WVIK interviews artists from all different genres and all over the Quad Cities about their work.
In this episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon sits down with the talented pianist and composer Andrzej Kozłowski as he prepares for his farewell concert, "Andrzej and Friends," at the Sound Conservatory in Moline.
Don't miss Fun Home running from May 30th to June 14th at the Black Box Theater; for tickets and information, visit www.theblackboxtheater.com.
In this episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon welcomes esteemed documentary maker John Nakashima to discuss his latest film, George Woodworker, a heartfelt exploration of the life and legacy of his uncle, George Nakashima.
In this episode of "Talking Art," host Ben Gougeon welcomes a very special guest: United States Army Master Sergeant James Old, the tour coordinator for the U.S. Army Field Band. With an exciting free concert coming up on April 17th at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, listeners are treated to an in-depth discussion of the rich history and vibrant future of military music.
In today's installment, host Ben Gougeon sits down with Augustana College senior Emma Watts, a burgeoning talent in Theatre and Film, who is making her directorial debut with Lauren Gunderson's darkly comedic play, Exit, Pursued by a Bear.
In this episode of "Talking Art," host Ben Gougeon welcomes Ballet Quad Cities' Artistic Director, Courtney Lyon, to dive deep into the enchanting world of ballet and the upcoming production of Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird."
In this episode of Talking Arts, host Ben Gougeon welcomes Darrah Carr, the Artistic Director and Choreographer of Darrah Carr Dance, a contemporary Irish step dance company based in New York City.
In this episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon sits down with Brett Hitchcock, Vice President of Circa 21, to delve deep into the vibrant world of local theater and the exciting happenings at Circa 21 and its intimate side venue, the Speakeasy.
In this episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon welcomes Colm Phelan and Danny Collins from the award-winning traditional Irish ensemble, Goitse.
In this episode of "Talking Art," host Ben Gougeon welcomes Melissa Mohr, the newly appointed Executive Director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum, to explore the dynamic landscape of the arts in the Quad Cities.
In this exciting episode of Talking Art, host Ben Gougeon welcomes the dynamic trio from Chicago Dance Crash—Artistic Director KC Beavis, Executive Director Jessica Leyva, and dancer Phill Wood.
With a passion for empowering the next generation of voices, Aubrey Barnes shares his journey from a shy junior high student discovering poetry as a means of self-expression to becoming a pivotal figure in the Quad Cities' arts scene.
In this episode of Talking Art, we sit down with the remarkable Lawrence Hobgood, a multifaceted pianist, composer, arranger, producer, educator, and proud Yamaha artist.
In this episode, host Ben Gougeon from Quad City Arts sits down with the dynamic Isaiah "Zay" Williams, an artist, filmmaker, and the recent Citizen of the Year award winner in Rock Island.
In this episode, we sit down with the talented Sabrina Tabby, a violinist of the dynamic string quartet ATLYS.
Tune in for an enriching discussion that dives deep into the heart of community art and the exciting future ahead for Kevin Maynard and the Quad Cities.
In this episode of Talking Art, Kevin Maynard sits down with Pono Fernandez and Shawn Pimentel, two dynamic members of the acclaimed Hawaiian music group Kulaiwi.
Ben Gougeon sits down with two exceptional artists, ceramicist Jim Cronk and jeweler Ann Hartley, as they prepare for their upcoming exhibition at the highly anticipated Riverssance Festival of Fine Art.
00000191-c7f6-d51b-a9f9-d7f78c670000https://www.wvik.org/podcast/talking-art/2024-09-06/sculpting-stories-the-art-of-dean-kuglerBen GougeonSculpting Stories: The Art of Dean Kugler25
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring a discussion with Courtney Lyon, the Artistic Director of Ballet Quad Cities, as we delve into the exciting launch of their 28th season.
Join us for a conversation with Isaac Flynn and Alexander Ward, from the indie rock band Hembree.
Tune in to discover how the Bill Bell Jazz and Heritage Festival brings the Quad Cities community together through music, education, and a shared passion for preserving the region's vibrant cultural heritage.
In this engaging podcast episode, muralists Nicole Salgar and Atlanta Dawn take listeners on a journey through their creative process and artistic inspirations as they discuss their work on two large-scale murals in downtown Rock Island, Illinois.
Ben Gougeon talks with local muralist Sarah Robb about her work with the Quad City Arts Metro Arts program, the upcoming Chalk Art Fest at Schwiebert Park, and her life as an artist.
Quad City Arts Executive Director Kevin Maynard sits down with VP of Research at Americans for the Arts
In this episode of "Talking Art," Kevin Maynard from Quad City Arts sits down with Marc Zyla, principal horn of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO).
Listen to the conversation here with artist Cory Christiansen and with Muscatine Art Center Director Melanie Alexander, about the legacy that Jon Fasanelli-Cawelti left behind, the deep personal friendships that developed between the local artists, and the transformative effect a creative mentor can have.
Listen to the conversation here with Quad City native Steve Banks about how humor can be used to effectively deliver a message about culture and identity; the creation of multi-panel pieces for this exhibition which he likens to a symphonic suite with different movements; and the studio space and artistic community that he has developed in Davenport, IA.
Listen to the conversation here with Brian Baxter, Executive Director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, about the tremendous versatility of the QCSO's musicians, the important ways in which the orchestra is diversifying their community outreach and programming, and why the Riverfront Pops is widely considered to be the Quad Cities' “party of the summer.”
Listen to the conversation here with Executive Director Kevin Maynard about how Quad City Arts has intentionally been building their role as an arts advocate, connector, and resource hub; about their commitment to creative placemaking; and how they beautify our community in ways less commonly known to the public, such as through their public sculpture program.
Listen to the conversation here with Brian Nikulski and Pat Beréskin about the thematic approach they used to create this collection, the importance of businesses investing in local artists, and the sense of well-being that beautiful art creates.
Owner and Director Andrzej Kozlowski is an accomplished Juilliard-trained classical pianist. Listen to the conversation here about his reverence for the Polish pianists and composers Fryderyk Chopin and Ignacy Paderewski, his passion for historic renovation and restoration, and his belief in providing financially feasible musical training.
Listen to the conversation here with Jaren Michelle (Callie) and McKenna Coskie (Sara) about how they have come to understand and connect with their individual characters, the joy of acting in a debut stage work production in the Quad Cities, and the essential role that community theatre plays within a vibrant society.
Listen to the conversation here with composer, arranger, producer, Yamaha artist, and piano virtuoso Laurence Hobgood about his initial emergence onto the jazz scene in Chicago years ago, the inspiration behind his album Honor Thy Fathers, and about his current work teaching at the New School in NYC.
Martha Redbone, a Native & African American vocalist, songwriter, composer, and educator, will be performing in numerous venues from May 8-13, 2023, as a Quad City Arts' Visiting Artist.Combining elements of folk, soul, Appalachian, and Native tradition, her music is uniquely Influenced by her upbringing in both urban Brooklyn, NY as well as rural Harlan County, KY in a “brilliant collision of cultures” (The New Yorker).Listen to the conversation here with musician Martha Redbone about the importance of narration and storytelling in her work; the role that arts education can play in our lives; and about the inspiration she has discovered in the poetry of the 18th century writer and illustrator William Blake, in an ongoing bridge between past and present.
Listen to the conversation here with composer William Campbell about the catalyst behind this concept album of contemporary classical music, the art of composition, and his future plans as he transitions away from his long-time position as Professor of Music at St. Ambrose University to concentrate on composing film scores and concert music.
Courtney Lyon, the Artistic Director of Ballet Quad Cities, has reinterpreted these classic works with her own abstract choreography. Listen to our conversation here about the process she uses when choreographing a work; the various ways in which dance with its myriad, intricate steps can be preserved for future performances; and the important role that Ballet Quad Cities plays here in our community.
Listen to the conversation here with artist Heidi Draley McFall about the process behind her latest work; her experimentation with the visual effects afforded by the application of resin, a new interest which has surpassed her interest in realism; and the various individual interpretations that viewers have ascribed to her work.
The major exhibition Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800-1960 is currently on display at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. Featuring sixty-four fully accessorized ensembles accompanied by photographs, video, and text, the show examines the material history of women in sport as they lived their individual self-determined lives.A detailed and highly illustrated 344-page catalog is available in the Figge Museum store which contains a forward by tennis great Serena Williams. It is one of a select few authoritative publications on the evolution of women's sporting attire.Listen to the conversation here with FIDM Museum Curator Kevin L. Jones about the inspiration behind the creation of this exhibition, the collaboration and extensive sourcing that it required, and the importance of fashion at its intersection of history, culture, and aesthetics.Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960 is organized by the American Federation of Arts in New York, and the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles. It was curated by Kevin L. Jones, FIDM Museum Curator, and Christina M. Johnson, FIDM Museum Associate Curator. Please attend their joint in-person curator talk from 5-8 PM on April 20, 2023.The Figge Museum is located at 225 W. 2nd St. in Davenport. You can view the full list of companion events and associated programming here. The exhibition is on display through May 7, 2023.
Listen to the conversation here with Dania Green about the creation of these two works of art, the intimacy inherent in self-portraiture, and the important role that mentoring has had in her life. You can follow Dania on Instagram.
Listen to the conversation here with Dr. Gale Bell about the legacy of her late husband, the support and nourishment he received while growing up in Watertown, and about his album “The Jazz Professor,” which he dedicated to his family members and on which his original compositions reflected in various styles the personalities of those he loved.
Listen to the conversation here with Jackie Dempsey, co-Artistic Director of Squonk, about the “community of the imagination” they hope to inspire, the joy she feels watching people experience their shows for their first time, and the thirty-year journey Squonk has taken from their origins in Pittsburgh to performing for audiences around the world.
Listen to the conversation here with Director Ray Terronez, Jr. and student performer Yanel Alaniz-Macias about how dance and costuming uniquely vary from one region to the next, the personal lessons learned from participating in a rigorous dance program such as this, and the importance of maintaining our traditional art forms.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Raisin in the Sun will be performed July 15-17 and July 22-24, 2022, at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline, IL.Written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1959, this play follows the internal conflicts and divergent dreams within the Younger family as they navigate their lives during a time of racial tension in the south side of Chicago. The themes explored in this production continue to be mirrored in our current era, a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and the universality of the human experience.Listen to the conversation here with Director Gaye Shannon-Burnett about her lifelong love of theatre, the impact this play has had as the first Broadway production written by a Black woman, and the ongoing resonance that the Harlem Renaissance continues to have in our culture today.The title of the play, A Raisin in the Sun, is a reference to the poem “Harlem,” written by Langston Hughes.Performances begin at 7:30PM on Fri/Sat and 3PM on Sundays. Tickets and additional information can be found here. The Playcrafters Barn Theatre has been producing community theatre in the Quad Cities since 1929, and is located at 4950 35th Avenue in Moline, IL.
Listen to the conversation here with Pat Beréskin about the excitement she feels about her future, the legacy she has created as a long-time champion of the arts, and the unique position that the Quad Cities finds itself in with these new creative partnerships.
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Listen to the conversation here with Shelley Cooper, Director of The Threepenny Opera and Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Augustana College, about the underlying themes of this production, the playwright Bertolt Brecht's conception of epic theatre, and the important lessons that students learn from immersing themselves in musical theatre.
Listen to the conversation here with Little Women Director and St. Ambrose Theatre Professor Dr. Corinne Johnson about the intentional choice of this production prior to her upcoming retirement this summer, the valuable lessons that students learn from a communal experience like theatre, and the many leaders working here in the Quad Cities – both inside and beyond arts organizations – that have emerged from the program and whom she has taught and mentored over the past three decades while working with undergraduates.
Listen to the conversation here with creative Aaron Dworkin about the integration of literary content with music which he has coined “musetry,” the complexity of the life of George Washington which he evokes in this work, and some unexpected parallels between his own personal life and that of the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
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