Advertise on podcast: The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with David Molesky — oil painter, former art journalist, and figurative artist whose work moves between organic abstraction and mythological figuration, using humor, symbolism, and turbulent natural forces to examine masculinity and the human experience. About David Molesky: Molesky's introduction to art began through drawing at his family's home in Northwest DC, where discovering his father's portfolio in the basement sparked something that never left. His path moved through post-impressionism, large-scale expressionistic figurative work, classical painting, and art journalism, including writing published in Juxtapoz and Fine Art Connoisseur, before landing where he is now — painting bananas as human figures in North Carolina. His banana series has become a signature body of work, blending rigorous technical painting with humor and expansive association. At SPRING/BREAK Art Show, his banana whale paintings sold out. He is currently working on more than fifty paintings, with ideas that keep piling up — bananas holding skulls, close-up portrait formats focused on peel and hand gesture articulation, and everyday scenarios where the banana stands in for the human figure. Molesky talks about why humor has been largely absent from serious figurative painting, how the whimsical character of his adopted hometown shaped his work, and what it means to be serious about your craft without taking yourself too seriously. He also has an upcoming show at Green Hill Art Center in Greensboro, opening February 24th, with a talk on March 24th, running through April 10th. Find David Molesky on Instagram at @moleskystudio and at moleskystudio.com Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Jesse Kirsch — graphic designer, artist, and co-founder of No Plan Studio, a Takoma Park studio combining contemporary design with century-old letterpress equipment. About Jesse Kirsch: Kirsch is a graphic designer and artist whose work spans print, installation, and community projects. At No Plan Studio, he and his wife and creative partner, Diane, bring modern design together with vintage printing tools, while making room for experimentation and unexpected turns. Kirsch’s path has moved through graphic design, letterpress, art fairs, and ambitious installations, including a project for a renovated NBC studio in Washington, D.C. He talks about how technology can be another tool in the artist’s kit, and why a project, deadline, or purpose can help get ideas moving. During the pandemic, he designed and printed three letterpress prints for Takoma Park, donating the proceeds to grants for local businesses. The project raised around $10,000. What began as a way to help neighbors became a deeper connection to the place he calls home — and a reminder that design can mean more than a paycheck. He also reflects on the name No Plan and the way creative work can take unexpected turns. An article once described the studio’s work this way: “The town is our portfolio.” In this conversation, Kirsch shares how that idea reflects No Plan Studio’s connection to the community around it. Find No Plan Studio on Instagram at @NoPlanStudio, at NoPlan.studio, and find letterpress goods at NoPlan.press. Photo credit: Shawn Bruce. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Kala Hagopian — founder and lead artist of Hagopian Arts, a woman-owned public art studio in the Philadelphia region. About Kala Hagopian: Artist and founder of Hagopian Arts. Her large-scale murals transform public spaces by blending botanical and wildlife realism with geometric design, rooted in ecology, culture, and our relationship to the natural world. Hagopian grew up in Vermont with her father, painter Philip Hagopian. No money, but art everywhere — fields, forests, and a public school Renaissance Program where she studied directly alongside ecologists and other professionals. Going to the source became instinct early. She trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, started painting murals, launched her first collaborative public art initiative in 2012, founded Hagopian Arts on her own in 2016 — the same year her son was born — and in 2018 started the EcoMural Project, often painting with her baby on her back. That project now sits at 26 murals, each taking three to eight months to complete. She talks about building it through partnerships with organizations like John Heinz Wildlife Refuge, Philly Orchard Project, North American Land Trust, and Pollinator Partnership — groups that bring research, community education, and ecological depth into every project. She also talks money and compromise. Early on, she'd spend six months on a job someone else finished in two weeks — same pay. She kept going, pushing every piece past what was expected. "I wasn't willing to compromise how I really wanted to paint, and I think that's defined me." On independence, her answer is the same every time: "I cannot let life just happen to me. I want to be creating it." Find Kala Hagopian on Instagram at @HagopianArts and at HagopianArts.com. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Washington, D.C.-based chef Nicholas Martino! About Chef Nicholas Martino: Chef, entrepreneur, and proprietor of ABOVEGROUND, a British street-food and pub concept, and Egg Yaki, a Japanese comfort food concept, both located inside Union Market DC. His work brings together his culinary travels, love of British and Southeast Asian food cultures, and creative approach to cooking. We start at the beginning — Martino's earliest food memories include his mother pushing the boundaries of what he was willing to try, from couscous to sushi. He started working in restaurants at 14, eventually finding his way to culinary school and discovering that cooking was the path he wanted to pursue. We get into his story from Pennsylvania restaurant kitchens to London, where he trained under legendary chef Marco Pierre White, and later to Singapore, where he helped open Marco's first restaurant in Southeast Asia. Those experiences shaped his approach to food, introduced him to new cultures, and helped him develop his own culinary voice. Martino also opens up about the philosophy at the center of his work: treating food as art, embracing creativity, and making room for experimentation. He talks about building ABOVEGROUND as a love letter to British culture, developing Egg Yaki from his travels through Southeast Asia, and creating a kitchen culture where mistakes become opportunities to learn. As he puts it, "There are no problems, there's only solutions." He talks about where he and his work intersect — from his passion for art and design to his commitment to fostering creativity and trust among his team. He also shares the story behind his signature house bacon dish, his approach to proper British fish and chips, and his belief that cooking is one of the easiest ways to understand another culture. And he closes with advice for people navigating the challenges of the hospitality industry that is direct: don't let the haters get to you, never give up, and always bet on yourself. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this special bonus episode of The Truth In This Art, host Rob Lee welcomes David R. Ibata back to the podcast, this time to talk about his solo show, Vignettes, in front of an audience at Vika Gallery! About David R. Ibata: DC-area painter with Jamaican and Congolese roots, raised in Maryland and Washington DC, whose solo show Vignettes at Vika Gallery explores the influential moments, experiences, and cultural forces that shaped him as a person and as an artist. We recorded this one on October 3rd at Vika Gallery on 1700 Connecticut Avenue Northwest — a director's commentary of David's work, in front of a live audience. The work is a visual exploration of the people, places, images, sounds, and experiences that surrounded him growing up in a city in constant transition. We get into the 80s sci-fi that gave him a sense of comfort and identity — Star Trek, Star Wars, Highlander — at a time when outside felt dangerous. He's direct about his complicated relationship with hip hop growing up: "to me it represented the violence that was outside." That tension — between the culture surrounding him and the worlds he escaped into through film and television — is threaded throughout the work. We also talk about process: building up a body of work over the better part of a year, figuring out what stays and what goes, and the labor of constructing a painting that actually works — getting the face right, calculating the light, building it up from nothing. Be sure to follow David and follow Vika Gallery — links in the show notes. Photo courtesy of subject Be sure to follow David R. Ibata and Vika Gallery — links in the show notes. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Afghan American painter Sara Diani at Eaton Hotel in Downtown DC! About Sara Diani: Afghan American artist based in Northern Virginia and working in Washington DC, who works in oil and soft pastel to explore intimacy, desire, and attachment — focusing on fragments of the body, lingerie, fabric, curves, and the spaces between forms. We start at the beginning — Sara's first creative memory is getting reprimanded in first grade for not waiting for the paint to dry during a portrait exercise. She connects that moment directly to who she is now: an oil painter who needs glow, patience, and time. We get into her path to painting — a BA in art history from George Mason University with a focus on Eastern art, a photography background that served as a bridge to creative freedom, and drawing people, something she says has always stayed with her. Sara also opens up about the tension at the center of her work: growing up Afghan American in a culture where modesty was expected and desire was not something you put on a canvas. She's clear that she can only speak from her own experience — while being direct that curiosity about the body, yearning, and intimacy is what pulls her to make work. As she puts it, she "alchemizes" those feelings onto canvas. She talks about where she and her work intersect — her answer is that they don't diverge. She exists in her creativity. And she talks about the music and television that gave her a sense of freedom growing up — Busta Rhymes, the visual wildness of 90s music videos — and how that shaped her sense of what art could look like. And she closes with advice for artists that is direct: focus on your work, focus on your voice, and don't water it down for anyone. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I'm joined by poet, gallerist, and founder of RUBY/DAKOTA Hannah Studnick. About Hannah Studnick: Hannah Studnick is an impossibly young and beautiful poet, as well as the founder of RUBY/DAKOTA, a tiny but mighty nomadic gallery born out of New York City's East Village. She believes art should be fun, and that people should buy more of it. Hannah introduces herself and her work for listeners who may be meeting her for the first time — walking through 13 years in reality TV production, which she credits for building her instincts around communication, rejection, and efficiency. She talks about how that background eventually pointed her toward art dealing and how RUBY/DAKOTA grew from there into nearly 20 shows and one official fair. We get into the October show at Ipso Facto in Hudson, NY — The TV Glow Sees Me, inspired by the 2024 film — which digs into our relationship with technology. The show opens October 17th and features work by Caslon Bevington, Jackson Daughety, Mina DeVore, Jesse Morsberger, and Allyson Packer. Every Sunday the show is open, Ipso Facto runs their weekly party Slippery from 4–8pm — DJ, food, open to the public. On October 24th at 7pm, we're screening Bad Actor by Allyson Packer. Hannah also shares details on the Miami art fair Clandestina, December 3–5, where Ruby/Dakota will be showing in a hotel model format. We met at Spring/Break Art Fair, and this conversation picks up from there. Hannah also mentions her poetry collection Bad on Purpose, out on Sunflower Station Press. Be sure to follow RUBY/DAKOTA on Instagram Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, host Rob Lee welcomes back Lauren Ashlee Messina for a returning visit to the podcast! About Lauren Ashlee Messina: Award-winning choreographer and community builder based in New Orleans, founder of skool.com/dance — the original and largest multi-style dance community on the Skool platform — and a longtime connector of dancers to one another and to resources. Lauren returns to the podcast and reintroduces herself and her work for new listeners, catching Rob up on where life has taken her since they last sat down together in person — including nearly nine years now rooted in New Orleans after growing up in Springfield, Illinois. We get into her work as a choreographer, from acclaimed presentations at the New York Jazz Choreography Project and 92nd Street Y to performing arts residencies at the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans and the New Orleans Museum of Art, and how she continues to make site-specific and outdoor work a central part of her practice. Messina also opens up about the origins of skool.com/dance — tracing the idea all the way back to a grad school vision of building an app to connect dancers in graduate programs — and how finding the Skool platform finally gave her the container she needed to make that community real. She reflects on how the group has evolved over the years and what it means to build a space where dancers of all levels can find connection, resources, and room to grow. She also speaks honestly about what it costs to be a dancer — financially, physically, and in terms of time and sacrifice — and shares her perspective on self-belief: not as something that arrives with certainty, but as something built by pushing through failure, again and again. Be sure to connect with Lauren Ashlee Messina on Instagram and YouTube at Lauren Ashlee Messina, and find her dance community at skool.com/dance. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Rée the Interdisciplinarian! About Rée the Interdisciplinarian: Originally from Los Angeles, she holds a BA in fine art and an MFA in filmmaking, with a teaching background spanning multiple countries. She now works as an impact producer and is based in Baltimore, where she lives at the intersection of education and media. Rée joins the podcast and introduces herself and her work for listeners who may be meeting her for the first time — walking through the path from fine art graduate to film school in Baltimore, to teaching English in South Korea for about eight years, and into impact producing, which she describes as building audiences and communities for filmmakers and media makers. We get into HOMEWORK, her MFA thesis web series, which she wrote to document her anger at systems that prioritize profit over morals. Raised by a single immigrant mother who outsourced her upbringing to public schools, Rée set out to indict those systems — episode by episode — covering the school-to-prison pipeline, the medical industry, food systems, and more. Rée also talks about Home Room, her podcast — nearly a hundred conversations in — which she describes as a human-centered design research project on what is and isn't working in education. She started it during the pandemic to reach people across the world, then moved back to Baltimore to focus on the city's stakeholders, and is now developing it into a documentary series. She also shares news of her first children's book — wordless and image-based — funded by a small grant and due out in November, designed so that the reader collaborates with the images to make the story their own. Be sure to follow Rée on Instagram at @theinterdisciplinarian and follow her Home Room podcast at @homeroomed on Instagram. Photo courtesy of subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Alexandra Cenatus! About Alexandra Cenatus: PhD student in the language and literature program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, director of programs at Maryland Humanities, and commissioner at the MD250 Commission. Her work spans public humanities, food studies, and Haitian cultural history. Alexandra joins the podcast and introduces herself and her work for listeners who may be meeting her for the first time, walking through just how many roles she holds at once — and why each one connects to the others. We get into her doctoral dissertation on Haitian food ways, which examines the cultural, social, and historical dimensions of food within Haitian communities — exploring everything from pre-colonial food histories and the legacies of slavery and sugar cane production to the deeply communal meanings embedded in how Haitian people gather and eat together. Cenatus also opens up about her work at Maryland Humanities, including a new initiative she designed called the Civic Moonshine project — a youth engagement program with three components: field trip funding for middle schools, an essay contest for high schoolers to envision Maryland's next fifty years, and civic panels at community colleges. She also reflects on co-authoring the Haitian American Dream Timeline, a digital humanities project chronicling Haitian immigration to the U.S., and what that work taught her about archiving, the gaps she found in the historical record, and going outside of the archive to bring in the voices and experiences of Haitian immigrants. Be sure to connect with Alexandra Cenatus on LinkedIn and visit Maryland Humanities at mdhumanities.org to learn about their programs, grants, and how to get involved. Photo courtesy of subject Learn more about Alexandra's work with Maryland Humanities The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, accomplished actress, artist, writer, director, and New York Times bestselling author Victoria Rowell is here! About Victoria Rowell: Victoria Rowell is a multi-disciplinary creator widely known for her television roles on Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless. Driven by an innate love of movement and a childhood immersed in the arts by her foster mother, she has built a dynamic creative life spanning classical ballet, acting, and independent filmmaking. She is the artistic force behind "A Woman Becomes," a solo photography exhibition at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) exploring the timeline between girlhood and womanhood, as well as the invisible strengths of the female anatomy. In my conversation, Victoria revisits how her early years on a working farm in Maine and a pivotal ballet scholarship shaped her resilience in the face of the entertainment industry's hustle. She walks through her transition from classical ballet into television — and why maintaining a diverse "bouquet of friends" is exactly what is needed to navigate the highs and lows of a creative life. Victoria gets into the experience she is crafting with "A Woman Becomes..." — expanding beyond standard photography in favor of incorporating mixed media, found street objects, and inherited items like rosary beads that honor her foster mother, Agatha. She speaks to how a chance drive past MICA led to a partnership with the institution, giving her exhibition a home that matches the artistic vision she has been building toward. Be sure to follow Victoria Rowell on Instagram at @victoriarowell to stay up with her work. For everything regarding Victoria Rowell: A Woman Becomes…, running from September 25th through October 11th, visit the Maryland Institute College of Art website and check out the show notes for more details. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, Pixal Fest producers Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo are back! About Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo: Keith Dukes III is an aspiring filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of Pixal Fest Short Film Festival and Pixal Neon LLC, based in the DMV. Driven by a passion for connecting people through story, he has built Pixal Fest into a community-centered event that pushes well beyond industry standard — curating films from creators met through social media, the workforce, and personal collaboration. Tony Diallo is the marketing and operations force behind Pixal Neon and Pixal Fest, handling event promotion, graphics, and the overall experience leading up to show day. Together, they are three years into building something that is equal parts film festival, creative hub, and community movement. In our conversation, Keith and Tony revisit how Pixal Fest grew from a scrappy idea into an annual fixture in DC's creative scene, and what it means to build a space where filmmakers and appreciators alike genuinely feel welcome. Keith walks through how the festival's selection process is rooted in spotting raw genius over polished resources — and why getting to people before they go mainstream is exactly the point. Keith and Tony get into the experience they're crafting on show day — refusing the standard black-screen-between-films format in favor of something fully immersive and themed — and how a Pixal Fest magazine is keeping the community connected long after the festival ends. Tony speaks to how their relationship with the Miracle Theatre has given Pixal Fest a home that matches the vision he and Keith have been building toward. You may recall Keith and Tony's first conversation on The Truth In This Art — I encourage you to go back and check it out to witness their growth. Be sure to follow Keith Dukes III on Instagram at @500milesperhour.dukes and Tony Diallo at @Tony_Diallo_ to stay up with their work. For everything Pixal Fest, visit PixalNeonLLC.com and follow @PixalNeon across platforms. Pixal Fest returns to the Miracle Theatre on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 535 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Whether you're a filmmaker, a film lover, or just curious — come pull up and be part of the community. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Renea S. Brown! About Renea S. Brown: Lexington, Kentucky-born multi-award-winning classical actress and Shakespearean specialist based in the DMV. A storyteller since childhood, Renea began her theatrical journey at nine years old, training at the School of the Creative and Performing Arts before building a career that spans the region's leading stages — from Folger Theater to Roundhouse Theater to Shakespeare Theater Company. She has earned three Helen Hayes Awards, co-founded the Black-led Eminent Theatre Company, and has appeared on screen in Godfather of Harlem and Law & Order. In our conversation, Renea breaks down Folger Theater's production of Measure for Measure — a Shakespeare play set in Vienna where a Duke quietly watches from the shadows as his appointed deputy, Angelo, abuses his power in the name of law and order. She walks through the play's central characters, the moral complexity at the heart of the story, and why themes of power, corruption, justice, and the silencing of women land just as hard today as they did centuries ago. She gets into what it means to perform this particular story within walking distance of Capitol Hill, why the Folger is the ideal space for it, and why live performance — people telling stories to people in real time — still matters in a world dominated by screens. Be sure to follow Renea S. Brown on Instagram and TikTok at @therealdarkLady and on Instagram at @ImminentTheatreCompany. For more visit https://imminenttc.org/  Measure For Measure, runs at Folger Theater from September 22nd through November 1st. Tickets start at $20 — go get yours. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Johab Silva! About Johab Silva: Brazilian artist and arts educator who has lived in the Washington, D.C. region for 18 years. Based in Virginia, Silva works across AI, NFTs, VR and AR, generative media, animation, video projection, and 3D modeling to explore environmental and community issues connected to urban development. Johab reflects on how his practice shifted around 2017, after a major, material-focused exhibition at Transformer prompted him to investigate where his materials came from and how they connected to the environmental issues already present in his work. He also discusses how his education in the D.C. area, including earning the final Master of Arts in Education degree from the Corcoran before its acquisition by George Washington University, shaped his professional practice. We get into the hands-on nature of working with digital tools. Even when he is using a mouse and computer, Johab explains that he still needs to feel the work visually and remain deeply engaged with what he is making. His process can move through three or four different software programs, from sketching and 3D modeling to animation, rendering, and video projection—each stage adding another layer to the final piece. Johab also shares why he created New Media Workshop while teaching in the University of Maryland’s immersive media department. Beginning with YouTube tutorials for his students, the project grew out of his desire to make intimidating technologies more accessible to artists and people working in the humanities. Drawing from his own experience learning software independently during his MFA, he emphasizes patience, kindness, and side-by-side support as essential to helping artists enter new media. Be sure to follow Johab Silva and New Media Workshop to keep up with his work, educational resources, and future projects. Photo courtesy provided by subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the returning guest is Dany Green! About Dany Green: Self-taught abstract glass artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Working outside of traditional mosaic training, Green has developed an avant-garde technique she calls glass painting, building each piece shard by shard in response to light, chaos, and the intangible. Dany first joined the podcast several years ago, and in this conversation, she catches us up on where her practice and her life have taken her since then. She reintroduces her work for listeners who may have missed the first conversation, reflecting on how much she and her practice have grown. We get into the physical demands of her process, including a wrist injury from overuse, and why building in real rest has become essential to sustaining her work long term. Green also opens up about what it means to return to the DMV creative scene after time away, and the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with reconnecting to a community and asking whether she still belongs to that story. She also shares what's ahead, including her upcoming solo show, Cosmic Mirrors, at the Silva at the Art Island Gallery in Washington, D.C., as well as a virtual art workshop where she ships materials directly to participants so anyone can join from anywhere. Be sure to follow Dany Green on Instagram at @danyxart to keep up with her work and future projects. Photo courtesy of Mariah Miranda. Dany's Art Workshop Cosmic Mirrors Exhibition The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★