Art Lives

Greg Dudzienski is a saxophonist, composer, and an educator based in Chicago. He retired from the Navy Music Program last fall. In Episode 2 Greg tells us about his personal and professional transition to civilian life. We also discuss the many hours artists need to dedicate to their craft, some socially and some in solitude. Greg’s conversation is in 2 parts - Episode 2 & 3.

Each episode ends with an excerpt from Greg’s album La Luna, with

Francesco D'Errico - Piano
Marco De Tilla - Bass
Marco Fazzari - Drums

Greg read two excerpts from the book Flow, written by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He also paraphrased author Austin Kleon.

Greg’s “Three Things:”

* John Coltrane - A Love Supreme and Crescent

*Natalie Prass - Her new album is the Future and the Past

*Paul Simon - His new album is In the Blue Light

Title and transition music heard on this episode was composed by Nicholaus Meyers: Slightly Funky, performed by Ken Jimenez and Nicholaus Meyers, and End of Time performed by Elizabeth DeLamater. Art Lives is available here and on ITunes

Jennifer Uphoff Gray is the Artistic Director of Forward Theatre, a not-for-profit professional theater company based in Madison, Wisconsin.

In this episode Jennifer talks us through her self-designed training, from her “lightbulb” moment to Broadway. We learn how Jennifer collaborated with other artists to form a new thriving arts organization, one that allows her to maintain her family legacy of community engagement and social justice. We also discuss day-to-day-life as an artistic director, and her belief that personal suffering is not required for creative expression.

Jen’s “Three Things:”

• Watching an aspiring director learn, apprentice and now direct theatre professionally
• Excellent new dramatic art available on entertainment streaming services, which allow unusual and experimental storytelling
• The passionate dedication of her colleague, Julia Nicholas, Forward Theatre’s Development Director

Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.

Zahra Gordon is an award-winning Caribbean American poet, journalist and writer living in La Brea, Trinidad & Tobago. On this episode Zahra recounts her experiences growing up in both Trinidad and the United States. We learn of Zahra’s mission to rescue voices from the past before they disappear, and gain a glimpse into the vibrant ecosystem of thought that creates Zahra’s art.

Zahra’s blog, “Zee Speaks,” contains links to her published work. In addition, Zahra runs Speakeasy Solutions, which provides private tuition in English language, literature, reading and creative writing.

Zahra’s “Three Things:”

TEZA, a film by Haile Gerima

*Citizen, a book by poet Claudia Rankine

*The works of Kerry James Marshall

Zahra also mentioned authors Chester Himes, Zora Neal Hurston, and professor, scholar and poet R. Victoria Arana.

Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here and on Apple Podcasts.

Li-Hsuan Hsu is an art educator and researcher whose interests lie at the intersection of arts and leadership.

In this episode, Li-Hsuan tells us how she uses art to teach students leadership and coping skills for difficult times. She also speaks about how the practice of making art can create a space to pause, recalibrate, and process our emotions.

Some of Li-Hsuan’s recent research can be found here.

Some recent artwork can be found here.

Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.

Dr. Clifford Alexis was a virtuoso musician and composer, an innovative steelpan builder and tuner, a brilliant educator, and mentor and friend to people all over the world. Cliff first came to the U.S. in 1964 as a member of the National Steelband of Trinidad and Tobago. He performed all over the world with this group and as leader of his own groups, and then taught for 12 years in the St. Paul, Minnesota public schools, and 27 years at Northern Illinois University. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from NIU and the Chaconia Silver National Award from Trinidad and Tobago.

This is special episode of Art Lives. It is part of a 2008 interview presented now to honor Cliff, who passed away on Tuesday, January 29 at age 82.

People have shared incredible stories this week about Cliff, what he taught them, how he cared for them and how he changed their lives. He was dedicated to his family, yet somehow took care of countless others.

In the 1980s and 90s there was a lot of misinformation in the United States about the origins of the steel pan in Trinidad & Tobago, where Cliff was born. Many first and second generation steelpannists did not speak about their shared history, Cliff included. Finally, in the early 2000s, more players and pan builders agreed to speak on the record, including Cliff. (My doctoral research was inspired by Cliff’s pan story, and this interview, as well as other introductions he made, enabled my entire project.)

Cliff has said some of this information in other interviews, but he includes some wonderful details here, including Cliff’s touring years in the 1970s, and how he learned to love teaching. You will hear passion, honesty and comedy in this interview. I think friends, family and new listeners alike will enjoy hearing him talk about his remarkable life.

Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.