067. The Tribeca Festival, New York Art Fairs, and Why We Need To Treat Those Building A More Just World Better

In Episode 68 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff is joined by Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne, the co-curators of “Freedom Dreams”, a film exhibition currently on view at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, PA."Freedom Dreams" asks us to ponder the forms that freedom takes for Black Americans at the 250th anniversary of America's founding, giving visitors five short films created by Black artists and filmmakers to stimulate that thought process.Liberty, Maori, and James discuss the following:What they believe that today’s version of freedom and liberation for Black people looks likeWhy film was the correct artistic medium to make the “Freedom Dreams” case to the publicHow they narrowed down the “Freedom Dreams” exhibit selection to these five specific artistsThe level of influence that both author and historian Robin D. G. Kelley (from whose work this exhibit takes its name) and Dr. Albert Barnes (founder of the Barnes Foundation) had on the spirit of the "Freedom Dreams” exhibitWhether Philadelphia is doing a good job in promoting and facilitating the freedom and liberation of its Black citizens and other citizens of colorAnd more!MAORI’S BIO:Maori Karmael Holmes is a filmmaker, curator and cultural worker. She founded BlackStar Film Festival and serves as Chief Executive & Artistic Officer of BlackStar Projects. She has organized film programs at Anthology Film Archives, Barnes Foundation, MOCA, and Whitney Museum, and has organized the exhibitions Freedom Dreams (2026), Rashid Zakat: Uses of the Ironic (2024), Terence Nance: Swarm (2023), among others.JAMES’S BIO:James Claiborne is the Fleischner Family Vice President for Engagement at the Barnes Foundation and a curator and educator with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arts sector. He previously served as Director of Programming at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Programs at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. At the Barnes, he is co-curator of Freedom Dreams, the museum’s latest special exhibition, on view now, and has also co-curated John Dowell: A Public Intimate Space and William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision, including its accompanying performance series choreographed by Brendan Fernandes. RESOURCES AND REFERENCESManic Metallic, “250 Years of Dreaming About Freedom” (“Freedom Dreams” exhibition review): https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/250-years-of-dreaming-about-freedom/Barnes Foundation, “Freedom Dreams”: https://www.barnesfoundation.org/whats-on/exhibitions/freedom-dreamsBarnes Foundation - Free July at the Barnes Foundation for Philadelphia city residents(info): https://www.barnesfoundation.org/whats-on/free-julyBlackstar Projects: https://blackstarprojects.org/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

On Episode 67 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff talks about the following:Manic Metallic’s upcoming coverage of the Tribeca Festival (which runs from June 3-14, 2026), from the ground in New York, and how listeners can keep up with that coverageManic Metallic’s press coverage of events over the past couple of months, including numerous art fairs, exhibitions, a fashion show, and a conferenceThe recent passing of Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, better known as Jerry GogosianThe decision for Anxiety.eco to shut down, and how that is a bad indicator for those who wish to hold the fashion (and other creative) industries to accountRESOURCES AND REFERENCES"Tribeca Festival 2026 Preview: Keep An Eye Out For These Six Films”: https://manicmetallic.com/films/tribeca-festival-2026-preview-keep-an-eye-out-for-these-six-films/“Opulence At The Armory: TEFAF New York 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/opulence-at-the-armory-tefaf-new-york-2026/“Notes From Frieze New York 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/notes-from-frieze-new-york-2026/“How Do We Choose Who Gets To Be Immortalized?”: https://manicmetallic.com/reviews/how-do-we-choose-who-gets-to-be-immortalized/“Nature, Mourning, and Hope: The Jefferson Fashion Design Class of 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/events/nature-mourning-and-hope-the-jefferson-fashion-design-class-of-2026/“A Nation of Artists — For Over 250 Years”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/a-nation-of-artists-for-over-250-years/“250 Years of Dreaming About Freedom”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/250-years-of-dreaming-about-freedom/“Marcel Duchamp Never Stopped Being An Artist”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/marcel-duchamp-never-stopped-being-an-artist/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manic-metallicCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

On Episode 66 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff talks about the concept of “spring cleaning” your business, and five ways that you should consider doing that spring cleaning. Liberty will be engaging in this spring cleaning process over the next few weeks for Manic Metallic, and relays how she will be doing so to listeners.SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

On Episode 65 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff updates the Manic Metallic community on what’s been going on with the company after a missed podcast week, including the following:Many spring press previews for exciting art exhibitions in New York and PhiladelphiaPlanning for the Manic Metallic Culture Salon, which is set for March 26thHow applying to a fellowship led her to question how she has been presenting her professional skills — and whether or not she has been underselling what she has to offerHer experiment with Anthropic’s Claude AI on auditing her Linkedin profile — seven areas that she was able to improve, and how you could potentially do the same updatesWhat everyone's goal for Linkedin should actually beRESOURCES AND REFERENCESManic Metallic: "The Whitney Biennial 2026: A Study In Relationality": https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/the-whitney-biennial-2026-a-study-in-relationality/Learn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is the hottest show on the streaming networks. Carolyn Bessette — long a style favorite of the fashion set — has now entered today’s mainstream. Her life, similar to when she was alive, is being picked apart piece by piece.You could say that people are obsessed. And that’s not a good thing.Join host Liberty Imhoff on Episode 064 of The Manic Metallic Podcast as she discusses the following:The specific traits that people admire about Carolyn Bessette — and why you can achieve those for yourselfWhat the people who say that they want to go back to the 90s are actually searching forHow the obsession with living in a previous time period robs us of the ability to improve our current lives and those of our fellow citizensWhy our society is made weaker by continually focusing on telling stories about the Kennedys — and what we should do insteadAnd moreRESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “#002 - Cultural Senses: What I Read, Saw, and Heard This Month” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/002-cultural-senses-what-i-read-sawLearn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

Meeting up with people offline is something that many people have on the top of their lists for various reasons — both to host and to attend.Manic Metallic has been listening to this sentiment from folks, and we have three in-person events either planned or in the planning stages for 2026 so far.If you are looking for a way to meet other creative people while building community, and you are either in Philadelphia, PA or willing to travel here, now is your chance to be one of the first attendees of a Manic Metallic-hosted event!Listen to Episode 63 of The Manic Metallic Podcast to find out what those events are and how you can attend.RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “#002 - Notes From The Underground: Company Founder Takes” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/002-notes-from-the-underground-companyLearn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

On Episode 62 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff is joined by her husband, architect Benjamin Imhoff, for a special Valentine’s Day Week episode in which they discuss the following:What interested Benjamin in architecture — and his advice for other aspiring architectsThe importance of becoming licensed if you choose to work in the field of architectureDonald Trump’s strange obsession with design — and whether it was wise to elect a developer as president of the United StatesGentrification architecture: what it is, why it is reviled, and the alienation that exists throughout all levels of the creation process — from design conception to public perceptionWhy the recent traditional architecture movement’s philosophy is anti-intellectual, and its right-wing populist leaningsHow both the hyperneoliberalist landscape and the lack of a cohesive design vision for society lie at the root of many of the architecture industry’s issuesAnd more!BENJAMIN’S BIO:Benjamin works as a Project Architect at Donovan Architects in Haddonfield, NJ. He is licensed to practice architecture in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he currently lives in Philadelphia, PA.RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “MM Substack Interview Series: Benjamin Imhoff, Architect” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/mm-substack-interview-series-benjaminDonovan Architects Project Page: https://donovanarchitects.com/our-projects/CONNECT WITH BENJAMINLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-imhoff-aia-94865a55/Substack: https://substack.com/@bfibfiSUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

The Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 collections just wrapped last week, so what better time than now to do another edition of 'The Last Word' for The Manic Metallic Podcast?In these episodes of 'The Last Word', host Liberty Imhoff gives her take on the shows and discusses her takeaways and the role that these shows are currently playing in the realm of fashion.Not every show is covered, and this is not a play-by-play, but many shows are brought up.This episode has the following:Two questions that people tend to ask when questioning the necessity of the Haute Couture shows, and her answer to those questionsHer take on the Paris Haute Couture SS26 shows: who did well, who didn’t, and why these shows matterHer belief in the talent of the fashion industry’s designersRESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: "#001 - State of Fashion and Culture" https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/001-state-of-fashion-and-cultureParis Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 Calendar https://www.fhcm.paris/en/haute-couture-week/calendar#20260129SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

The US version of TikTok is officially under American control after a couple of feverish years of no one knowing what was going to happen to the platform’s presence in the United States.Join host Liberty Imhoff in Episode 60 of The Manic Metallic Podcast as she talks about the following:Specifics about the new TikTok ownership teamWhy national security was never the true concern for the US government regarding TikTokWhy all major social media platforms are now compromisedHow artists and other creatives can continue to create and promote their work in a non-social media centric wayRESOURCES AND REFERENCESBBC - "What does a new US TikTok deal mean for users?" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5yynydvgzoThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter - "Five Things To Ask Yourself When Leaving Social Media Platforms” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/five-things-to-ask-yourself-whenManic Metallic - “Mark Zuckerberg, Joe Rogan, and Why Fashion Needs New Ways To Communicate Its Message” https://manicmetallic.com/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-joe-rogan-and-why-fashion-needs-new-ways-to-communicate-its-message/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

In Episode 59 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff talks about the following:Why — and how — you need to get really clear on your messaging this year, whether you’re an individual or a businessThe value of communication pillarsWhat Manic Metallic’s five pillars are for 2026Plus, a bit about a 2026 in-person event being planned by Manic Metallic!RESOURCES AND REFERENCESManic Metallic’s About Page: https://manicmetallic.com/about/The Manic Metallic Podcast - Episode 058: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3W3hMvOXGBuEgBK2ICb3Qk?si=86ee8eda36e64839The Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: https://manicmetallic.substack.com/SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donationsCONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribeManic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficialCONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoffWebsite: libertyimhoff.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations