Conversations with Artists: Reimagining the Art Ecosystem

About Conversations with Artists: Reimagining the Art Ecosystem

Join us for insightful conversations with visual artists as we explore the challenges and opportunities facing the contemporary art world. This podcast delves deep into the creative process, examining the unique relationships artists have with their materials, the struggles with waste and reuse, and the impact of sustainability on artistic practice. We'll discuss how the current art ecosystem, often driven by market forces, can hinder artistic expression and disconnect artists from their communities. Together, we'll reimagine a more equitable and sustainable future for the arts, where creativity thrives and artists have the freedom to flourish. Raquel da Silva is an Afro-Latina multimedia artist from Denver, Colorado who specializes in printmaking, sculpture, and the fiber arts. At a very young age they learned how to crochet and sew from their grandmother, which was initially what got them into exploring and creating with textiles. They are currently in college as a visual arts and environmental sciences focus with a minor focus in American and Italian literature. Their experiences with textiles began at a young age when their grandmother started to teach them to sew and crochet. Since then, they have branched out to other forms of fiber art and are practicing their skills in needle felting, rug tufting, embroidery, weaving, and mending. They find that working with textiles can often serve as a way of storytelling in a world where it can be difficult to find your voice and have your voice be heard by those around you. Next to their work in textiles, they found their passion in printmaking later in life at the age of 21. While Raquel was studying abroad in Florence, Italy for a semester, they hoped to take classes in either sculpting or drawing. Though, funny enough, they didn’t take either. Instead, Raquel took an etching class which was completely out of their comfort zone. However once they got into it, they were immediately hooked and have continued to practice and learn new forms of it. Instagram: @textilesoup.co

Publisher

Raquel da Silva

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Feb 2025

Latest episode

29 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Apr 2025

   Episode 9: season finale

   Season finale!! As we draw this season to a close, I want to thank each and every one of my guests for their vulnerability, their insights, and their inspiring stories. Your dedication to your craft, your resourcefulness in the face of challenges, and your unique perspectives on the art ecosystem have been truly enlightening. For those of you listening, I hope these conversations have sparked new ways of thinking about your own creative practices, the materials you use, and the communities you engage with. The journey of an artist is rarely linear, often filled with both triumphs and obstacles. But as we've heard time and time again, it's a journey fueled by passion, resilience, and a deep need to create and connect.

2. 

   28 Apr 2025

   Episode 8: Katie Bell

   Katie Bell is an artist originally from Rockford, Illinois (b. 1985). She received her BA from Knox College (Galesburg, IL) in 2008 where she studied fine art and race and gender studies. She graduated in 2011 from the Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI) with an MFA in Painting. Bell has shown her work at a variety of venues including Smack Mellon (Brooklyn, NY), Locust Projects (Miami, FL), Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center (Buffalo, NY), the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Brooklyn, NY), Spencer Brownstone Gallery (NYC), Kavi Gupta Gallery (Chicago), and the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum (Lincoln, MA). Her work has been written about in BOMB Magazine, Whitewall, Hyperallergic, Artnet, Sculpture Magazine, and Art in America. In 2011 she was an artist in residence at the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation’s Space Program based in Brooklyn, NY. She was awarded a fellowship in painting by the New York Foundation for the Arts and in 2016 the Saint-Gaudens Memorial Fellowship. Bell lives and works in New York, NY Instagram:@Katies_bell Website:katiebellstudio.com

3. 

   17 Apr 2025

   Episode 7: Tuesday Goe and the Fine Art of Slipping Through Cracks

   Okay, so today’s guest is... different. Tuesday works in places where you’re *definitely* not supposed to make art — billing departments, stadium back offices, glitchy old spreadsheets, corporate zoom meetings. They’re quietly rewiring how things run, turning boring systems into creative weapons. It’s subversion, but with a creative focus on enforcing ethics. They’ve worked immersive galleries like Meow Wolf and the Van Gogh/Frida Kahlo exhibits as well as the “stolen” Art of Banksy. They’ve restored sculptures, designed merch, hosted parties, built workflows, and coded policy documents... yeah, it’s a weird mix. But that’s the point. This isn’t about sticking to one “artist lane.” It’s about surviving between gigs, keeping the creativity alive when you’re surrounded by time clocks, NDAs, and breakroom coffee. We talk about what it feels like to be the person who fixes stuff no one else sees as broken. We talk about AI. We talk about getting paid (or not). And we talk about art that happens in the cracks — the kind that doesn’t wait for permission. This is Tuesday Goe. And honestly? They make being a cog look kind of revolutionary. Instagram: @weirdtuesday

4. 

   14 Apr 2025

   Episode 6: Katin Sarner

   Katin is a 22-year-old artist and jewelry designer from Los Angeles, California. Inspired by her artistic upbringing, with a mother who is a professional mixed media artist, Katin has been creating her whole life. In 2020, she launched her Etsy shop, Made By Katin, where she crafts unique jewelry pieces using hand-pressed flowers and UV resin. Her flowers are sourced from her backyard, Trader Joe's bouquets, and found on walks with her dog, Summit. With over 400 Etsy sales and a growing presence at LA flea markets like Silverlake Flea and Artists & Fleas, Katin has grossed over $15,000 through in-person and online sales. Her designs, which beautifully preserve the delicate details of nature, have gained her a loyal following among those who appreciate handmade, nature-inspired jewelry. Etsy (on Haiatus): MadebyKatin

5. 

   7 Apr 2025

   Episode 5: Iman Moaddeli

   Iman Moaddeli is a multi-medium artist with passions for theater and fiber arts. Since a child, they have been enamored with literature, stories, people, and laughter. Introduced to the theater at a young age, Iman was enraptured by musical theater throughout middle and high school in Denver, Colorado. Currently, Iman is a student at the University of San Francisco and has been featured in In the Blood and The Bald Soprano, as well as a variety of original student works. Iman has been a member of USF’s improv team Awkward Silence for two years. When not onstage, Iman can be found knitting, crocheting, and traveling!!!! They anticipate graduating in Spring 2026 with a BA in International Studies, with a focus on the Middle East and a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. Instagram: atlantisheartz Website: https://sites.google.com/view/iman-moaddeli/home

6. 

   3 Apr 2025

   Episode 4: Troy Houldin

   Today, I'm happy to introduce Troy Houldin, a artist based in Denver, Colorado who currently works at meow wolf in denver. Troy has been doing different forms of art since elementary school and  has further carried his passion into adulthood. Art has always been something that has caught his attention because he’s found that there will always be elements to art to be curious about as art is constantly evolving and changing. Although Troy did not go to a typical art school for college, he does feel like the school he went to  served him well for where he was at artistically during that period of time. While he was there his  primary focus was sculpture with a  secondary focus in painting. 3D work has always been more interesting to Troy because It feels like a harder form to pull out a complete composition. Before he started working at Meow Wolf, he was working for a pair of artists who made monumental size sculptures for public spaces all across the US.

7. 

   31 Mar 2025

   Episode 3: Sasha Kramer

   Today I have the pleasure of introducing you all to a wonderful artist and friend of mine named Sasha… Sasha Kramer (b. 2001) is a visual artist born in Denver, CO. She primarily works with installation projects, focusing on abstract narratives. Her work raises issues of the confinements our bodies experience due to architecture, clothing, and social boundaries, and how those confinements manifest in our memories and dreams. Through exploring this idea, she creates installation works telling a narrative that is meant to bring the audience into the experience. The work asserts a certain aspect of familiarity that isn't quite clear. She uses industrial materials around her such as wood, concrete, and metal in contrast with found objects that embody a certain sense of belonging and encapsulate their own memories. Follow Sasha on Instagram: @sashagkramer

8. 

   27 Mar 2025

   Episode 2: Natalia Da Silva

   I'm honored to introduce someone who is very close to my heart and I've had the absolute pleasure of watching her success and growth in her field. I'm so excited to introduce you to Natalia da Silva. The artist community knows her as talia Talia is an Afro- Latina, multimedia artist based in Denver, Colorado. Talia’s relationship to art started as a young child when she found her passion in drawing. She later got into painting and animation as her skill grew and today she works with all forms of art. Today, Talia is a self-employed artist and a part of the art and scenic technician team at an interactive art museum in Denver called Meow Wolf, Convergence Station. Her work often focuses on attention to detail and explores themes of beauty and horror that are often inspired by music, movies and the romantic era of art history. talia combines mediums with the goal of pushing the boundaries of traditional art and challenging societal norms and expectations within art. her art does not stray away from the uncomfortable but rather dives into it. Listen along as we explore her artistic journey! Follow Talia on all platforms: @ready2gogh

9. 

   24 Mar 2025

   Episode 1: Zecca Shimq

   Today I am very excited to introduce my very first guest Jessica Shymkiw. Zecca is an artist based in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and was initially given this name by her brother upon being brought home from the hospital. In connection to the younger version of herself, Zecca still goes by this name because similar to many artists, at heart she feels as though she has never truly grown up. Currently Zecca works as a personal caretaker and provider- however, she prides herself in her talent and commitment to the artistic world where she initially began her career as a writer and artist. To Zecca, creating art is not only a way of expression and play but also serves as her own form of personal therapy. Today, Zecca is committed to the art of crochet which allows her to not only create but also maintain connections to those around her. She finds  joy in making crochet gifts for her loved ones which has further inspired her to see the skill of crocheting as a form of art. As an artist who also started in writing and crochet, I find zecca and her story incredibly inspiring and am so excited  for you all to hear her first hand experiences in the artistic realm. Follow Zecca's Artistic Journey: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeccazoo?_t=ZP-8u8IRRiFKPP&_r=1 (https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Furl%3Fq%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.tiktok.com%252F%2540zeccazoo%253F_t%253DZP-8u8IRRiFKPP%2526_r%253D1%26user_uuid%3Dcb55e218-4b23-4e83-8b0a-7e944641350d%26stage%3D0%26hmac%3D40d96f8f472e38c2b440ed672627427b1bf5f017dc625f42dcf5b27fdcf3f579&sa=D&usg=AOvVaw2CL0ASBNHReo-3vvOFtOnl&ust=1740679500000000)

10. 

    13 Feb 2025

    Trailer

    Hi! Welcome to my podcast conversations with artists: reimagining the art ecosystem, a podcast that centers creators' experiences across the nation! Hear the raw voices of artists confronting the challenges of today's art world as we delve into the complex relationships between artists and their materials. we will also be focusing on the existing struggles with waste and reuse, and how sustainability can shape creative processes. Thank you for listening and I’m excited to share these stories with you!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

40

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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