internationally including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Eva also happens to be my neighbor! Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin Eva Rocha: http://evarocha.com/ Music by Jantrax: @jantr4x

On this episode I interview George Ferrandi, a Brooklyn based artist whose performative work focuses on experimental approaches to human imperfections. George currently teaches Sculpture and Performance Art at Pratt Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as at the Rhode Island School of Design and runs a small business which specializes in restoring statues at churches. Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. Noah on Patreon: patreon.com/noahscalin George Ferrandi: http://www.georgeferrandi.com/ Music by Jantrax: https://soundcloud.com/jantr4x

Foreground/Background is a conversation between working artists – pulling back the curtain on the real day-to-day efforts that go into making a living from our passions and the realities of dealing with the art word. On this episode I interview Gary Lockwood AKA Freehand Profit. This LA-based artist is internationally known for his work transforming highly sought after sneakers into one-of-a-kind masks! We first met years ago when he shared his Mask365 project, which was inspired by my own Skull-A-Day yearlong daily creativity project! In this interview we talk about our mutual experiences as working artists, attempting to make a living from our passions. Noah on Patreon: http://patreon.com/noahscalin Freehand Profit: http://freehandprofit.com Music: ProleteR https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ProleteR/Curses_From_The_Past/