Creators Canvas

In this Premiere Episode of Creator’s Canvas, an interview with Barry Kornhauser, the award-winning playwright of The Children's Theatre Company's production of Corduroy. It is currently showing now through April 2. Barry’s stage adaptation of the beloved book Corduroy originally premiered in 2018 and went on to win the American Alliance for Theatre & Education’s “Distinguished Play Award”. The St. Paul Pioneer Press raves that it “leaves its audience delightfully impaired by extreme laughter.”

In this conversation we discuss Barry’s own inspirations, his unique creative process for initial writing and how a project comes to finalizing that stage magic. He disclosed his later hilarious but previously, unpleasant awkward and embarrassing moments. He shares sound advice for anyone seeking a career in the fascinating world of theater and adaptive playwriting. Ending with a surprise impromptu personal question for host Bridge Sky that many people often are curious about but never openly bring it up.

Episode 10 catches recently featured Artist Residency Winner Rachael Burlow of RaeMarie Photography before she hits the road again.

This talented creative has been blowing up the professional photography world post pandemic days and it’s easy to see why when you check out her online media portfolios. “Charge Your Worth...” Rachael gives sound advice for any level of photographers seeking success. The thirty-minute conversation gives a clear audio story of how a visual artist turned a side childhood passion into an inspirational gifted photographer selected to highlight the month of April with Studio Apparatus in St. Paul. April blooms Rae Marie’s amazing concept inspired in honor of her late brother’s birthday. Rachael started taking photographs at 15 years old and by the time she was a senior in high school, started shooting weddings professionally.

The conversation gets intensely intriguing as Ms. Burlow explains the parallels with careers as a labor and delivery nurse along with highly requested boudoir photo shoots professional. Bringing new life into the world each day as a delivery nurse prompts Rachael to advocate for physiologic birth and human empowerment! This motivational episode might bring you from laughter, to tears and ending with irresistible sighs of joy!

We got together with a fantastic trio of musical performing artists in Episode 9, representing a youth organization ComMUSICation. This amazing after-school choir program is centered within the Rondo, Midway and Frogtown communities of Saint Paul. They are celebrating 10 years building community through high quality music education. This organization is amplifying young voices and cultivating skills for success through equitable access to music, collaboration, and opportunity.

Executive Director Georgina Chinchilla Gonzalez and Music Director Carey Shunskis discuss the vision of giving a safe creative space that allows young people to use their voices to lead and make change, inspiring and inspired by their community through music expression. This is a fun endearing interview highlighting motivated creative aspiring Singer and Mentor Betsy. These ladies’ glow with confidence sharing personal inspirations, stories of beginning passions, and the exciting honor of showcasing “No One Stands Alone” at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts!

Episode 8 dives into the wide range of artistic platforms with creator, Mike Altobell-Resendez in this Creator’s Canvas interview. In Mike's spare time he enjoys creating wood, pour painting, and resin projects. Mr. Resendez has homed in mostly with cribbage boards and household items, but it’s anything from quiet or boring. We discuss his continued exploration of resin artwork expanding one-of-a-kind pieces around the new inspirations discovered beyond his home base of the Como Park community. This year will be his third annual entry for the MN State Fair.

Known by many as “Mike Rez”, he is also a self-described audio junkie. He is the creator and producer of the “Nine-45 Radio Show” running 5 years going strong currently on WFNU-LP 94.1FM Saturday mornings at 9:45am. He also co-hosts the “Amazing Pop Culture Podcast” as well as riding the synthwave era, booking shows with band Nitrowave Twin Cities. Recently launching a website and releasing the album “Artificial”, he stays balanced and centered humbly expressing individual resin art pieces as they flow or motivate the creative itch. Try to keep up and listen all the way through this episode or you might miss what is coming next!

Episode 7 of Creator’s Canvas interrupts band practice with Twin Citizen band members Adam Lifto and Joe Hartley. Born out of the Twin Cities, it’s not surprising this band has already had early success headlining bigger venues such as the 331 Club and First Avenue's 7th St Entry. Twin Citizen is a fantastic mix of funk, alternative, synth, progressive and independent style of rock music. Each member brings their own genre of preferences reflecting a wide range of musical interests, influences, and musical experiences. This 30-minute episode crams in an uplifting, funny, and authentic conversation with vocalist Joe Hartley and lead guitarist, Adam Lifto.

They make sure to acknowledge the other members of this group of 5, including Paul Narlock on bass, Will Hanson on keys and Joe Diaz on drums. Adam and Joe don’t hold back what motivates them, what key factors give them true camaraderie and more profoundly the unique stories that have led them to be one of the few amazing all recovery bands living a life without substance use. Twin Citizen recently completed recording in studio mastering nine original songs and premiered their newest release Splinter. One of the best episodes yet ... with proud members of the Minnesota Music Coalition Non-Profit, Twin Citizen!