MTR Podcasts

ABOUT Fells Point Cultivated CreationsCultivated Creations started as a house plant hobby gone wild. Founder Mike Holcomb always enjoyed gardening and became enraptured by the science of living terrariums, getting crafty with plants and putting them in his empty window storefront. One day the window ran out of space and we realized we could share these creations with the community that loved seeing them from afar. Partnering with local artist Alexander Madaus, they set out to create a space for the community to grow with the greenery.  Thus, Cultivated Creations was born. We love that this is a way to bring joy to others and brighten up the community and we want to continue to grow and help others learn how to grow both plants and their spirits each day.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Mentioned in this episode:Cultivated Creations' WebsiteSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email mtrthenetwork@gmail.com!Be sure to check out our other podcasts:Mastermind Team's Robcast - Mastermind Team's Robcast is an irreverent and hilarious podcast covering all things pop culture and weird news. Let's Watch It Again - Let's Watch It Again is a movie review podcast from MTR The Network.★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestCary Michael Robinson is the CEO and creative director of Artbae, The creative lifestyle brand made for those who desire to explore their divine-ly-inspired impulse to create! The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeArtbaeTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestChris Amendola is the Executive chef and owner at foraged. a hyper-seasonal eatery.  Foraged is a new take on farm-to-table. each item on the menu is comprised of local and seasonal ingredients. the concept is true to chef chris amendola's ethos in the kitchen, one that is deeply rooted in the woods.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.This episode is brought to you by a partnership with Station North Art's DistrictVote for Station North! USA Today nominated the Station North Arts District as one of the nation's 10 best creative and cultural hubs. Join us in voting once a day through July 4th. Find the link to vote in the episode description. This week, are excited to announce the return of Station North Summer Art Walks the final Fridays in July ‘spotlight on Charles North', and August ‘spotlight on Greenmount West' and September. Step into the artist studios, galleries, pop-ups, and performance spaces that make Station North  one of the 10 best Arts Districts in the country. July 29, August 26, and September 30. For more information, visit stationnorth.org. Station North Arts District is a proud program of the Central Baltimore Partnership.Mentioned in this episodeForaged EateryVote for Station NorthTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestThomasine Dolan Dow was born/raised in Baltimore (Parkville for those who know Baltimore). Moved to LA in the 80s with 2 friends. Pursued advertising career. Moved to NYC with same 2 friends and in '86 met a fashion designer at a party and that changed everything. My career in fashion started at Ralph Lauren, then Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, launched my own line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lemlem, Sperry. During that time Dolan Dow also worked in costuming on a Meryl Streep movie and deep dived into educating myself on Sustainability in fashion. Dolan Dow currently works for MII (Material Innovation Initiative) as a Fashion Design Specialist. MII's objective is to accelerate the development of sustainable materials used in fashion, auto and home industries. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeMaterial Innovation InitiativeTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestDr. Tiffany E. Barber is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar, curator, and critic whose writing and expert commentary has appeared in top-tier academic journals, popular media outlets, and award-winning documentaries. Her work, which spans abstraction, dance, fashion, feminism, and the ethics of representation, focuses on artists of the Black diaspora working in the United States and the broader Atlantic world. Her latest curatorial project, a virtual, multimedia exhibition for Google Arts and Culture, examines the value of Afrofuturism in times of crisis. Dr. Barber is Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Art History at the University of Delaware as well as curator-in-residence at the Delaware Contemporary. She has completed fellowships at ArtTable, the Delaware Art Museum, and the University of Virginia's Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies. During the 2021-2022 academic year, Dr. Barber will be a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Getty Research Institute where she will be completing her first book.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestSarah Magida is a practicing Life Coach, artist and Reiki Master. Under the name Firefly Life Coaching, Sarah works to serve artists and well, everyone! Firefly Life Coaching offers life coaching services one-on-one, Reiki, and monthly workshop for artists and non-artists, carefully planned programs to electrify the lives of artists and general Life Coaching. FLC aims to heal expectations faced growing up as a “different” kind of thinker. Artists have their own unique way of interpreting the world and even if they don't realize it on a conscious level they create art to facilitate their own healing and growth.  Coming from a background immersed in the arts having attended an arts high school, arts college as well as exhibiting nationally, at art fairs and galleries and created public art projects. Sarah sees it as my purpose to work to heal the inner child of artists that have learned to neglect play in their work, investigate and bring light humor to the limiting beliefs that can take hold in an arts community and loosen the ties that bind a creative from stepping into their beautiful art career.  Sarah feels artists are often neglecting an investment in themselves as individuals and lacking knowledge concerning self-care, healing blocks and deep inner workings of what it means to be an artist in this contemporary world. As a coach Sarah focuses on what thriving looks like to each individual she works with.  The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeFirefly Life CoachingTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestA native Wisconsinite, Elsa M. is proud to call Maryland “home” and has completely fallen in love with all the state has to offer!Prior to her move, Elsa was a TV Reporter/Anchor for ABC, 13 WHAM News, and co-host of the highest-rated morning show in the Rochester, NY market: “The Wake-Up Club” on 103.9 WDKX. She also was a reporter for WDRB, FOX 41 News in Louisville, KY, and R News in Rochester, NY. Upon moving to the DMV, Elsa co-created and co-hosted “The Intersection” - a live-streamed, studio-produced web show and podcast out of Washington, D.C. with her friend and fellow host Jeff Johnson of BET.Elsa has been honored numerous times throughout her career, receiving several awards and distinctions, including earning an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Spot News, three Emmy nominations for hosting, winning The National Press Foundation's “Why Journalism Matters” competition, and accepting The Ralph O. Nafziger Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for Excellence in Journalism within 10 years of graduation (GO BADGERS!). She was also named one of the “40 Ethiopians Under 40 Changing the World” by Addis Life Magazine, one of ‘her' Magazine's Top 10 Women to Watch, and one of The Democrat and Chronicle's Top Emerging African American Leaders.In her spare time, Elsa loves working out on her Peloton each morning, trying out new vegan restaurants and recipes, painting, reading, and catching up on - you guessed it - lifestyle TV Shows!The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeElsa M on WMARTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestTamao Nakayama was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to the U.S. when she was 25 years old. She is still deeply influenced by the Japanese aesthetic, and the belief that 'less is more'. She is an emerging artist with a minimalist abstract style. She currently resides in Virginia.When Tamao was young, the country of Japan was changing significantly. Even though Tokyo had been rebuilt after World War II, many areas were still undeveloped. There were a lot of small studios of traditional craftsmen in every neighborhood. The elementary school she went to was built for experimenting with new educational programs. The school was very innovative and creative in the country at the time, and her creativity blossomed there. She and her classmates created comic books, a SiFi film, and theater plays. She studied art and sculpted with paper at the after-school program. From 2001 to 2003, Tamao studied art and ceramic sculpture at Santa Rosa Junior College in northern California. In 2004, She studied glass, metal, and furniture design at Palomar College in southern California. She won scholarship awards from California College of Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Savannah College of Art and Design to study at these schools. However, Tamao felt that she needed to experience how art was implemented in real life and to explore new technologies and materials in the design fields. She moved to Los Angeles and worked for furniture designers, interior designers and architects.In Oct. 2020, Tamao moved from California to Virginia because of Pandemic. During her moving processes, she discovered six of her sculptures were stolen from her storage in San Diego. Unfortunately, the thieves were never caught and these pieces were never found. Tamao started to create from scratch in a garage in Virginia. Originally she was planning to pick up where she left off 17 years ago, to work on ceramic sculpture. However, knowing that the pandemic would prevent her from having access to a kiln for a while, she tried to create sculptures with other materials like concrete. Unfortunately, the temperature in the garage for Virginia winter was too cold for concrete to cure. Finally, she concluded that the only way to continue being creative was to stay inside and paint. In Oct. 2021, Tamao's painting got selected for the juried group exhibition ‘Hypothesis' and was exhibited at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, VA. Tamao is new in art, yet she has numerous unique experiences in design, culture and life. This difficult time in 2020 made her explore 2-dimensional art. She currently works on painting and sculpture using various materials at her studio in Woodbridge, VA.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeTamao Nakayama's WebsiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestsShane Prada came to Baltimore in 2004 as a Teach For America corps member. After receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University in 2006 and completing her TFA tenure, she helped start one of the first charter schools in Baltimore city. In 2010, Shane began taking evening classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art's Jewelry Center, then a continuing studies program. She fell in love with art jewelry and metalsmithing and the community fostered by the Jewelry Center. In the fall of 2012, MICA announced that it would discontinue the 22-year old Jewelry Center program in 2014. In the spring of 2013, a leadership team comprised of the core faculty and three students from the program was formed. Shane took the lead as the team created a new organization that would continue the legacy of the MICA Jewelry Center, the Baltimore Jewelry Center. In her role as director of the BJC, Shane oversees the administration and strategic plan of the organizations, steers the programming, raises funds through grant writing and fundraisers, manages the organization's finances, and manages community outreach. In her spare time, Shane is an avid equestrian, training and competing in the Olympic sport of eventing.Elliot Keely is an artist and metalsmith from Raleigh, North Carolina. Elliot completed my BFA with a concentration in metalsmithing and jewelry design from Appalachian State University. From 2017-2019, Elliot participated in the two year Core Fellowship at Penland School of Craft. Elliot  explores different processes, often incorporating ceramics, drawing, painting, and collage into my work, while maintaining and specializing a practice in metal. Elliot is currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. where he works to manage the Baltimore Jewelry Center, a non-profit jewelry educational space. About the Baltimore Jewelry CenterThe Baltimore Jewelry Center is an educational nonprofit building a vibrant creative community for the study and practice of metalsmithing and art jewelry. We educate and inspire new and established artists, as well as promote metalsmithing and art jewelry to the general public through exhibitions, community and educational outreach.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.The Station North Arts & Entertainment Interview Series is supported by the Station North Art's District & Central Baltimore Partnership.Mentioned in this episodeBaltimore Jewelry CenterTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestSteph Littlebird is a Kalapuyan visual artist, professional writer, and curator from Portland, Oregon. She is the 2020 AICAD-NOAA National Fellowship recipient, ‘20 Caldera Artist in Residence, 2019 Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) project grant awardee, and a three-time Art + Sci Initiative recipient. Fogel's work revolves around her Indigenous heritage and contemporary native issues. She has been featured by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Bee Project, and at World Environment Day.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeSteph Littlebird's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestGyna Verduzco is a dynamic, versatile musueum adventurer who craves the plausibility of what a museum can be. In 2020 Gyna embarked on my museum journey and had the amazing privilege of working at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art where she helped develop an online database of over 300 Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Gyna's background includes 3D model , photograph, graphic design, and photogrammetry The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Perryn's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestAndy Cook is the founder and Executive Director of Made In Baltimore.  After a decade spent telling stories of progress and innovation as a photojournalist in Baltimore and New Orleans, Andy shifted focus to pursue a career in urban planning. As an Environmental Planner at the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Andy helped launch Waste-To-Wealth, a program capturing economic value from sustainable waste diversion.  Baltimore City Rec & Parks' Camp Small Zero Waste Initiative, Baltimore City Department of Public Works' Grow Centers, and Baltimore Office of Sustainability's Food Waste Initiative are all programs Andy piloted during that time.A native of Baltimore County, Andy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cooper Union, and a Master of City Planning from MIT.  In 2018 he was recognized as one of Baltimore Business Journal's 40 Under 40. He lives in the Remington neighborhood.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeMade in BaltimoreTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestMister Kokedama is a Baltimore-based business that creates unique handcrafted bonsai through the process of wrapping and binding different varieties of plants in mosses. We cultivate an environment in which we emphasize one's connection with nature through teaching the delicate and intimate process of making and caring for the kokedama. Our goal is to raise environmental awareness and participate in conversations concerning climate change. Mister Kokedama creates zero waste and the entirety of the product is 100% natural and biodegradable. We also support local nurseries and garden centers in the Greater Baltimore area that provide a wide range of high-quality tropicals to succulents and everything in between.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeMr KokedamaPhoto credit  (Kenneth K. Lam)To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestTheresa-Xuan Thanh Bui, is a first-generation Vietnamese-American pursuing a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Fiber, a minor in Art History, and a concentration in Curatorial Studies and Creative Writing from the Maryland Institute College of Art. They admire the beauty in making and equally prioritize the visceral love and empowerment in listening and valuing others. Thus, they turn to curation as a challenge to better critique themselves and their community. They aspire to tastefully dismantle the binding constructs of the art institution in order to establish space for the liminal, the radical, the exquisite, the unseen, the more.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeLast Resort Artist RetreatTheresa's website Photo credit Joseph BuiTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestMyla Robinson is a Baltimore County based small business owner. They run a small online earring shop out of their home, making pieces out of real flowers and botanicals by preserving them in resin.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeMyla's WebsiteImage courtest of Baltimore SunTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestPerryn Morris is a makeup artist based in the DMV area. Picking up the artform as a byproduct of graphic design, Perryn's work has graced the pages of Girl's Life Magazine, Harper's Bazaar Vietnam, Elle Magazine Bulgaria and Paper Magazine. Perryn's love for makeup came from its ability to transform, even in the smallest measures. From grand editorial looks, to simple everyday adjustments, Perryn seeks to create a space where those who wish to, can use makeup as a means of self-expression. His inspiration comes from the works of Serge Lutens, Danessa Myricks, Nicka Kislyak, Roshar, Pat McGrath, and many others. Fostered by the mentorship of Jamaya Moore, Sonia Roselli, Latia Curtis, and DeShawn Hatcher, he seeks to grow his presence within the global fashion stage.  The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Perryn's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestCJay Philip, an award winning actress/director/choreographer is Artistic Director of Dance & Bmore, a multidisciplinary Baltimore based ensemble presenting a unique fusion of movement, music, theatrics and spoken-word in their socially conscious and interactive works. Dance & Bmore also designs innovative multigenerational programs that seek to stimulate the imagination and strengthen relationships while building a sense of community and well being. The FazaFam Family Jam focuses on strengthening families though music, movement, and play, Forever Fit & Fun uses memory-based movement, prompts and storytelling to capture the memories of seniors citizens and encapsulate them in spoken-word, music and dance. Before moving to Baltimore, CJay began her career with the Maude Baum Modern Dance company and Burundi African Dance in upstate New York. She made her Broadway debut in Big the Musical, appeared on in Street Corner Symphony, on Broadway and was Dance Captain for Hairspray on Broadway. She has toured as Lorrell in Dreamgirls and Paulette in Legally Blonde. CJay has written four works for the stage including a musical adaptation of Carmen which enjoyed a sold-out European run and is being revised for a Baltimore premiere.She has directed and choreographed hundreds of musicals and performance events around the world including: The Who's Tommy, Once on This Island, Ragtime, Marvin's Trial, the Philadelphia Presidential Summit, the Emmy Award–winning NBC broadcast of the McDonalds Gospel Fest, the Baltimore African American Festival, WOW (Women of the World) Festival at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and an Upfront for Essences Magazine.As an arts educator she's been program director for the HOPE for kids School of the Arts in NYC and the Baltimore Story Tree Gang addressing social issues through comic storytelling and community talk-backs lead by teens. CJay was founding director of the Children's Theater Production Company at the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts. She teaches Interdisciplinary Collaboration at Baltimore School for the Arts and Musical Theater at Baltimore Centerstage. CJay was host and producer of online series The Baltimore Arts Scene and Dance & Bmore Live. CJay is the recipient of a Baker Artist b-grant, a Baltimore Social Innovators Award, Dance Break NYC Award and a Champion of Courage Award. She is a Robert W Deutsch Fellow and a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.The Station North Arts & Entertainment Interview Series is supported by the Station North Art's District & Central Baltimore Partnership.Mentioned in this episodeDance & BmoreDownload mp3Subscribe to my RSS feed★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestTina is a genderful interdisciplinary artist working in theatre and film. Their work often asks us to challenge our perception of Black history and embrace Black joy as a pivotal tool in the disruption of white supremacy. They're constantly inspired by the resilience of Black queer people and my hometown of Baltimore, MD. Tina currently serves as an ensemble member and the Director of Artistic and Community Partnerships at Single Carrot Theatre. As well as a core creator for Submersive Productions. Their film Breathing Black, a documentary that follows nine Black Baltimoreans as they find joy amidst the global COVID-19 Pandemic and a summer of reckoning with the continued genocide of the Black body is an official selection of the Columbia film festival and the Indianapolis Black Documentary film festival.About Single Carrot Theatre Single Carrot Theatre is an ensemble theatre company in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The Company was founded in 2005 by students from the University of Colorado at Boulder. The company selected Baltimore, MD as the city to locate their theatre after a nationwide city search.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeSingle Carrot Theatre★ Support this podcast ★

Imtiaz Patel is the CEO of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, parent company of the local news startup The Baltimore Banner.Imtiaz is a former executive with Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal where he led circulation strategy and served as GM of key business verticals. Previously, Imtiaz was a consultant with Kurt Salmon Associates and Deloitte focused on growth strategy and business turnarounds. Most recently, Imtiaz advised several news organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Gannett and USA Today, and also led the efforts to acquire The Baltimore Sun and Tribune Publishing. Imtiaz holds a B.Sc. in Economics, Accounting & Finance from The London School of Economics, as well as an MBA from Columbia Business School.The Truth In This Art PodcastThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeThe Baltimore BannerTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestShelonda Stokes is greiBO's influential leader and responsible for the development of its global brand and successful position in the marketplace. Known throughout the industry as a strategic and creative visionary with a very strong business acumen, she is the President and CEO of greiBO entertainment.This sought-after thought leader and businesswoman is the recipient of over 75 community related awards and numerous professional awards such as Innovator of the Year and Maryland's Top 100 Women. She is on speed dial and key advisor for an elite list of Fortune 100 CEO's, elected officials, and other dignitaries. Greibo's growing impressive client list is the result of her management and greiBO's culture of engaging people to look, listen and believe. Just ask Under Armour, Hewlett Packard, Smithsonian, the State of Maryland and Visit Baltimore to name a few.Perhaps best known in production and entertainment circles for her expertise, Shelonda is the executive producer of the Baltimore's African American Festival, This event has broken record attendance of 500,000 over its annual weekend.Shelonda is a graduate of Morgan State University's Electrical Engineering program and currently serves as co-chair of The LEADERship, a program of the Greater Baltimore Committee.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeThe Downtown Partnership of Baltimore is your connection to everything that's happening in Maryland's largest business center, cultural district, and fastest-growing neighborhoods.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

Every Wednesday in June & July The Truth In This Art & Station North Arts District are partnering to spotlight a sample of district-based artists to share more about their work, future projects, and how they make Station North a creative hub.With this podcast, Station North is celebrating its 20th year anniversary and its the recent re-designation as an arts district. Located in the heart of Baltimore, Station North was the first area in Baltimore to receive the State designation as an Arts & Entertainment District in 2002. Spanning the neighborhoods of Charles North, Greenmount West, and Barclay, Station North is a diverse collection of artist live-work spaces, galleries, rowhomes, and businesses, all just steps away from Penn Station, Mount Vernon, Charles Village, the Maryland Institute College of Art, the University of Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins University. There are now 22 Arts & Entertainment Districts in Maryland, and similar programs in dozens of states. Station North continues to serve as a national model for Arts & Entertainment Districts. ★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestElena Fox is a Baltimore-based illustrator, comic book artist/writer, musician, cake decorator and cat enthusiast. She has done album artwork for Satan's Pilgrims, The Electric Mess, Freezing Hands and The Resonars, as well as a lot of gig posters and t-shirt designs for bands, including Surfer Blood, Dressy Bessy, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and David Leibe Hart.Cake art and design was formerly her day job for over a decade where she worked at Baltimore's Charm City Cakes and was on the Food Network's reality show “Ace of Cakes” (2006-2010), sculpting and painting bizarro cakes. She is currently reprising her role making said wacky sugar creations on Food Network's new series “Duff Takes the Cake.” Elena is the bass player/backing vocalist of PLRLS (a new wave/post punk/gonzo party rock band), guitarist/vocalist of Candy Smokes (trashy garage trio made up of teenage rats that were born to have a good time at all costs), and bass player/backing vocalist of Concrete City (snarky indie rock for refined punks). She published her first solo comic book in 2019 called Dramatic Paws Vol.1- a psychedelic look at her daily reality. She is currently writing Dramatic Paws Vol.2, out fall 2020.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeElena's InstagramTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestDerek Cooper is an artist, an educator, and actor who has inspired thousands of kids and families to play, learn and explore their interests, emotions and the world around them through his work at Port Discovery Children's Museum. Derek is a talented and experienced actor, having performed in community theater shows since he was 14. In addition, Derek researches, creates, trains staff members, performs, and evaluates activities and programs offered at Port Discovery. His story times, music times and theater programs at Port Discovery are lively, imaginative and fun – and always a fan favorite! Derek is passionate about increasing people's exposure and access to fine arts – and he's especially passionate about making that possible for children. Derek enjoys seeing other people smile and laugh – and loves to see the stars at night. He thinks storytelling – no matter what form or style – is pure magic because it has the power to reach people emotionally and offer a window into other perspectives. Derek holds a B.A. in Theatre from Lynchburg College.  The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodePort DiscoveryTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Support my podcast here. ★ Support this podcast ★

About Sistah Scifi: Started on February 2, 2019, Sistah Scifi is a strong niche scifi brand with over 11K engaged Instagram followers located throughout the US and Canada, 8K Facebook followers and an email list of over 3K. Sistah Scifi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah  Magazine, BookRiot, Buzzfeed,  VentureBeat, and Facebook's Boost My Business. Sistah Scifi's number one product is the Sistah Scifi Author list shirt, and major clients include the Museum of Popular Culture (Seattle), Oakland Museum of California, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sistah Scifi has hosted author interviews with John Jennings, NK Jemisin, LL McKinney, Jewelle Gomez, and Nisi Shawl to name a few. Sistah Scifi has developed strong collaborations with major international publishers such as Hachette/Orbit, Akashic, Abrams, Macmillan/Tor.com, and Simon and Schuster.  About the founder: Isis Asare is a serial cultural entrepreneur.  One of her earliest ventures was Sistah Sinema. Asare started Sistah Sinema in her living room and expanded it to 20 cities across the US and internationally and a streaming partnership with indieflix.com within five years while working full-time at companies such as Microsoft, Shutterfly, and Brightroll. She successfully exited Sistah Sinema by selling it to community investors in 2015.  Asare also has over a decade of finance and business development experience at Fortune 500 companies. Before starting Sistah Scifi, Isis Asare worked in Vendor Management and Business Development at Amazon, finance at Sears, T-Mobile, and Microsoft. She earned a joint MBA/MPP from Columbia Business School and Harvard University and a BA from Stanford University.  Asare resides in Oakland, CA and identifies as a queer, Ghanaian-American sapiophile. To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeSistah ScifiTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

Bria Sterling-Wilson is in conversation with Rob Lee on The Truth In This Art.Through the utilization of magazine clippings, newspaper, and fabric I am recontextualizing found materials to confront how the African American man and woman is represented and perceived in society. In these works, I present individuals juxtaposed with contrasting hair, facial features, body parts, environments, and clothing. My collages ascribe to the multifaceted African diaspora by visually depicting cultural appropriation, race, police brutality, stereotypes, identity, and the idealized standards of beauty placed upon women of color. The act of cutting and manipulating allows me to have control to tell our story by expressing the oppressive nature and historical narratives associated with the black community. The representation of individuals of color has been polluted for centuries with discriminatory imagery. I challenge those reactionary views and ideals with my contemporary collages. The black experience is permeated with unparalleled allure, struggle, solidarity, and culture which I explore through my creative practice.Truth in this Art is a storytelling series hosted by cultural curator Rob Lee. Truth In This Art documents the vibrancy and development of arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeBria Sterling-Wilson's websiteDownload mp3Subscribe to our RSS feed★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestNick McKernan is a Baltimore-based artist whose path into animation can be summed up as one long, inevitable surprise. Originally from Oregon, he performed as a stage actor, musician, and filmmaker between various hospitality and education jobs before discovering an intense love for animation. In 2017, he applied to the Maryland Institute College of Art. In 2021, he received his BFA in Animation. Nick's work has been described as psychedelically-charged, exploring themes of gender fluidity, systemic inequality, and communal love, and has screened domestically and internationally. He currently works as an Animator + Editor at LAI Video in Washington DC, and lives in Baltimore, MD.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeNick's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestFor over a decade, Philadelphia artist and Parsons alumni M.K Komins has been passionately committed to the pursuit of creative excellence. Their work uses lush, dreamy realism and bold, hyper-saturated color to explore the juxtaposition between the glamorous empowerment of identity and the fight for human acceptance. M.K. uses a variety of mediums like traditional acrylics and oils, and newer digital art. In some cases, working in an experimental image making technique that involves painting broad, digital color, printing on canvas or giclee, then striping and manipulating the pigment with chemicals such as acetone to create tonal planes. They then build back detail with layers of traditional paint mediums like acrylics and oils. The process is a practical application of their quest to explore and expose empathy; in order to rebuild a more honest construct of humanity, we must first be willing to destroy, re-approach, and rebuild our perspective.With a vast and diverse range of skills, M.K.'s client roster includes work with companies such as Titmouse Animation and Universal Studios, as well as large-scale creative collaborations with companies like Lord & Taylor and The Special Olympics.Their work has been highlighted online by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, Hi Fructose, Creative Debuts, Create! Magazine, and can be found in print in Pikchur Magazine, Brut Magazine, Create! Magazine, and Creative Bloch. M.K.'s art has been shown and sold in galleries spanning from Los Angeles to London.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeCamila's WebsiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestDiana Carla Rowe is a Contemporary Artist based in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Austin, Texas  Rowe's parent's migration from Jamaica to New York City inspired her move to Brooklyn, New York in. She currently works and develops paintings and illustration projects in her Greenpoint studio. She has created work for Neiman Marcus, Early Majority, and Home Goods. Her work can be described as surrealist automatism as well as mixed media abstractions.There is a repetitive nature that carries through her work representing the passing faces of those around her.  Her work scales from 30 in x 30 in to 120 in x 120 in. Her first solo exhibition “Much More Than Madness” is on from July 1st, 2022- Sept 2022 at The Nka Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Diana Carla Rowe's StoreImage Creditsphotograhers : Vincent K Rutherford Yekaterina Gyadu Treysaun McgeachyTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestScott Everett, Multi-disciplinary creative based in Detroit, Michigan, an illustrator and small business owner of the nostalgic brand - WessonArt. A custom sticker & printshop whose focus is to celebrate the past in the present.  The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeScott's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestShady Haze is quite simply one of the most influential, well-regarded, and all-around versatile Content Creator and Cosplayer from Northern Virginia. She is known for her unique take on cosplaying her favorite male characters like; Superboy, Cyclops, Poe Dameron, Aladdin, and Danny Phantom.For Shady, art and all things geek has always been a heavy influence in her daily life, with collecting comics and figurines when she was six years old and then cosplaying today. Since the start of her Cosplay journey, she has gained multiple skills in crafting cosplays, making armor builds, and creating social media & creative video content.Shady is proud of being an LGBTQIA+ Asian American woman! She has developed herself as a brand and an extension of “Shady Squad ” into a community for creations, collaborations, and connections, which houses meet-ups, photoshoots, and even virtual events during the pandemic. Shady Haze has been featured in multiple magazine issues like Metro Weekly, Cosplay Alliance, Cosplay Zine & Creative Cosplays Magazine. She's an all-around badass social media creator who lives by her motto, which is “I Aspire to Inspire.” Shady Haze loves bringing her favorite characters to life in her own way.About Awesome ConAwesome Con is an annual pop culture convention in Washington, D.C. The event takes place in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Awesome Con debuted at the center in 2013. After a successful start, the annual event has become one of the largest fan conventions on the East Coast of the United States.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeShady Haze's Instagram Awesome ConTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestNatasha Magino, co-founder, and Jasmin Dixon. Editor & Social Media Manager, of The Vibe Room.As residents of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) area, we are challenged by this monotony as well. One day when Natasha Magino and Isabel Yu sat down to catch up, they realized they were depleted from their daily 9-5 routine. They began to discuss a need for young DMV residents to have a space where creatives can connect and explore the community around them. We saw a chasm between talented local creatives who wanted to share their work and people looking for unique and accessible experiences in the area who didn't know where to start.​Enter: The Vibe Room. With our combined marketing, design, and editing talents, we've created the space that the DMV needs. The Vibe Room is a publication that celebrates creatives and creative spaces doing exciting things with fashion, music, food, art, and culture in the DMV. Through our quarterly magazine issues and networking events, we provide a space to watch for up and coming artists and entrepreneurs making our community more unique.​We are working to build a network of creatives and artists while bringing cultural accessibility to you, our beautiful readers. Welcome to The Vibe Room.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeCheck out The Vibe RoomTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestCamila Leão is a Brazilian artist who specializes in illustration and graphic design. Before moving to Baltimore, she began her career working with fine artists, musicians, and graphic design agencies. Her work features vibrant colors, mixed textures, and fluid elements. Most recently, she was featured in Baltimore Magazine and designed the artwork for the largest sculpture in the city of Essex, Maryland. Camila's art depicts her connection to the surrounding nature and world, as is inspired by her South American origins. Her work is featured on various surfaces, including canvases and street/city structures, but she especially enjoys working with digital formats. Previous clients include Microsoft, Xbox, Passport Scotch, nonprofits, artists, and many small businesses. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeCamila's Website To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestRosy Sunshine Galvan is a Dominican-American artist from the pre-gentrified, Lower East Side of Manhattan, residing in Baltimore. Her art is a strange and awkward, yet beautiful meeting of graffiti, folk art, Caribbean vibes, direct conversations and healing. Rosy is a big fan of artist Yayoi Kusama.In the series, Ancestral Vessels of Feminist Resistance, Rosy Sunshine creates vibrant paintings of survival. Her color-filled goddesses explore the power to reclaim the physical realm and thrive after acts of violence and explores using color vibrations, patterns, and tactile paintings to heal trauma and anxiety.Photo credit | Lyndon CudlitzThe Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestHeidi Klotzman is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment, LLC (HNS), a company recognized for its excellence in marketing businesses and special events and booking live music and DJ talent. Her creative direction of HNS has become synonymous with Baltimore's events and promotion culture. She has cultivated tens of thousands of professional subscribers into her entertainment guide and advises them on what to do.Klotzman has been acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Professionals in the Baltimore event field by Baltimore Magazine's Power Issue, The Queen of Clubs by The Baltimore Sun, a Top Professional Under 35 by b newspaper and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a Rising Star by Baltimore Business Journal and Living Classrooms Foundation, an Emerging Leader by The United Way of Central Maryland, a Very Important Professional Under 40 and Leading Woman by The Daily Record, a Woman of Power by E Media, a Woman of The Year nominee by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a Spirited Woman Giving Back winner, a Philanthropik Philanthropy award winner, a Community Game-changer by Cre-a-TV, and nominated as one of the Largest Contributors to the Local Music Scene by the Maryland Music Awards. She's also been interviewed by Medium, Baltimore Style Magazine, and Jmore Magazine.Klotzman has appeared on the ABC2 Midday Maryland show as an ongoing Events Contributor, WCBM Radio for Women Talk Live, Baltimore CityBizList as a featured CEO, KHZTV Radio with Gina Geppi Social Scene, Port Covington for The Future of Charm City and Deep Dive panels, her alma mater Roland Park Country School on the young women's entrepreneurial and diversity panels, her alma mater Goucher College on the Subject of Leadership talk, the Media and Marketing panel at Baltimore Next Media Web Festival, Motor House for the Women In the Industry panel, the Baltimore Music Conference for the Women in Entertainment Panel, the Successful Revolution Conference panel, and Maryland's New Directions to share her experience as an inspirational entrepreneur. She has also contributed as a writer to Wedding411 Magazine and Mobtown Music Guide and published a book of poetry entitled Circadian RhythmThe Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestElise Richard is a fashion blogger originally from Lafayette, Louisanna and now residing in Baltimore. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeCaturday Style BlogTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestAngeline Murphy is a Austin,Texas based model specializing in print and online shoot. Murphy shares her thoughts on the modeling industry, experiences as a alternative models and how a positive outlook helps us work.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeAngie's instagramTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestChristopher learned the art of measuring & design while living in London, a city that had a profound effect on his life. While immersed in the English culture, he absorbed the sensibilities of some of the world's best clothiers while being trained in the skills he would need to execute his own vision of the classic English style. During his time in London, Christopher would frequently visit Saville Row and Jermyn Street to observe and gather inspiration. The end result was a new approach to men's clothing that blends European style and fit with a modern attention to detail, clean, understated lines, and comfort. This formula produces fashionable, fitted and comfortable clothing that you will love wearing.Christopher Schafer Clothier was designed to give clients the best and most unique experience when designing custom clothing. Founded in 2010 by Christopher Schafer, we provide our clients with both the best customer experience and the finest options in the world. We take pride in our work and feel that every garment we create is a direct representation of our brand. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeChristopher Schafer ClothierTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestHenrietta Stack$ is public relations and media finesser | your favorite awkward DJ | vibe checker.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeSoundcloudTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guest Scottie B - co-founder of the all-important Baltimore club label Unruly Records - was one of firm facilitators of the rise of Baltimore Club as we know it today.About Unruly RecordsSince 1994 Unruly Records, owned and operated by Baltimore's legendary DJ's Scottie B. and Shawn Caesar, has been hailed as the home of Baltimore Club. People around the globe have asked the question: WHAT IS BALTIMORE CLUB? It is the brand of Baltimore, the foundation of club, combined with the element, art and passion of music is what drives the genre known as Baltimore club music.Since it's inception, Unruly has created other lanes in deep house and hip hop. Be on the lookout for the release of many early releases in all of the genres.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeUnruly RecordsTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestJune is a Baltimore native, published poet, filmmaker, performer, dancer, arts educator, and author of Paper Trails of the Undying. In 2020, she was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as Best Poet of Baltimore. Her directorial debut, A Black Girl's Country, featured in national and international film festivals and was recently acquired by the Baltimore Museum of Art as a part of their permanent collection. Nia serves her community as an arts educator, teaching dance, film, and creative writing to Baltimore youth. Her most recent film, The Unveiling of God / a love letter to my forefathers made its premiere in Baltimore, MD in October 2021. The film illustrates Black men in the community through moving portraits, poetry, dance, and music. June is a proud member of the Baltimore community and it shows at the center of her work.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeWebsiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestJoe Tropea has served as MCHC's Curator of Films and Photographs since 2012. He creates exhibitions and exhibition videos, writes for the organization's underbelly blog, which he co-founded in 2012, and manages the Imaging Services department and MCHC's digital projects. He started at MCHC in 2005, worked part time in the Special Collections department, and earned an MA in Public History from UMBC. In 2015 he co-founded the Preserve the Baltimore Uprising Archive, a digital repository that seeks to preserve and make accessible materials related to the killing of Freddie Gray and related subsequent events in Baltimore City. Joe is the co-director of the award-winning 2013 documentary Hit & Stay and the director of 2018's Sickies Making Films. He is also a collective member/owner of Beyond Video, a Baltimore based not-for-profit video store.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeJoe's IMdBTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestRon Cassie is a senior editor at Baltimore magazine, winning national magazine awards for his work around climate change, the opioid epidemic, and the death of Freddie Gray. He has been both a Folio and City Regional Magazine Association writer of the year finalist. His co-written story on police surveillance was selected for the Pulitzer Center's 2021 Year in Review. Other work has appeared in The Best of American Sports Writing, Newsweek, CityLab, Huffington Post, Grist, The New York Daily News, City Paper, and Urbanite, where he served as editor-in-chief. He is pursuing a doctorate degree at Georgetown and has taught writing at several Baltimore-area colleges. His first book, If You Love Baltimore, It Will Love you Back, a collection of short nonfiction stories, was published in 2020. Prior to becoming a journalist, he swung a hammer, rode a bike, and poured drinks for a living.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeBaltimore MagazineTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestKeona Tranby is the director of marketing and communications for the American Craft Council. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas with her degree in business administration and entrepreneurship. She started a print magazine in college that led to an opportunity to work for a startup in San Francisco and brought her out to Venice, California, where she worked with fashion designers, photographers, and models. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, interior decorating, hosting events, gardening, and finding pieces to fix up at thrift stores. About the American Craft CouncilThe American Craft Council is a national nonprofit organization that connects and galvanizes diverse craft communities and traditions to advance craft's impact in contemporary American life and to keep craft artists and the community connected, inspired, and thriving.Mentioned in this episodeAmerican Craft Made May 2022The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeBaltimore MagazineTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestOriginally from Baltimore, DJ-SUN is an open format dj/producer who works on the stage, in the club and in the studios across the country. SUN spins in many different settings from dance clubs, to concert venues, private events, radio and even on TV shows.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeDJ Sun's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestOlethia Padilla is a Maryland based model. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestJae Jin is an independent global recording artist, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor (SAG-AFTRA), & storyteller. He has self-released 3 albums of original music for which he has received GRAMMY consideration, numerous accolades, and songwriting awards (including winning the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award and 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition). He has performed nearly 600 concerts in 132 cities globally. Jae is also the recipient of a prestigious Creator Award through WeWork for his original music & powerful life story and gave his first TEDx talk in 2020. The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeJae Jin's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestAn artistic force in the broadest and most creative sense of the word, Darin Atwater's career has encompassed the roles of composer, conductor, pianist, record producer, artist, arranger, film composer, vocalist, entrepreneur, educator, and arts advocate. As a master inventor of musical hybrids, he has blended American pop, soul, Hip Hop, jazz, classical, and gospel music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performance, radio, and television--literally reinventing the symphony orchestra in America.Born in Washington, D.C., Atwater made his orchestral debut as both composer and pianist in May 1995 with the National Symphony Orchestra performing his own Piano Concerto. The following year the National Symphony and the National Cathedral Choral Arts Society premiered his Proclamations. In 1997 he accompanied Kathleen Battle and the NSO for the re-opening of the Kennedy Center Concert Hall along with a performance that summer with Jennifer Holiday and the NSO for the PBS national broadcast of A Capitol Fourth. engagements with major orchestras, In Performance at The White House, European tour, and world premieres of his numerous compositions followed. As a guest conductor he has appeared with the Baltimore Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, M phis Brass, and the Columbus Symphony. Atwater appears regularly with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis as both guest conductor and composer. From 20042007 Atwater served as Composer-in-Residence with the Baltimore Symphony. This collaboration produced many evening length works that have become staples in the repertoire. Among th are Song in a Strange Land, Evolution of a People, Paint Factory, Southern Folk Sketches, God's Trombones, and a ballet, Ghetto Safari. As solo artist, Atwater presented annually for the Steinway Series presented by the Smithsonian Museum of American Art. He was vocalist, pianist, and arranger with the U.S. Air Force Band for America's Veterans; A Musical Salute on PBS. Most recently, Atwater performed a solo piano recital for the grand opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the first artist to perform in the Oprah Winfrey Theatre.In 2000, Atwater founded Soulful Symphony, an 85 member orchestra with vocals made up of mostly African American and Latino musicians. After 10 wildly successful seasons of sell-outemperformances in a joint venture with the Baltimore Symphony, Soulful Symphony entered into a historic partnership with Broadway Across America. Soulful Symphony delivered another three seasons of sold outemperformances at the Hippodrome Theatre before a triumphant return to the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to celebrate 15 yearstaking an entire culture and setting it to music. The 2009 my Award(r)winning Soulful Symphony with Darin Atwater is one of the longest running pledge specials, airing currently nationwide on PBS/APT.Atwater r ains a strong advocate for Arts, Culture, and Music Education. He served on the board of Maryland Citizens for the Arts, testifying before the House and Senate for state and national funding. Through his work with Soulful Symphony, Atwater has lectured and spoken to countless schools along with hosting open rehearsals that has accompanied every concert since the inception of the organization.The critics' praise has been unanimous: The New York Times described him as composer with a muscular imagination. The Baltimore Sun wrote, Atwater has an uncommon ear for instrumental coloring and the urban beat. The Philadelphia Inquirer writes, Atwater has created a musical antidote for the malaise gripping classical music and is a unifying vessel for a dozen or so genres of music in the commercial and art realms The Washington Post adds, From the first few chords, his music sets itself apart, otional and riveting. Among his many honors and recognitions, NBC named him in The Grio 100: History Makers in the Making. Ebony magazine dubbed him one of the 30 Leaders of the Future, and the Baltimore Business Journal placed him on their exclusive 40 under 40 list. Atwater received The Prestige Award by the State of Maryland foremindividuals who bring prominence to the region along with Legends and Pioneers Award by The Afro American Newspaper and The Vision Award from Maryland Public Television. He was profiled on an ABC special for Entertainment Studios We are the Dream following President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and the late Ted Kennedy.Along withemexpanding the cultural footprint of Soulful Symphony, He is scoring two feature films along with recording his debut album with a label releaseemscheduled for the summer of 2017. 2016-2017 seasonThe Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeDarin Atwater - Kennedy CenterTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestPhilip is an artist and photographer born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He's been practicing photography since he first picked up a Polaroid when he was nine years old. Philip's love for his city and community inspires his creative practice and his ultimate goal is to capture the true essence of everyone that he photographs. The more he learns about photography as a form of art, the more he wants to create innovative, captivating works of art. Working as a full-time artist since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Baltimore in 2020, Philip has remained dedicated to experimenting with and perfecting his skills as a photographer. His work has been featured in Baltimore Magazine and BmoreArt. When Philip is not creating in his studio, he spends time educating and mentoring other aspiring photographers and organizing events to support Baltimore's creative community.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Wide Angle Youth MediaTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestChristopher Chester is a multidisciplinary designer with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. He studied graphic design at The Maryland Institute College of Art. Skilled in Identity & Print Design, Product Design, Photography, Project Management, and Communication. His goal revolves around consistent learning, while contributing to a community with a diverse voice, both in life and design.Micah E Wood's portrait photography flows with the vibrancy of the Baltimore music scene. Exploding with color, the work builds a sense of belonging and intimacy to the subject that can only be achieved by a thorough understanding of the specialness and sense of place in Baltimore. His portrait work from 2012-2016 culminated in his book ‘Features', in which Micah turns his gaze adoringly on his favorite artists. Over the past eight years, Micah has only continued to document individuals of the microcosmic Baltimore music scene, such as emerging hip hop artists such as JPEGMAFIA to underground post punk bands to electropop legend Dan Deacon.Micah disarms people, and curates intimate moments with the artists he photographs, and you can see that in his work. His approach to using light as a 3-dimensional or sculptural form on the human is a playful feature that links both his portrait and landscape work.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeChristopher J. Chester's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestBaltimore native DJ Impulse has been moving crowds around the world for over 20 years. His ability to read a room and act accordingly by knowing just what to play and when, is something that can't be taught. It's not just the best dance clubs and parties that have Impulse in high demand, some of the world's most trusted brands trust Impulse to provide the soundtrack. Past and current clients include Nike, Red Bull, Vans, Food Network, MTV, Cisco, Chase Saphire, and many more.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episodeDJ Impulse's twitterTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.★ Support this podcast ★

About the guestCissa Paz is a Brazilian singer-song writer. The diversity of her cultural experience merges with her fearless taste for new combinations, as she creates and rearranges songs that are melded with the rich traditions of Afro-Brazilian and Luso-African concepts. Cissa's captivating stage presence and soulful voice bring music that is fresh, fun and rhythmic.Paz's new album, Curandeira, which means “healer,” represents a culmination of personal and musical growth for the acclaimed singer-songwriter. Paz has earned a reputation as a musical innovator in the DC area along with three Wammie nominations and a dedicated following. Her style is a unique blend of regional Northeast Brazilian styles—including forró, samba, and maracatu—with a twist of jazz, funk, and soul. As a composer and performer, Paz has always been interested in creating something new, combining her musical passions and interests in a way that not only celebrates her Brazilian African-indigenous roots but builds on them as well.The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Check out Cissa Paz's websiteTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★