Starving Art Ep. 7: Susan Sontag and Illness as Metaphor

The homelessness crisis in San Francisco is out of control. Chances are it's pretty bad near you, too. With over 8,000 homeless residents of San Francisco, there are bound to be artists in the bunch. Join me as we scratch the surface of the homeless community's stories, and examine the crisis unfolding on our streets every day. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter @Starvingartpod! 

Join me as I sit down with Madison Keesler, Soloist with San Francisco Ballet and co-creator of FreelyMad, her production company! We talked about her Covid ups and downs, creating new work with SFB, and dipping into her many talents to branch out in her career. It was wonderful to have a conversation with her, and I'm sure you'll love it! We talked about @sfb2021 's campaign to raise awareness about systemic issues in SFB and the classical ballet world at large, you can find them on Instagram.   Follow Madison: @Madisonkeesler on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, and Facebook madisonkeesler.com and of course, San Francisco Ballet!   Follow the show: @Starvingartpod on Twitter and Instagram Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! Share it with your friends! Shouting out the show on social media is the best way to help the show grow.  Please send me episode ideas, feedback on the show, and any great art you come across! I hope this show is a source of inspiration and appreciation for the artists behind the art. Onward and Upward! -Aidan

Listen in to the tale of William Utermohlen, whose gradual decline as a result of Alzheimer's disease was searingly documented in his late works. Throughout the last decade of his artistic career, we track how his illness was present and presented in his art. From the premonitions of his Conversation Pieces, the reaction to his diagnosis in Blue Skies, and the downward spiral evident in his late self-portraits, the art world and the medical community found significance in his attempts at expression despite immense difficulty. Fourteen years after his death, we remember and lift up his heroic battle with a disease that affects six million Americans.   Sources/Works Referenced: Blue Skies Conversation Pieces: Snow, Bed Patrice Pollini's Commentary on the Conversation Pieces The Lancet Paper on William Utermohlen (Free once you register for an account) Patricia Utermohlen's Essay on William's work For more on William Utermohlen's other works and much more commentary, go to williamutermohlen.org   Support the show: Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @starvingartpod send me episode ideas! Share with your friends and family! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!     Thank you for listening, and I hope you get some strength and encouragement from my work! -Aidan  

Join me as I talk with Avram Finkelstein, co-founder of the Silence = Death Collective, Gran Fury Collective, and independent visual artist Avram Finkelstein! After the episode covering Silence = Death, we spoke about the role of art in creating social change, finding love and tenacity through the AIDS epidemic, and the importance of community and collaboration in the artistic process.  Check our Episode 9 to get some context, and then enjoy this deep dive!   Link to the talk mentioned in the show: Public Art / Public Space   Follow Avram Finkelstein @Avramf on Instagram, and check out his work and book on his website, avramfinkelstein.com ------------------------------------------ Be sure to subscribe, rate the show, and share with your friends! We could all use some encouragement and inspiration right now!   Follow the show on Instagram @Starvingartpod

Listen in to hear how six gay men at the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic created the logo for an activist movement. Driven by their individual grief and anger, their creation took on multiple lives of its own, galvanizing a generation of queer people under attack from one of the worst epidemics of the 20th century.   Follow the show on Instagram: @starvingartpod Please rate, review, and share with your friends!  Sources: After Silence: A History of AIDS Through its Images Timeline and Stats Larry Kramer Essay

Join me for my conversation with Alessandra, Dancer, Choreographer, and fellow graduate of the the Lines Ballet BFA program! We talked about graduating into a pandemic, racial divides in her dance training and the concert dance world in general, and how she has kept up her dance practice. We also touched on "Our Voices", a dance film piece that the Lines BFA class of 2020 put together around the George Floyd protests. It was wonderful to sit down with her and I hope you enjoy our conversation!   Link to "Our Voices": https://blog.linesballet.org/2020/07/24/bfa/   Follow Alex on Insta @alesandra__x Follow me on Insta @starvingartpod   Please subscribe, rate, and review the show! I'm on all major streaming platforms, so pick your favorite and show some love! Thank you so much for listening, and I hope you get something out of it.

This time on the Starving Art Podcast we're diving into the story of Susan Sontag, whose cancer diagnosis spurred a pair of essays that dissect the myths and metaphors surrounding illness. Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and its Metaphors tackle the complex associations we form with different illnesses, and how we can distinguish stereotype from the true experience of illness. I dig into some of the prevalent myths around different illnesses, and offer up my view on how we've already begun to make a myth out of the COVID epidemic.    This episode challenged my writing skills, and so much was left out in the attempt to convey a succinct narrative. I highly recommend you read this except of the book! Link here   Please rate, review, and share the show with your friends! I hope to keep providing new stories, past and present, of artists who rose to the occasion and created enduring, meaningful work. Your support means the world, and gets more ears listening!   Strength and Love, -Aidan

Join me as I sit down with Samantha Weeks, dancer with Visceral Dance Chicago and co-founder of REVIVAL, a new accessory brand featuring up-cycled and sustainable pieces. We talk about the journey from our BFA program to Visceral, how the idea to start a company came about, and her favorite pieces from the new hand-painted line!   Follow her on Instagram @antha_sam and @revival_co_     Follow me on instagram @starvingartpod to get the latest episodes and behind the scenes content about the creation of the show!

This week on the podcast I'm joined by Artistic Director of Oakland Ballet, Graham Lustig! We talk about the ins and outs of maintaining a dance company during a lockdown, how the dance industry will change in the near future, and his ways to stay hopeful and inspired in the midst of uncertainty.     Learn more about Oakland Ballet: @oaklandballetcompany on Instagram and oaklandballet.org     Follow me on Instagram @starvingartpod, and subscribe to the show! Please leave a review and a rating, they help other people find me!

A life shaped by illness and death, enduring by the relentless pursuit of expression. In the face of deadly disease, Edvard Munch creates one of the only records we have, artistic or otherwise, of a personal experience with the deadly Spanish Flu. Sometimes the only thing to do in the face of tragedy and hardship is to make art about it!     Links to the artwork featured on this show:   Spring By the Death Bed Self Portrait with the Spanish Flu Self Portrait After the Spanish Flu     Please subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, rate and share!      My hope, as always, is for your inspiration and tenacity!     Follow the show @starvingartpod on Instagram!