the AP Collection

Eight months after the last submission I've got a good farewell chat for The AP Collection Podcast. Listen to John, Brett, and Donna from The John Riegert Project and check out the show at SPACE before September 4th, 2016!

Chris Williams is an artist from New York but also defines himself as a multi-maker, which he defines as a combination of being both multifaceted and a maker. He has a background in biology, and a lot of his work includes themes of life and environment.  Chris Williams talks about his time in Texas, working for a woman who used robotics to save lives after the tsunami in Fukushima, as well as the time he spent in Turkey, which included being in the midst of protest. In Pittsburgh, he has worked on a wooden audio game for the visually impaired ("Coral"), an installation in Lawrenceville that mimics a pier and uses light patterns that interact and work with the environment ("Ghost Pier"), and a simulation of the experience of listening to an 8-9 hour brass music performance in Turkey ("Pittonkatonk"). He also engages in a conversation about the Black Lives Matter movement. View the links below to see more images from the projects. Chris Williams on the Internet Email him: chriswilliams2@gmail.com Coral Project Ghost Pier Project in Lawrenceville Pittonkatonk Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Instagram: @amoswolf

Lesley Rains is the woman behind East End Book Exchange on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. Before that, Lesley's love of books and the lack thereof in the city drove her to start something new. The exchange started by setting up bookstalls at community public markets around the city.  In this chat, Lesley discusses her journey to opening her own business, her favorite books, and the need for diversity in the book market. Lesley Rains on the Internet www.eastendbookexchange.com Like East End Book Exchange on Facebook Follow @EastEndBooksPgh on Twitter Follow @eastendbookexchange on Instagram Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Instagram: @amoswolf  

Selling yourself, or being a working creative has nothing to do with being the best. I will never be the most talented or amazing painter. I am however, one of the most dedicated and determined people you will ever know in just about any field out there.  The AP Collection has always been a journey for me to figure out what helps me create. As of right now, it's listening to people talk about themselves and drawing or painting responses to that. That simple exchange is inside everything that I as an artist have created.  The next endeavor for my practice is to produce work that connects directly with those that are supporting it. For now the interviews and other free things on this site are all the same and always free but for a small amount of support, there's more for those that want it. Patreon is a way for me to keep drawing—the thing I want to do always. Please check out the site,  pick a level, and help me make more. If you like what I do, share it with others. Below are just some of the things that I've done. I'm stoked to see what's next.

Rachel Arnold Sager is an illustrator and designer. After having her daughter and leaving her job at a design agency to pursue freelancing, she decided to try out new things that scared her, to get out of her comfort zone and take risks. She tried creative writing and improv, to name just a few of the things, and she continues on the path towards the new. Rachel indulges us in her journey navigating through creativity, freelance work, challenging herself, and motherhood. She puts it best when she says (or, quotes Ira Glass), "Your taste level will probably exceed your skill level for a long time." Most recently, she started (and finished) her "100 days" project, consisting of only non-digital illustrations and art works. Rachel emphasizes that the key to growing as a creative is commitment and perseverance––traits she has engrained into her practice. Rachel Arnold Sager on the Internet www.rasager.com/ Follow @rasager on Twitter Follow @r.a.sager on Instagram "100 Days" Project Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Instagram: @amoswolf

Travis Mitzel is a Pittsburgh-based artist, who was also born and raised in the city. His body of work focuses on sculpture and photography, using these mediums to tackle and explore different topics. From creating styrofoam-replicas of unknown people by memory to leaving plastic on plants in a futile effort towards conservation, Travis' work incorporates dark humor and absurdity and sheds an intriguing and unique perspective on the strangeness and ironies of the world. In July, he had his first solo show, "As Best I Can Remember," at 707 Gallery. He gives us the 411 on how he views the art scene in Pittsburgh and openly tells us about his experience of being a local artist.  For more on his works and what he is up to, visit the links below! Travis on the Internet www.travismitzel.com Travis on Facebook Follow @adobesausage on Instagram Follow @travmitz on Twitter

Just a little experiment for the podcast... enjoy and let us know wha you think!

TWYGA is an art project from The AP Collection. Erica Pilgram shares her talent for TWYGA, see more at thatiswhatyouaregoodat.com

Jordon Milchak is the creator and curator of On The Skids Studios & Gallery in Allentown. He's lived in Allentown for the past 11 years and has seen the town grow. Before that, Jordon owned a bike shop up in Mt. Washington, but stopped because life happened and he enjoyed riding bikes (BMX!) more than he liked fixing and selling them. There's some good bike chat/debate in this chat. With On The Skids, Jordon's goal was to create a brand through the gallery. It's a little bit of everything – they screen print for other people, the space is open as a gallery with four shows a year, and On The Skids is its own brand with shirts, prints, and much more. He hopes that his gallery will be a place where he can showcase the success of others, and he dives into some talk about the Pittsburgh art scene as well as what it means to be an artist. The next On The Skids show is called THE HUNT, featuring works by Abby Diamond and Sean Coxen. The show's opening is on October 17th from 7PM-1PM at the On The Skids Gallery (419 Warrington Avenue). Jordan Milchak on the Internet www.ontheskids.bigcartel.com Like OnTheSkids on Facebook Follow @on_the_skids on Twitter  

This ramble goes through the same career stuff and into other wander-y like thoughts. Enjoy.

Mayor of Pittsburgh Bill Peduto graciously gave us his time and sat down to have a chat! He talks briefly about his past –– his upbringing, the early years as a Chief of Staff to Dan Cohen, and his years as City Councilman. As you probably know, Pittsburgh has a rich history, which Peduto knows a good deal about. He has a way of talking about Pittsburgh's past, using it as a way to color and influence the city's future without hindering its growth. Peduto also mentions ways in which he tries to get Pittsburghers to engage in local government, from Mayor's Night Out (going out to talk to people) to Mayor's Night In (having people go and talk to him), allowing the chance for any and every voice to be heard. Check out P4 Pittsburgh to learn about the bold vision that Peduto and his office envisions for Pittsburgh. Bill Peduto on the Internet P4 Pittsburgh: People, Planet, Place, Performance Follow @billpeduto on Twitter www.billpeduto.com Like Bill Peduto on Facebook www.pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/ Call his office! 412-255-2626

Tickets on sale for the next Finder Quigley event!

Today's chat is brought to you by The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council A Fair in the Park is the yearly celebration of visual art, craft, and making from Southwestern PA creators. Everything from wearables, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, wood, two dimensional work, leather, and metal are on display in a series of tents nestled cozily in Mellon Park—tucked in the shade of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. This event is more intimate than the Three River's Arts Festival. The park and adjacent gardens are nestled into the picturesque and residential Shadyside neighborhood. It's effortless to wind through the paved paths past a variety of artists lined up under grand and graceful trees. The following interviews are a selection of four vendors representing different types of craft offered at this year's Fair. For the 46th annual event, they've organized a silent auction, activities for children (face painting and crafts optimized for little hands), and a great line up of musicial guests including Cello Fury and Mahajibee Blues—so there's something for everyone. A Fair in the Park on the Internet Craftsman's Guild of Pittsburgh A Fair In The Park Mellon Park The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (Thank you for sponsoring this episode!) Artist's Links Jeff Brunner heybeast.com Susan Phillips ceramicsusan@gmail.com joshuakosker.com and touchstonecrafts.org Michelle Sabol aka Memphis George

General updates in order of when they popped into my brain: Great news! The Society of Illustrators accepted me as a full member! Go to pittsburghillustrators.org to see where my portfolio will be posted and check out some >amazing< local talent.  Patreon update: I'm shooting my video (hopefully) this weekend while I'm in DC for The National Book Festival. Patreon is like a Kickstarter crowd funding thing but instead of a one time donation it's a regular pledge, (I'm setting my scale from $1 to $500 per month). Patrons recieve rewards from shout outs on the podcast, to a monthly care package cool stuff I print pictures on. Be on the look out for the patreon launch later in September. Note: This isn't taking the place of just sending money through the website. If people want to do that they can—this just creates a more sustainable environment for me to create in. This is also not a fee for listening to the podcast. It is a way of trying to make my art practice as a while more sustainable.  Recently I talked about writing down and keeping track of how I use my time and it has been a real game changer! Since keeping a simple list of what I'm doing each day has allowed me to better prioritize things and stress a lot less—focusing on the task at hand. Speaking of which, I've been doing A LOT OF ILLUSTRATIONS and it's pretty fucking wonderful. (Most of my free time is spent drawing and that's what I really love and all I really want to be doing you guys!) It's not just straight forward commisions (that I enjoy doing very much) either. Friends and past guests of the AP Collection, IDK Magazine had me illustrate their whole issue and >>it got a little conceptual

Updates and shit! 8/25/15

Today, we have something a little bit different from the usual chat with creatives. This is our first one with someone who is a part of the local government – Councilwoman Deb Gross! If you live in District 7, you've probably heard of her, and if you live in the Pittsburgh area... well, you've probably heard of her.  Deb Gross grew up in a few parts of Pittsburgh, but mainly the South Hills. As a part of her colored experience, she has spent the last 15 years in Pittsburgh working with many community groups and stakeholders in the neighborhood to tackle revitalization issues. As she puts it, right now, the District's goal is to make the process easier for who want to do projects and make things happen in the city. Over the years, Pittsburgh has been growing more and more into a popular city, with big magazine and newspapers dubbing it as "most livable" and "affordable." Along with this popularity, comes the marginalization of groups that have been here for much longer, groups that are the foundation of the culture and history of Pittsburgh. We talk to Deb about how to include these groups and ways to get people more engaged in the community. The only way is through talking and listening, and this point is made very much clear in this chat. Deb Gross on the Internet http://pittsburghpa.gov/district7/ Follow @DebGrosspgh on Twitter Email District 7: district7@pittsburghpa.gov Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Instagram: @amoswolf

Ashley Cecil is an illustrator originally from Kentucky, who specializes in painting birds, bugs, and botany. When you see her artworks, this much is surely loud and clear. Her love of painting these subject matters has propelled her to start her own artist in residency, painting at the Phipps Conservatory, National Aviary, and Carnegie Museum of National History. Most recently, she has started to print her works onto fabrics, which are then sewn into textile products, such as scarves and pillows.  In this chat, Ashley shares with us her journey as an artist – from Kentucky to the Sotheby's Institute of Art London to Pittsburgh – and gives an inside look at the business of art and being and artist. Below are pictures from Ashley's studio, and the Kentucky Derby painting that we talk about in the chat is below, as well! If you like what you see and hear, support Ashley by going to her event, Art of Botany: An Open House of Art and Flowers, at Cuttings Flower and Garden Market on August 13 from 2PM - 6PM. Ashley Cecil on the Internet https://www.ashleycecil.com/ @ashleycecil on Twitter @ashleycecil on Instagram Ashley Cecil on Facebook Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Inastagram: @amoswolf

Jeremy is a Los Angeles filmmaker, who grew up in New Castle, a small town just an hour north of Pittsburgh. After college, Jeremy moved out west to go to film school at University of South California. In early 2016, he is finally coming back to Pittsburgh (specifically, New Castle) to film his first self-directed film, Yinz, which is about growing up in Western Pennsylvania. While telling the story of his upbringing, Jeremy shares how New Castle has inspired him to write this film after eight years of work in Los Angeles. His vision of the film is clear and deeply rooted in the mood of small town New Castle and the Rust Belt. His passion for film clearly comes through his way of explaining the creative, conceptual, and technical sides of movie-making, giving a behind the scenes look from the editing room to gritty film locations. Learn more about and support Jeremy's upcoming movie, Yinz, by checking out the Kickstarter page, which just started in the beginning of August! – Jennifer Jeremy Michael Cohen on the Internet http://www.jeremymcohen.com/ Kickstarter for Jeremy's upcoming movie, Yinz  Theme Music by DJ Thermos Twitter: @LikeAThermos Inastagram: @amoswolf

I'm headed to Bangor, Maine by way of New York City. This is a little travel journal along the way... Enjoy the sounds of the city and I'll see you soon!

So, I just finished up a live version of That's What You're Good At. My goal was to see if I could interview and create pieces for the site in one space in the span of a few hours. Once this is perfected, I want to take the project on the road to different spaces in the city of Pittsburgh and maybe even beyond... I have to thank Assemble for letting me hang out late on a Tuesday night and Cafe con Leche for letting be try this out during their take over of Assemble's space for a month. What I Learned I need a wrangler: I can't greet people and conduct the project at the same time. In the future I will have to have someone take care of getting guests up to speed on what's happening and prepped to participate, (this includes signing that damn waiver I keep forgetting) I can draw like a sketch artist: I've never had someone describe to me an object to draw until today. It was such a simple thing but really the most amazing activity. Try this. Kinetic talents are not easy to illustrate with a live model: I have drawn a lot of live models but if they are dancing... well it's not going to work. I still had to take some reference photos to work from. I must have different types of surfaces prepped: It's totally possible to switch between drawing in pencil, sketching in india ink, and moving to oil. I just need all the surfaces ready to go. In the past I was just starting the sketch and taking it back the studio. This delays the creation and posting of the pieces which is frustrating, (I wanna get these baby birds outta the nest)!   

In this entry I talk more about That's What You're Good At while I'm drawing for the site. I alsoget into the behind the scenes of re-evaluating the success of the site and planning the user survey.  Come into the studio while I noodle and think!

This is the first of a series of journal entries.  In 2015, I've decided to pursue two projects spawned from the work I've done on The AP Collection. Finder Quigley, a series of private, invitation only art shows featuring artists interviewed for this website and That's What You're Good At, a brand new website using micro-podcasting and my own skills as a portrait artist to digitally map the talents of Pittsburghers. While focusing on these endeavors, I have less time to put together the regular podcast. I'd like to continue to juggle it all so I've reduced the number of regular episodes to twice a month. However, I want to share the process of this work with others. The past six months have been kind of lonely. Planning and pursuing things has taken a lot of time and it hasn't been super public so the website doesn't appear as active.  I've decided to document the work in a series of recorded journal entries. These will either be incredibly boring to you—or an interesting peek into my process.  Why is process so important? It's the backbone of everything I do. The interviews collected on this site, the galleries of my own work, the projects I have put together—all of them started because I wanted to learn. I learn best by telling other people. This is me both learning and teaching.  I hope you enjoy the look into my process. I hope you share your thoughts with me. I hope to see you around the internet.

Before our chat, Addi and I met up in front of my place walked over to the Lawrenceville Farmer's Market and did a little shopping. I bought these neat little candies that are painted to look like cool rocks of something... and we hung out with some of my neighbors. Getting back to my place to record, we started off the chat with me being a little blissed out from the sun. In the end though, we managed to have a really nice chat! Addi is a woman with a high level of talent with a lovely personality to boot. A person highlight was learning about these really beautiful covers of songs she creates—reinterpreting their meaning in an unexpected by delightful way.  Listen as she schools me about music and fills me on her life making the things she loves. Addi Twigg & The Telephone Line on the Internet additwigg.com additwigg on Soundcloud telephonelineband.com @telelinepgh Deutschtown Music Festival

Stephen and I planned on meeting at my place to chat—both of us bussing after work. While in the South Side on the 48 headed Downtown he walked on the bus and I recognized him instantly. We've been friends on Instagram for a while and I recognized his square framed glasses that sat parallel his angular jawline. Instead of introducing myself, I decided to keep to my new afterwork cool down routine of zoning out to some loud as fuck loud music. Plus, I wanted to see if I could beat him to my place. I did.  Sitting down at my dining room table we fell into an easy conversation. Weaving through the story of his upbringing and education, we got to his time working at The Woodlands which for me was a personal highlight. Enjoy this chat and check out his show at Unsmoked in Braddock on August 8th! Stephen Grebinski on the Internet stephengrebinski.com Twitter: @aparatfoto Inastagram: @aparatfoto Music Credit // Amos Levy 140: @LikeAThermos IG: @amoswolf

The Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum has a long and varied use history. It started its life as one of four large buildings used to service the many trollies with which Pittsburgh streets were once lined and crossed. "It was the shady side of the street for blocks." John Brewer Jr. told me—pointing out where we were in a large photograph illuminated by a light box. Thus began out chat for over an hour about Homewood, the Coliseum, and black history here in Pittsburgh.  Walking into the space where Mr. Brewer holds court, the room is really a gallery of countless framed images featuring the city, the people who lived in it, and some major historical figures who spent some time here. Brewer has spent decades collecting photographs, including images from the original Pittsburgh Courier. He tells the story of finding what was once believed to be a lost archive, in the crawl space behind some Christmas ornaments.  What struck me about this conversation was how short our memories are as human beings. Looking over the images John flipped though, I saw so many people living so many different lives across more than a century. When we think of the past, many of us think about this big stuff—the huge events that become the small planets we revolve our attention around. John has some of those images, (see the picture of Rosa Parks). He also has a picture of three young black women sitting in a shiny new convertible in the 1950s—all smilies and period appropriate hairdos. He has images of kids playing outside, of black and brown families smiling for family portraits. He has pictures of lives lived in Pittsburgh that weren't obvious to you but they mattered because everyone that came before us paved our place in the spaces we inhabit today. When I posted about this conversation some wondered why they never heard of the GPC before. It was pointed out in the comments that if you didn't spend time in Homewood or weren't invited to an event at the space then you might not be aware of it.  It illustrates the rifts, territorial barriers, and neighborhood lines that were and continue to be drawn here in Pittsburgh. However we forget with our short memories how those seemly bolded lines are blurred and shifted. That's not an indictment against anyone, just something to keep in mind. A week before this was recorded, there was a 400 person wedding that took place in that space. Since this chat, concerts and other activities have taken place there. It begs the question, "Did you not know because you never thought to look?" That's the theme of this conversation. There is so much to learn but we have to be willing to ask. John receives images from people who found family heirlooms only to discover a fascinating history associated with them. He has made a carrier collecting, curating, and writing about these lives. He has worked with the Smithsonian and the Carnegie Museum of Art to bring life to images whose stories would otherwise be forgotten. It was beyond a pleasure to meet and talk with him. Please enjoy our conversation and  John Brewer Jr. on the Internet Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum website John Brewer Jr.'s Author Page on Amazon Thank you to my lovely friend Tom Hughes for introducing me to John. Keep adding people to your list for me! All images posted with permission from John Brewer Jr. 

Amanda Narcisi makes me believe that I can do anything. I can absolutely relate to her busy schedule and always wanting to do more. She created the online magazine BOLD Pittsburgh and is a major organizer for Podcamp Pittsburgh and is a designer and artist herself.  Recently, she covered the NKOTB, TLC, and Nelly concert that rolled into town as well at the Jenny Lewis concert—getting some really rad snaps of the latter in her dreamy jumpsuit. She's got a lot going on and I look forward to following her around town and maybe even working with her in future. I learned a a lot from Amanda and hope y'all do as well! BOLD Pittsburgh website BOLD Pittsburgh on ISSUU @boldPGH on Twitter ​BOLD Pittsburgh on Facebook @BOLDPittsburgh on Instagram Podcamp Pittsburgh website

Max C Lee is an artist getting his MFA in New York City at the School of Visual Arts. He was in town over June 5th and 6th for a show he booked at Unsmoked in Braddock over a year ago. Since scheduling this show he has developed a performance piece revolving around the many conversations held about the city.  This conversation is about critique, how (or even if) artwork functions in a space, and gentrification. We talk about Unsmoked and Braddock community but I will say upfront here that neither of us live there or work their—therefore we can't speak with any authority about the issues or concerns that the people of Braddock face and personally I don't think it appropriate for me to do so. We talk briefly from our very limited perspective about what we have seen and heard in the news and learned in private conversations.  This chat also focuses on Lee and his performative and interactive work. Beginning with interventions in comedy clubs and publicly on the streets of New York City, he explores the boundaries of his personal influence with people and the effects of propaganda-like language. He's young, he's experimenting, and he's learning about what his white privilege looks like. If talking about the obvious systematic advantage that being young, white, and male in America bothers you and you don't think you can handle uncomfortable conversations then maybe skip this chat… No hard feelings! In the type of interactions that Lee is participating, he is learning about people's assumptions towards him—both good and bad.  THIS WILL TOUCH SOME NERVES. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RIGHT. The subject of gentrification is a super complicated one that I don't have the answers for and neither does Max. I will say that it's okay to critique. It's ok to ask questions, it's okay to say you don't know something or admit that the topic is uncomfortable. It's ok to not talk and just listen. If we don't have even the beginnings of a conversation we don't really get anywhere. Personally I believe the most important thing to consider is the story from someone you don't know. Learning and listening to someone else's perspective instead of closely guarding your own makes you a more empathetic human. Clarifications I'm a real dumbass for not knowing about Latoya Ruby Fraizer. I'm not apologizing for not knowing about all the artists ever, but I will apologize for not looking her up while Max I talked because I've been missing out. Her work is really intimate, powerful, and very much worth your time to explore. I've been reading through her website and I usually am not super impressed with people's artist statements. Her's is, simply put, the best I've ever read. Stripped of pretentiousness that most statements suffer from it reveals enough about her and the focus of her artwork but leaves enough room for you to discover more as you look through her photos, installations, and videos. Flipping through the photographs of her site the first thought I had was how small institutions make people feel. The shiny appeal of revitalization and the big dramatic  Correction: Superior Motors isn't the most funded thing on Kickstarter. Finally, it's okay to critique. It's ok to ask questions, it's okay to say you don't know something or admit that the topic is uncomfortable. It's ok to not talk and just listen. If we don't have even the beginnings of a conversation we don't really get anywhere.  Artist Statement The city of Braddock is understood through a dense filter of what is being said about it.  The Project Person Project: Brought To You by the #ENDOFNOW is a reflection of this filter and the confusion it causes.  Originally, THE END OF NOW (and its leader, GUY) was an entity unrelated to the city of Braddock. It is a fictional and vague organization that mirrors contemporary propaganda (and makes its own) in order to re-contextualize the forms that aggressively engage us as consumers, Internet users, and interactive people. 

The other day I biked down to the Point to see Essential Machine play on the main stage at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. After I headed out, Matt Dayak texted me saying that next time I should stop by to check out the Yellow Couch Studio's set up next to the main stage space. He's recording the videos for Stephen Foxbury's series. If I've learned anything over the past couple years, it's to never turn down an invite to go back stage.  A cozy shipping crate was transformed into a chic little recording spot by Abode Home Staging. Mics from Peluso Microphone Lab and a super beautiful amp from Empire Music are tucked neatly into the space with the iconic Yellow Couch that is the center piece of Stephen's studio. Stephen and Matt were in between recordings when they fed me snacks and let me record a quick chat! We talk about the studio, the sessions recorded during TRAF, and how Stephen built a business that utilizes his diverse skills set and lifelong devotion to music.  Check out YellowCouchStudio.com and like them on Facebook to keep up with the latest videos from the Yellow Couch Sessions.

Finder Quigley went really reallly well...

Michael Johnson is Genevieve's neighbor in Lawrenceville, who lives just a handful of doors down. They met at the Lawrenceville Organic Community Garden in the Allegheny Cemetery and have been friends since. Michael has worked at the Cemetery Garden for three years and has seen it grow and expand to double its size. Soon, harvest from this expanded space will be put aside for distribution at the McCandless Street Community Garden.  Along with Michael's work at the community garden, he is also the Volunteer Program Coordinator at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne, where they are always reevaluating and finding new ways to help people meet their needs. They are implementing new developments, such as providing fresh produce in the pantries and curating a safe space for those who come to the food bank to talk about more than just the food that they need. Michael and Genevieve touch upon many topics. From living in Lawrenceville to Philly to Pittsburgh's topography to the important work that is being done at GPCFB and the neighborhood community gardens—you are sure to learn a thing or two. Also, Michael likes to talk about important topics while playing video games in a new vlog-type series on his YouTube. To view his YouTube channel and other links, click below! Follow @mj_in_pitt on Twitter YouTube: mjinthepit Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Lawrenceville Organic Community Garden – Jennifer Huang

Amos Levy / DJ Thermos / Art Educator and I catch up after eight years!   WC&S Mixtapes Project YMCA Lighthouse Project on Bandcamp Twitter: @LikeAThermos Instagram: @amoswolf facebook.com/DjThermos soundcloud.com/djthermos/ mixcloud.com/amosdjthermos/

Dan Striker, the Executive Director of Pittsburgh Fringe, was kind enough to bring over two of his artists to chat about this year's festival. Both Hudson Rush and The Mad Muse are hands on and devoted performers seeking to push the boundaries of the theatre stage and performance with audiences. Rush will be in the Free For All which is free for artists to participate and no cost for the audience to spectate. In this chat she describes her conceptual performance that requires passers-by to delve into themselves and confront their hangups in order to over come them. The Mad Muse is a force. One that takes absolutely no excuses and zero shit. She discusses using her anger as a tool to to propel her work into audiences. Shakespeare, poetry, and her own life experiences are also in her arsenal an feature relatable themes to connect with her audience. GO TO FRINGE! Check out their website for discounts, for performance packs that get you into multiple shows, and a map that details all the different spots in the North Side they are taking over this weekend! Pittsburgh Fringe Festival pittsburghfringe.org  Mad Muse: The Art of Mad Musing museinspiredmadness.com  Hudson Rush: Resurrection hudsonrushworx.com (Fringe free for all street theatre piece)

Duncan MacDiarmid and Ashley Hickey are both sculptors and members of Society of Sculptors (SOS). They have both been members of the board, and Ashley Hickey is currently the President. Established in 1935 as a part of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, SOS is one of the oldest groups that promotes the visibility of sculptors both locally and nationally. Both Duncan and Ashley's works are completely different, showing the diversity within the field. They talk about their work and their process, as well as the growth and changes in the Pittsburgh art scene, the economy and art, the flexibility of sculpture, and the price of art over time. If you would like to be a part of SOS's 80th Anniversary Show in November, make sure to submit your work by July 14 and follow this link to find out more. The show will take place November 13–January 17 at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Moreover, if you are interested in becoming a member, be sure to check out the site to find out more information. Ashley will also be having a show from July 10–August 9 at the 709 Gallery in conjunction with the downtown gallery crawl. Be sure to check out both Duncan's and Ashley's works in the links below! – Jennifer Huang Society of Sculptures on the Internet www.societyofsculptors.org Society of Sculptors on Facebook Follow @sospittsburgh on Instagram ashleyhickey.com Duncan MacDiarmid's website earthviewstudios.com pittsburgharts.org Music Credit "Suonatore di Liuto" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

When you support the AP Collection, you can opt into the APC (after dark) newsletter. Six times a year, a password is emailed to you with access to a secret blog where I post cool stuff exclusively for the people that support the site!  Here is a little taste of an event I'm working on that members get a first crack at an invitation. It's a secret art show that friend and former guest of the AP Collection, Danny Devine will be in attendance with six other artists. Listen, take a look at the pictures, and enjoy! Questions? Email me! theAPCollection@gmail.com  

Njaimeh Njie grew up in Stanton Heights and came back to Pittsburgh after going to school in St. Louis and doing some traveling. She has since stayed to develop her skills as a filmmaker. Njaimeh balances the roles of filmmaker, producer, and event planner. Currently, she is working on a documentary that follows the lives of 50 black women in and around the city of Pittsburgh. She is also the woman behind Pop Up Premieres, an event that screens black films (mostly ones that have not yet been screened). The goal of the event is to expose audiences to the diversities within the genre and allow for important discussions on race and representation to take place. Both honest and passionate, Njaimeh talks about some important topics such as the representation of African-Americans in mainstream culture, the tendency of women to sell themselves short, and the pros and cons of validation. She brings an important perspective onto these topics and is doing great and exciting things in Pittsburgh. Be sure to check out the links below to find out what she is up to! Njaimeh on the Internet http://www.njaimehnjie.com/ Pop Up Premieres Follow @en_jay_me on Twitter Follow @en_jay_me on Instagram Njaimeh Njie on Facebook

Joe Mruk is a freelance illustrator and artist, who has travelled to the desert and back and has long since stayed in Pittsburgh to work on commissions and other projects of the like. Although not always a steady road towards success, Joe Mruk has dedicated himself to his work and passion since the beginning. From hand-drawing to rendering on the computer to woodworking, Joe Mruk has a plethora of skills, which he gives generously. He explains in-depth his own process of making and rendering such beautiful works, so if you're looking for tips, listen closely. In the future, Joe has some really great things coming up – including a children's book and, more in the near-future, a show at the Mr. Roboto Project. You can see more of his work in the pictures below and his website, also listed below. And be sure to check out his show, "Volksbeast," at the Mr. Roboto Project on May 1 at 7 PM, where he will be showing and selling old and new works. – Jennifer Huang Joe Mruk on the Internet www.redbuffalo.org Joe Mruk on Facebook Follow @redbuffaloill on Instagram

Kristin Ward started bellydancing shortly after she moved to Pittsburgh in 2000. She has performed and taught this practice ever since, her venues ranging from weddings to corporate functions to festivals. Her love of bellydancing comes from both the understanding and honoring of the Middle Eastern culture, as well as her passion for dancing as a way to perform and tell a story.  Positively delightful to speak to, Kristin's humble beginnings in bellydancing started with lessons at Alloy Dance and performances at Sphinx back when it was still in Southside. She gives an informative breakdown of the dance's history, the bellydancing community in Pittsburgh, and where people can learn how to bellydance in Pittsburgh. Not only a bellydancer, Kristin also eats fire! She bravely decided to take on this practice and learned right behind her apartment building on Baum Blvd. If you've always wondered how fire eaters do what they do, Kristin gives a little insight on the dangerous and exciting feat. Genevieve and Kristin touch upon a number of topics in between, discussing controversies such as cultural appropriation to safety to what belly dancing is and is not – "it's exotic but not exotic dancing" – as well as some more mild topics such as travel and social media. Even Marcel Walker, former guest on tAPC, joins in for a bit! – Jennifer Huang Kristin on the Internet Like Morgiana BellyDance on Facebook Follow @PghFireGirl on Twitter www.southwestpabellydance.com www.morquettevolante.org

ThatIsWhatYouAreGoodAt.com First Wave Updates for ThatIsWhatYouAreGoodAt.com theAPCollection.com

I went into my interview with Genevieve armed with twenty-five rehearsed questions and a preconception on how I wanted the chat to go. Alas, my plan was laid to waste almost immediately. I intended our talk to be a genial discourse on what “art” is, along with discussing its current standing in our macro- and micro-societies.  What I got was an avalanche of fiery, passionate responses from a fiery, passionate artist who thinks that if you want more art in your life, then you should f*ckin' get off your ass and make it happen already! Being a long time the AP Collection listener, you would have thought that I'd have known better than to expect a formulaic interview. Despite not turning out how I had planned, this chat actually totally accomplishes the goal of the Pittsburgh Guest Blogger Event of which led to its existence.  The ideal behind the swap is to have two creative people blend up their POV's to produce something fresh and vibrant. I believe that's exactly what we achieved. My Yinzer-lilt, general cluelessness and sophomoric wit combined with Genevieve's artistic fervor, polarizing critique and educational insight to make quite possibly the best podcast ever n'at.  Please enjoy this chat and don't forget to check out all of the participants in this year's Pittsburgh Guest Blogger Event starting with Genevieve's work here (insert Lucy Quin link). Later dudes!!!  Me (Alex Fadick) on the Internet  everybodylovesyou.net @alexanderFIV on Twitter Pittsburgh Guest Blogger Event hashtag #PghGBE Editorial note: Thank you www.bensound.com for "Acoustic Breeze"—the music under the introduction!

Talk to Baron Batch for even five minutes and you will know why he's passionate about his work. Visit Studio A.M. in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homestead and you can see why. The AP Collection was invited to Studio A.M. to sit down and chat with Baron. He mentioned that there is no way to establish yourself in art but through hard work, and stepping inside the studio is a sterling example of everything that he and the rest of the Studio A.M. crew have built.  From drawing in dirt as a kid, to forging his own exploration through different mediums and materials, Baron describes his history with the creative process and how it allows him to place his own thumbprint on the world today. In his chat with Genevieve, Baron stresses the importance of owning your process. Repeating his process over and over again gives Baron control of everything and allows him to bring focus to his work. Making art and living up to the brand he has created with Studio A.M. gives him an accountability that he thrives on.  Baron on the Internet See Baron's work at pop-x.com Visit Baron's website: baronbatch.com Follow @baron_batch on Twitter Follow @baron_batch on Instagram Like Baron Batch on Facebook Visit Studio A.M.'s website: studio-am.com Follow @StudioAMpgh on Twitter Follow @studioampgh on Instagram Like Studio A.M. on Facebook

Kate Daly and I have had a long distance Twitter love affair for at least a year at this point. Connecting on local issues and nerding out about cute internet things, we quickly bonded. She has even connected me with people to chat with for The AP Collection. We've been planning on hanging out and chatting for a while but life and more life got in the way. Thankfully, she was willing to trek out to my place on a very frigid Sunday to talk about her different roles as a mother, a web developer, and now project management. We get into everything. First, we touch on making the decision to become a mother. Then on to her professional life, starting at a local non-profit and learning web design, which has opened up new doors to bigger opportunities. Finally, her philosophy on being a good project manager and how they can be essential to a productive and solvent team. In-between all this, she also found time to play bass in a few local bands! I just want to hang out with her more… my love for Kate grows by the day! Kate Daly on the Internet kateda.ly @tikikate on Twitter

Before scheduling this chat I'd always had an interest in learning more about web design and development but admittedly didn't know the difference between the two and felt entirely intimidated by the subject. A few days before my chat with Val and Jason took place, I decided that being scared of such things was completely ridiculous. In order to bring a new project to life, I needed to build a custom website with Wordpress. After talking with my dear friend Anastasia Lanz, (a self-taught developer), I firmed up plans to not only learn more web development but to expand beyond my basic needs and actually get good at it. Easier said than done but a plan, regardless. My hope in sharing this information is to explain my line of questioning and real enthusiasm when talking to Val and Jason. Not that I really need a reason... they are not only super smart but incredibly delightful with which to shoot the shit! I hope to obtain a fraction of their knowledge during my professional journey.  Enjoy this chat, come to Web Design Day, meet up at a Refresh Pittsburgh event! Val and G. Jason Head on the Internet WebDesignerDay.com  @WebDesignDay on Twitter Refresh Pittsburgh @RefreshPitt on Twitter jasonhead.com @gjhead on Twitter valhead.com @vlh on Twitter Girl Develop it (Pgh Chapter) Ancient Future on Facebook  @_ancientfuture on Twitter his chat post wins the award for most links. :)

The first time that I met Brian, he had graciously invited me into the third floor studio space of his Lawrenceville home. Since we're neighbors, since it was freezing outside, and since he hadn't left his space in a while, we conducted this chat in my place. The plan was originally to chat about his upcoming shows but we quickly delved into philosophy. Everything about Brian's work refers to the journey of his life and the buddhist philosophy that underlined his world outlook. He is absolutely the most prolific artist in Pittsburgh, pumping out paintings and drawings by the dozens over a weekend. He appeared slightly stressed out when we chatted but it seemed that talking about this intense production period has given him a slight respite and a small window to reflect on the work. We never even got around to the fact that he is a curator at the local dive bar, Remedy, in Lawrenceville.  "The Road is a Peril the World is a Pearl" is the most beautiful name for a most beautiful body of work. Be sure to check out his work at Imagebox, 4933 Penn Avenue (15224), on March 6th, 2015 during Unblurred and then his show at Gallery 4 opening May 2nd, 2015! Brian Gonnella on the Internet www.bgoart.com  Brian Gonnella: Art on Facebook @briangonnellaisboring on Instagram Brian Gonnella's first chat on the AP Collection

Genevieve sits down with RB who is behind the farESH brand. Primarily known for their clothing, RB and farESH have begun fostering collaborations with musicians and artists in Pittsburgh. Their Fresh Pick of the Month series showcases these artists and promotes the brand and the artist creating a synergy among the projects in Pittsburgh. (Check out the one with Mars Jackson here) This chat delves into the efforts behind these collaborations and the legwork that is crucial to finding artists and developing each project. They also discuss the qualities that embody Pittsburgh that aren't the traditional city symbols, (pierogi's, a classic ketchup brand, all the successful professional sports teams). farESH reflects what's happening now in the Steel City by cultivating artists and their relationships with other creatives. All this work has culminated in the Bridges Mixtape that's currently on Soundcloud.  RB on the Internet farESHbrand.com  farESH Brand Presents: Bridges on Soundcloud Like farESH Brand on Facebook Follow farESH Brand on Twitter Follow farESH Brand on Instagram Watch farESH Brand on YouTube

Born only blocks from where he currently resides, Christopher Boring is a dedicated painter gaining a lot of notoriety in the Pittsburgh art scene. During our chat we get down to brass tacks regarding his art-making process, where his inspiration is derived, and self-curation. As it turns out, he's a collector as well and we get into how his obsessive collecting influences his work. Christopher has just finished a show at Future Tenant gallery and we do a post mortem. Be warned, this chat gets very technically specific very quickly... Also note: My voice is extra scratchy in this conversation so enjoy that for what it is! Christopher on the Internet christopherboring.com Blog post from Christopher's recent show at Future Tenant Artist: Christopher Boring on Facebook Follow christopherboringart on Tumblr Read Christopher's blog on Blogspot Email Christopher at boringart@live.com

Aaron Corbin is a very lucky man. Not because of the stage-4 inoperable brain cancer that he has been fighting for the past 4 years. No, this Iraq War veteran is a lucky man because he is surrounded by people that will go to great lengths to help him when he needs it most. His wife Natalie, along with his large network of family and friends, have championed him through radiation treatments, chemotherapy, and now a continued effort for alternative treatments. About a month ago, Aaron was told that he had built a tolerance to the medication regiment he was taking to keep his cancer at bay. The cancer had gotten worse. There was nothing more they could do for him. Natalie's response? "That's not acceptable." Sarah Ellis is Natalie's sister and a bartender down at the popular Central Lawrenceville spot, New Amsterdam. She came by my place to chat about her brother-in-law's journey from Pittsburgh to Puerto Rico to California and The Corbin Family Fundraiser event that she is putting together to help Aaron and her sister get settled in LA and pay for treatments not covered by his health plan.  Check it out // Support The Corbin Family FundraiserThunderbird Cafe (4023 Butler Street 15201)Thursday, February 26th, 2015Doors at 7PM // Bands start at 8PM If you can't make the event check out their GoFundMe page and give what you can.

After connecting with Charles on Instagram, (thanks again Matt Gondek), we arranged to meet in the Larchmont Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles at 9AM on a Saturday. He was getting a trim at his usual spot, the Larchmont Barber Shop—describing it as, "...just like Cercone's in Bloomfield." This wasn't an embellishment. The most noticeable difference was the Dodger's pendants decorating the walls where the Pirates' normally would hang. He was also on point by describing Larchmont Heights as a large version of Shadyside in Pittsburgh. For some reason though, Shadyside stands out in Pittsburgh, (an awkwardly posh neighborhood littered with trendy cocktail bars and a varied offering of expensive restaurants), where as LH makes sense when you think of a Los Angeles neighborhood as an outsider. Expensive restaurants, check! Specifically themed boutique stores, check! Farmer's market featuring gluten free vegan baked goods, check! This is where relatively comfortable Angelino's get bagels and hang out with their kids on the weekends. It's nice! Sidenote: While we chatted I swear to god I spotted Andy Buckley from the (American) Office... I digress.  Easily, we fell into conversation about Charles' site, his Youtube Channel, and his goal to share with the dudes of this world what they should be excited to wear. I learn the most from my chats with people in fields which  I have little to no experience. Honestly, Charles Godart and I are diametrical opposites when it comes to our interests yet bonded effortlessly over the work ethic required to get noticed in your field. Specifically when we discuss dealing with road blocks, I could relate to his perspective and appreciated his focus, adaptability, and professionalism. He also gave me some good advice about using the public transit system in LA for which I'm forever grateful.  dig his links // enjoy the photo gallery   Charles Godart on the Internet CharlesGodart.com Subscribe to The DapperDanMan1 on Youtube Follow on @charles_Godart Twitter Follow @CharlesGodart on Instagram Like The Charles Godart on Facebook 

Los Angeles in January is a sensation that cannot be recreated during any season in Pittsburgh. This is an obvious statement, but simply describing my time in Southern California as “nice” seems severely lacking. It's was an escape from the damp and chilly ‘Burgh that felt medically necessary. Instead, the dry air and very visible sun in Southern California feels at first wonderful and then eerily consistent. Maybe it's the skeptic in me but when things are too nice for too long I begin to wonder about the downside. Chatting with Damien Luvara, he's honest about the adjustments he made moving to LA in 2000 and the challenge that is a creative life there—but he was and still is up for it. Going on his 15th year on the west coast, he has now established a number of projects that he excitedly shares with me in this chat. Boss: The Untold Story of Tony Danza, is a play loosely based on Tony Danza's early life and career that, as touched on in a review, “is a... brazen view at the concept of stardom”. We discuss how Luvara came to co-write this play and star as Tony Danza, getting a blessing from the big man himself. Check out the links below for more info on Boss the play, and the documentary he's producing about SuttonBeresCuller and the Minimart City Park.  A gracious host, Damien invited us to his place in Los Feliz and even made the effort to snag us an orange from his neighbor's tree, (with her permission of course). His abode is decorated with art from Pittsburgh based artists, including a piece from past guest / current friend of The AP Collection Danny Devine! Enjoy our chat and check out his work! I'm waiting patiently for Boss to make it's east coast debut. 

After two months of hectic, I'm decompressing for a few mintues.