Fresh Takes

Join host Ray McManus and producer Drew as they celebrate five years of The Binder podcast! They look back at some of the show's biggest episodes, revisit favorite behind-the-scenes moments, and share what's ahead for the future of the podcast. Then, Drew challenges Ray with a brand-new game Hue Knew, putting his knowledge to the test in a colorful finale.The Binder podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art.

What do a picture frame, a shipping crate, and a book cover have in common? They’re all contained in the latest episode of the Binder podcast! Ray McManus and producer Drew explore the often-overlooked role of the objects that contain the art and play a round of the Frame Game. Then, Drew talks with Jonathan Schwartz of Atelier 4 about the careful craft of packing, transporting, and protecting priceless works of art. Finally, Ray sits down with Hub City Press to unpack the art of the book cover and how thoughtful design creates the perfect home for a story.Transcript for today's episode: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9em3pgzh55v6fi9dn0vl9/Binder-Podcast-Putting-Art-in-a-Box-Transcript.docx?rlkey=cmks8it9s0n63v206thc20ini&st=nwitln26&dl=0

In today's episode, Ray wanders the newly refreshed CMA Galleries in search of his next favorite work of art. Joined by his wife, Dr. Lindsay McManus, the two take in the reimagined spaces before being lovingly put on the spot by producer Drew in a spirited round of "Taste Test". After the break, Kress Fellow Erin Kuykendall brings the collection to life, sharing stories about some new and old CMA favorites. It’s equal parts humor, insight, and a reminder that art is always better when shared—even if you don’t agree on the cows.Transcript for today's episode: https://bit.ly/48RtZU0Learn more about the CMA Collection: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/view/cma-collection

This episode of Binder steeps listeners in the world of tea, blending humor, history, and cultural insight. First, producer Drew tries to stump Ray with a rapid-fire round of Tea or Title. Then, collector Joseph Bruce spills the story behind his recent gift of New Hall porcelain to the CMA Collection, rooted in history and global trade. After the break, Angela Yong joins the show to brew up a conversation on tea as a living, communal practice and preview her upcoming Tour of Tea event, highlighting its power to connect across cultures. Along the way, Ray discovers tea is more than a drink—it’s a chance to pause, reflect, and savor the moment.Please consider supporting the Columbia Museum of Art for Midlands Gives 2026: https://www.midlandsgives.org/organization/columbiamuseumofartTranscript for today's episode: https://bit.ly/2-4-Tea-TranscriptLearn more about Tour of Tea: https://www.touroftea.org/

In this special episode of Binder, guest host Rachel Fludd leads a series of conversations inspired by the exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil. Through interviews with civil rights photographer Cecil Williams, arts leader Xavier Blake, and storyteller Darion McCloud, the episode explores how history, land, and memory shape life in the state of South Carolina. Together, they reflect on civil rights history, community storytelling, and the role cultural institutions play in preserving voices that might otherwise be forgotten.Link to transcript of today's episode: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/41ktpmoom51am8gzgdwj2/Binder-Pocast-Memory-Keepers-Transcript.docx?rlkey=6fg99uf7gm0j6n2iamt6i68wp&st=5r8whvzv&dl=0

In honor of the upcoming departure of CMA ExecutiveDirector, Della Watkins, we are re-releasing the podcast episode An Affinity for Acquisitions. Originally published in March of 2022, this episode features interviews with Watkins and then Affinity board presidents about the intricacies of acquiring art. New episodes of Binder Podcast coming in March 2026!Host Ray McManus seeks out answers on how art makes it into the collection with help from CMA affinity groups and themuseum's executive director, Della Watkins. Featuring interviews with Chase Heatherly of the Contemporaries, Adrienne Montare of the Columbia Design League, and Therese Griffin of the Friends of African American Art and Culture.Link to transcript: https://bit.ly/4bNb2nY

Ray and producer Drew sit down to reminisce on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. The Binder crew revisit the arts predictions they made last year, owning the hits and the misses, and then turn to what’s coming up at the Columbia Museum of Art and what they expect to matter most in museums and the art world in the year ahead.Learn more about what's upcoming at the CMA: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/

As the CMA’s curatorial team adds the final touches to the newly refreshed CMA Collection galleries, Ray and producer Drew sit down with curators Sadé Ayorinde and Michael Neumeister for a sneak peek at what’s in store when the galleries reopen on January 17, 2026. Hear what it really takes to reimagine and rehang 20 galleries in just 12 months—and how this latest overhaul brings the collection into a whole new light.

Inspired by the CMA's current exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, the Binder crew goes outside to touch some grass in an episode dedicated to art in public spaces. First, producer Drew puts Ray to the test with a quiz on the artworks on Boyd Plaza. Then One Columbia’s Pamela Zeljak joins the conversation to talk about how public art both reflects and shapes a city’s identity, its ever-changing nature, and One Columbia’s digital directory of local works.

Host Ray McManus is back to discuss simplicity, access to art, and working quickly on an episode dedicated to the CMA's latest exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision. He kicks things off with Chadric Devin, the museum’s Director of Learning and Engagement, to talk about Haring’s bold approach to art and the parallels Devin sees in his own trajectory through the arts. After the break, Richland Library’s Ashley Warthen drops in to talk about upcoming author talks, the library’s exhibition Art of Being: Visible, and her love for Haring’s iconic style.