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61 episodes with ronzo
Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes artists Pierre Owens, DeAnna Skedel, KE Griffin, Anna Marten, and filmmaker Jon Brick. JON BRICK- Experience the magic of Ronzo at an exclusive screening of Jon Brick's new feature documentary—a lively tribute to the man who turned a small Southern town into a creative mecca. Ronzo is a witty, heartfelt documentary about Ron Shapiro — affectionately known as Ronzo — who turned Oxford, Mississippi, from a conservative college town into an unlikely cultural mecca. His Hoka Theater became the beating heart of the town's creative underground — a sanctuary for misfits where college students mingled with literary giants like Willie Morris, John Grisham, and Barry Hannah. The Hoka hosted music, indie films, plays, and midnight adult film screenings, and drew counterculture icons like Abbie Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg and Hunter S. Thompson. It also helped launch the careers of artists and musicians, including members of Wilco, North Mississippi Allstars, and Widespread Panic. Outside the theater, Ronzo stirred up local politics, using wit and empathy to provoke dialogue and bridge divides. His legacy continues through Hoka Days, an annual celebration in his honor, culminating in a lively parade in Oxford. Though Ronzo's death left a void, his influence remains, reminding us of the power of creativity, inclusion, and the arts in shaping communities. Ronzo's story is told through the voices of his closest friends and family, including musicians from Wilco, Widespread Panic, and the North Mississippi Allstars; actress Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy); renowned Southern writers; and TV and radio hosts Jim Dees, John T. Edge, Robert Gordon and Tom Franklin — to name a few. The screening is Saturday, September 27th, 7:30pm Grand Avenue Temple 206 E 9th Street KCMO, 64106 Tickets ($15) are available to purchase through the International Documentary Association, the film's fiscal sponsor with this link: https://ronzo.allyrafundraising.com/events/922 If you are unable to attend, we are accepting donations also through the International Documentary Association Fiscal Sponsorship Program: https://ronzo.allyrafundraising.com/ PIERRE OWENS- I'm an artist with Autism who started drawing when I was a young kid. I graduated from Paseo Academy in 2007 as a Creative Writing Major. I found my true calling back in 2009 while I did some job shadowing at AbilityKC. I was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. Years later, he found my true love for movies. Movies have been a true part of my art. I come up with great movie ideas and create great movie posters for them. I'm an outsider artist with no art school education but has a God-given talent to create such beautiful portraits. The things that inspire me to draw are the people that I met, the places I've visited and the movies that I watched. I've done commissioned drawings for people across the country and some from around the world. My drawing style is very traditional and cartoonist-like. I mostly draw from pictures that I look at and from memory as well. Three years after I found my calling in the art world, I met professional artist Wes Benson and he inspired me to go further in my art career. In 2013, I started having my very first art show at his studio at The Bauer. In 2015, I showcased some of my drawings with Charles Mooneyham at an exhibit in St. Louis. In 2016, I presented a special drawing to former KC Mayor Sly James. In 2017, I had my first exhibit at the Bruce R. Watkins Center and it was a success. Months later, I was featured in an interview with former teacher Christopher Ulmer on his page called Special Books by Special Kids when I was showing off my ability to recall any movie release date. Right after that, drawing commissions started pouring in. They couldn't get enough of my work. In 2022, I had a second pop-up art fair at the Bruce R. Watkins Center. In 2024, I was featured in an exhibit with Harold Smith and other local artists at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. A few months after that, I had a couple of art fairs with fellow artist Trey Loomis at the City Market. In September of 2024, I participated in the 18th & Vine Arts Festival with Harold Smith, Trey Loomis and Crystal Major. Back in April of 2025, I participated in ArtsFusion KC and sold some art there as well. I'm currently participating in an exhibit called Digitalfiles/Flattiles at the Emily and Todd Voth Artspace. I have to say that being an artist can be tough sometimes but creating something beautiful can be the easy part. There were times I wanted to give up on my art but courage and the blessings from God has allowed me to never give up and to keep going. I had many ups and downs in my creative journey but I always come back up on top. Art will always be my true love.You can contact me for custom made drawings or previously drawn artwork by emailing at owenspierre81@yahoo.com or by calling or texting me at (816) 885-3772. ANNA MARTEN- In 2024, after nine years as a production illustrator who hand-painted signs and murals for a grocery store, I stepped away from my position and began to reimagine my creative process without the barriers of a corporate art world. I'm now getting reacquainted with the parts of myself that create for creation's sake. As an avid daydreamer, I acknowledge that memory plays tricks on us. If there's a boundary connecting memory, reality, and fantasy, then my art probably exists between all three. Lesser observed spaces draw my attention because I'm interested in the implied environment rather than the literal one. Whether there's a narrative to be uncovered or imagined, I enjoy recentering overlooked and candid moments as fantastical realities. Illustrating words was my primary livelihood for so many years, but I'm now more interested in exploring the conversation that exists between mediums. How do I conjure a story with both photography and painting? Can the two styles of communication work together while maintaining separate identities? In working together, is the result decipherable or purely fantastical? As an interdisciplinary creator, I'm open to learn or experiment with whichever mediums work best for each project. Anna Marten is a Kansas City-based multimedia illustrator with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. She approaches traditional processes such as hand-lettering and painting with vibrancy. Her professional practice has incorporated hand-painted signs, murals, and displays into Kansas City businesses for over a decade. As an interdisciplinary artist, she has utilized screen printing, photography, acrylic paint, found objects, and sculpture for exhibition pieces. A few exhibit collaborators include the KC Fringe Festival, MCC, InterUrban Arthouse, and Vulpes Bastille. DEANNA SKEDEL has been an artist and professor in Kansas City since 2002. Her eclectic, wide-ranging studio practice has been akin to the practice of reading tea leaves: an act of both divination and meditation. DeAnna first began showing at the Ohio Craft Museum while still in undergrad. Graduate school at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago brought about some time working in theater. Sculpture and good friends presented opportunities at such venues as the US/UKContemporary Cast Iron SculptureProject and Overflow/Fluids (LA Art Girls) at the Getty Museum Los Angeles, California. She has been a Kansas City Avenue of Arts recipient, part of the Urban Culture Project, included in the book The Sixth Surface: Steven Holl Lights the Nelson-Atkins Museum and a member of the Kansas City chapter of the social justice organization, Avodah. Skedel has been honored by her peers at Metropolitan Community College-Blue River with the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and is honored by students who call her “some crazy combination of Mr. Miyagi and Bob Ross” and is happy her children do not find her too embarrassing. Skedel has been an artist and professor in Kansas City since 2002. Her diverse, expansive studio practice resembles ... cooking—a meditative process of infusion and maceration. Reflecting on her life, she says, "As an artist, academic, and a parent of neurodiverse teenagers, I navigate evolving social concerns, teaching and learning styles, all while experiencing a shifting identity. At times, it feels like I am experiencing a 'puberty of maturity,' where, despite societal invisibility and the many layers my roles add, my personal evolution is accelerating." KAREN E (KE) GRIFFIN -I am a creative, proactive and transformative textile and performing artist possessing the innovative ability to formulate fabrics and seams into wonderful stories. My visionary process evokes and informs viewers by exploring tangible and verbal artforms. The art quilts, abstracts and panels are constructed of music notes, adinkra symbols, feathers, beads, prints, patterns, denim and 2D. The textiles contain the following materials: paper, African or cotton fabric on canvas or wood panels. After four or more art pieces are completed, stories are implemented to embrace the art quilt or abstracts. For 21 days, I shut off my outer body to support me with framing a piece(s). After the layout(s) is unveiled, I hand-select prints, patterns and threads to depict breathtaking textiles. My concepts consist of complying black outline drawings, digital graphing, photography, crayon drawings on poster board and sewing. Machine sewing or hand-stitching fabric on paper, canvas or cotton is my form of meditating. When my mind is relaxed, my hands control the progress and final art piece. I enjoy joining seams with fabric to generate a story, depicting my ancestors' journey to and in America. It takes two or more months to produce an array of textiles and stories from an idea to wall hanging, art show or presentation. Researching and studying the journey of African-Americans play an important role in designing, displaying and promoting my textiles. The primary purpose of sewing seams and applying a story is design to engage, empower and educate viewers of my creations about the history of African-Americans. As a textile and performing artist, I am honored to teach and share the journey of enslaved Africans in America through art and storytelling. My first solo exhibition consisted of twenty-one textiles on clotheslines with rope, clothespins, fencing post, burlap, buckets and concrete. The exhibit was designed to inform all generations with exploring the journey of enslaves, seeking FREEDOM in America. This quote best expresses how I hope people feel when they view my work. “There are times people don't want to hear what you're saying, but they will relate and engage to what you express through ART”. Art by .E Lewis
The self-proclaimed Vandal Extraordinaire. Crackney's undisputed finest. Ronzo has been an ever present fixture of the London street art scene since the early days.His characters exist in their own world but reflect on the issues of our reality and have, as such become iconic cult monuments of the East End and beyond.As I turned up to his studio, he was all set up to make me a sculpture while we recorded!We talk about Ronzo's chance move to London from his native Germany. His introduction to the street art scene here from his time sharing a studio at the Stolen Space Gallery and hanging out at the infamous Dragon Bar.We also talk a little about his move into computer game design (check out his game, Derek Deathfin), his digital art and more recently his NFTs.Ronzo is always evolving, always creating and always manages to stay ahead of the game. What a pleasure to get this time with him.
In part 1 of this 2 part episode we are joined by Ronzo (36 Works, Rosette Wellness) and Rob Golightly (Humboldt Marijuana Co., Lost Coast Distribution). We discuss their history, local politics, licensing, dispensaries, Prop 64, regulations, and many other topics.Rosette WellnessHumboldt Marijuana Company
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Tora comes barging in, knocking over our poor PTSD Jacob. Erdene tells them where Poppy went, and Tora immediately propels himself out of there, ponytail flying. Erdene and Quincy have a silent exchange, until Quincy reveals that he told Erdene something the day before. What it is, we aren't sure. They meet at a cafe, where, perhaps being eavesdropped on by an orange-hatted fellow, Quincy drops the bomb that Poppy's life may be in danger. Did Erdene know something more, or does she think it's only Julri, whom she and Jacob squabble over? In any case, Quincy decides to let them in on more info, starting off with what he and Tora are involved in... Meanwhile, Poppy is on the train, with no reception and no battery (of course). She is reviewing her texts, and we see that she felt comfortable enough to invite Tora to Moonbright, which is great given how horribly Julri treated her, as we can see in Poppy's flashback. WE. HATE. JULRI. But we love that this story is about healing and growth. Our final scene shows us a family emerging from a lovely house numbered 31, with Mommy blushing for Professor Tora (insert all corny jokes here). Tora is confused, looking at a text from Ronzo telling him this is Poppy's address, and we speculate on all kinds of theories. Recorded in Kog Aan De Zaan, Netherlands. ***
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