Happy New Year, SOTAns! We are kicking off 2020 with some great art-of-the-Midwest-and-beyond content, with a whole new year of it to come! In the words of Sarah Kuenzler, “Let’s GO!” Can we just talk about Lucas, Kansas for a moment? Wait, never heard of it? Well, listen on in because it’s a favorite art pilgrimage, listed on Artsy along with sites like the Getty. Next, we talk about just why is it so hard to get a job in art?? Why, though? We talk about personal experiences and greater factors...
Jan 13, 2020•51 min
Hello SOTAns! We hope you are enjoying your holidays if you celebrate! We are and, in fact, we're on a break right now. But, not to worry! We've prepared for you a hilarious blooper and outtakes reel from 2019. This is just for fun and won't have any educational content. However, we will be back in January 2020 with more great things to come. Happy New Year!
Dec 30, 2019•28 min
Salutations SOTAns! This week, we have updates from Northern Spark which come with some participatory prompts! Check out our links below to participate in the community survey and get more info on their AOV10 show. We're also giving you the DL on the magnificent exhibition Queer Forms , which was at the Katherine E. Nash gallery. This show was a spectacular queer wonderland of art excellence and we're so excited to talk to you about it! Last but certainly not least, we have a reprise from Teréz ...
Dec 16, 2019•51 min
Greetings SOTAns! This week we have a lot of juicy art discussions such as how the Baltimore Museum of art is starting an initiative to only collect women artists in 2020. Also, we talk about the new model of combined customer service and security position at the Portland Art Museum and some of the motivations and potential consequences regarding this adjustment. Last but not least, Donny Gettinger is back with a deeper dive into his practice! References: "Baltimore Museum of Art Will Only Colle...
Dec 02, 2019•41 min
Hi SOTAns! Wow, we are so excited to bring you this episode! It is overflowing with arty goodness. First, we have a bitter-sweet story on local artist Aldo Moroni, who called upon help from the local arts community to help finish his last project. Next, we present to you The Most Open Museum, aka. The Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin in Madison! This museum has changed its hours to be open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. How does this benefit the community? What possible challe...
Nov 17, 2019•54 min
Salutations, SOTAns! What an exciting week! First off, we have to break it to you that Northern Spark is taking 2020 off. But don't fear - It will be back! Let us tell you what's going on. Next, we discuss alternative means of exhibition-making. Exhibitions can exist outside of a certain space and/or time. We have many examples of how and also want to inspire you to re-think how you might go about making an exhibition! Finally, we have a guest who we have mentioned before! Their name is Christop...
Nov 03, 2019•51 min
Happy Halloween SOTAns! First, have you seen that billboard at the corner of University and Vandalia? The one where there are multiple depictions of a shirtless man posing with various vegetables? We have discovered what that's all about! Next, want to know how to get in the Halloween spirit and also support local arts at the same time ? We have many creepy, creative happenings to suggest for you! Finally, we have an exceptionally excellent interview with renowned Minnesota artist, Andy Ducett! ...
Oct 20, 2019•47 min
Salutations SOTAns! We are excited to be back from our short break! This episode, we discuss the unveiling of Kehinde Wiley's Rumors of War in Times Square and the implications of its final home in Richmond, VA. Then, we bring you back to the great Minnesota get-together, the MN State Fair! More specifically, we talk about the Fine Art Competition at the fair. How does this exhibition serve and reflect our communities? Why are MN artists so attached to it? Finally, Sarah presents a knock-out int...
Oct 06, 2019•56 min
Greetings SOTAns! We are pleased to present the third and final edition of our September bonus content! Please enjoy this extended interview with Kelly O'Brien. Check out our recent episode, Neurodiversity in Museums // Kelly O'Brien for the full interview and get to know the artist even more! Visit Kelly O'Brien's website!
Sep 30, 2019•9 min
Hello SOTAland! We have another fantastic bonus interview for you this week! Enjoy this extra segment from our interview with local illustrator Chirsti Furnas. To hear more and get to know Christi even better, check out our past episode Local Mental Health & Art Resources // Christi Furnas . To learn more about Christi, visit her website!
Sep 23, 2019•8 min
Hello SOTAns! Don't you just love the local artists we've interviewed? We definitely do! And guess what—we have even more interview clips to share with you! This week, we start with an extended clip of our interview with Alison Hiltner. If you haven't yet, go back and listen to our episode "Des Moines Art Center and Alison Hiltner" to get acquainted with Alison even better! For images and more info, visit Alison's website https://alisonhiltner.com/...
Sep 15, 2019•7 min
Hello SOTAns, We have some fun things for you this week! In the news we talk about artists participating in the Aichi Trienniale who asked for their work to be taken down, in reaction to a closure of a gallery in the exhibition alleged as censorship. We then talk about the Andy Warhol retrospective exhibition at SFMOMA and if the most famous figures in art history can be presented in a fresh way or, if they even need to be. Then, we have a fabulous interview with local artists Regan Golden! Refe...
Sep 06, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 16
In the news, we discuss how the artists of the Whitney Biennial leveraged their very presence in protest of Warren Kanders (of Defence company Safariland ) continuing to sit on the Board of the Institution. Kanders officially resigned his position at the Whitney in late July. We discussed how Museums can better equip themselves to appeal to a neurodiverse audience, and what the benefits are for institutions who make small changes to be more inclusive. Finally, Sarah interviewed the talented and ...
Sep 05, 2019•48 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Greetings SOTAns! This week we highlight ways you can engage in physical activity at some of your favorite local art museums! Take advantage of these while the summer still lasts! We also discuss Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at Mia and why it is both important and timely. Sarah wraps things up with an interview with local multimedia artist Jacob Aaron Schroeder. References SculTours at the Walker Yoga at the WAM Hiking with ASI Yoga at Des Moines Art Center Hearts of Our People: Na...
Sep 05, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Hello SOTAns! This week, we give you a little blast from the past in the news when we talk about former a Mia curator leading the charge to return Nazi-looted art! We then discuss local mental health and art resources–who are they and what services do they provide to the community? Sarah wraps it up with an excellent interview with local illustrator, Christi Furnas. References: “After 75 Years, Germany Will Return a Nazi-Looted Old Master Painting to the Uffizi in Florence” -ArtNet News ARTS PRO...
Sep 05, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Hello SOTAns! This week, we are bringing you the special Pride Program we made in collaboration with KFAI Minneapolis. This aired live on Pride Sunday and features an interview with local, queer artist Christine Furnas, a discussion on local, creative, queer spaces, and a review of the Stonewall at 50 event at Mia! We hope you all had a happy Pride! References: SOTA: State of the Arts on KFAI Quatrefoil Library A Conspiracy of Strange Girls Tailorbird Tattoo Rare Productions Ritual Print Co. Fem...
Sep 05, 2019•50 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Hello SOTA listeners! This week in the news, we discuss the Arts + All Museums Salary Transparency 2019 spreadsheet where thousands of cultural workers are anonymously presenting their locations, position, and pay. Hopefully, the results can help lead to closing economic gaps in the art world. Next, Jasa helps to demystify the question, “What is Digital Art?” Sure, you may get the concept, but we go into detail about some popular denominations and particularly highlight the realm where digital a...
Sep 05, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Hello SOTAns!! This week, in a special mini-episode, Sarah talks to Dustin Steuck (see the episode “Dustin Steuck and Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum” from October 7th, 2018) to discuss the history of the Stonewall Riots, their impact on the LGBTQ+ Rights movement, and the (FREE!!) Stonewall@50 event at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts happening on Friday, June 14th from 6 – 9 pm. Thanks for listening, and Happy Pride Month!
Sep 05, 2019•15 min
Hello SOTAland! We are thrilled about this episode! We are switching it up this week, with Sarah serving up the critical discussion while Jasa presents an exciting interview. In the news, we dive right into addressing the budget the Democratic party has recently unveiled, benefitting the NEA and proposing to raise their funding significantly! Unsurprisingly, there are rough waters ahead in this budgetary debate. Sarah presents a segment that we’ve dubbed Getting Wiley with Gauguin ! She highligh...
Sep 05, 2019•59 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Hello SOTA listeners! It’s SOTA-nice to see you. Just kidding! We are always ecstatic for you to be joining us. The news this episode is about US! We have a Big Announcement! Next month, SOTA Projects will be launching! SOTA will be infiltrating the physical dimension, bringing pop-up exhibitions and happenings around the Twin Cities. Be sure to add your email at the bottom of this page to get notifications for when we announce programs to the public! Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to...
Sep 05, 2019•52 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Hello SOTA listeners! We have some delicious ‘sota-flavored offerings this week! In the news, we’re heading back to our beloved Midwestern neighbor, Iowa, as we talk about a statue in the prison system that forbids portrayals of nudity, even in arts and medical educational materials. We then delve into the issue of privilege in the arts, and specifically how coming from wealth increases one’s likeliness of entering the arts field. (No one is surprised.) Then, we present an interview with local a...
Sep 05, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Hello SOTAns! This week in the news, we talk about how the Met Museum has hired Marie Kondo to deaccession objects in their collection. Presumably, only that which sparks joy may remain. Jasa took a recent trip to the lovely city of Des Moines, Iowa and recounts the pleasantly surprising art world there. Sarah presents an interview with local artist Alison Hiltner whose work, often mechanical or biological in nature, presents the viewer with an in-depth, organic experience. References: “Art Indu...
Sep 05, 2019•50 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Greetings SOTA listeners! This week, the news and critical topic are combined in the wake of the disappearance of an installation Desert X exhibition. Vandalism and theft of public art is no uncommon occurrence when objects are placed in the public sphere and the Twin Cities has encountered these issues in recent history as well. Why even put up public art, especially temporary installations, if they’re vulnerable? We then bring you an interview with local artist, Sophia Songmi, whose work appro...
Sep 05, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Hello SOTAns! We’re playing it fast and loose in this episode. First, in the news, we discuss how the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland has gone admission-free, how Twin Cities institutions make that work, and also the affects free admission has on the community. We also discuss the Without Boundaries: Fiber Sculpture and Paintings by Women, on view at Mia. Here, we discuss the intersection of media hierarchy, generated disparity, and fine art vs. craft in museum representation. Sarah brings ...
Sep 05, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Hi SOTAns! In the news, we give a verbal high-five to the NEA for coming through with their 2019 grants on time, despite the government shut down! We are also so happy to bring you a discussion this week centered around the importance of programming in the arts. Jasa talks about her experience viewing a screening of City of Joy at the Hammer. We then tackle the personal impact of this experience, how programming in the arts works, and why it’s important. Sarah presents an interview with local ar...
Sep 05, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Salutations SOTAns! In the news, we discuss the findings of the recently published Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey 2018, which notes that diversity in art museum staff is *marginally* increasing. Then, the big moment is here for the project Jasa has been working on, Desert X! After two years in the making, the opening week is here. Jasa relates the experience about working behind the scenes on a biennial and highlights the unique experience of the exhibition in the desert. Sarah brings us a ...
Sep 05, 2019•49 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Hello SOTAns! We have exciting stuff for you this week! We dive in with a discussion on how to curate art exhibitions that involves communities which you do not represent. It’s a multifaceted conversation where be both bring personal experiences to the table. Relatedly, we talk about the nudity ban on Tumblr and how it affects specific communities, particularly in the art world. Lastly, we present an interview with local artist, Justin Nelson, whose work was directly affected by this ban. We hop...
Sep 05, 2019•52 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Hello SOTA listeners! We are excited to bring you our first episode of 2019! We are beginning to implement a lot of changes and improvements starting this new year. We hope you enjoy some of our experiments and as always, enjoy the content as we bring word on our local arts community! This week in the news, we discuss the government shut down and how it affects workers in the arts. Last week, workers officially starting missing their paychecks and many museum remain closed. We also scarped the s...
Sep 05, 2019•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Salutations, SOTAns! This week Sarah interviews Jonathan Aller who is an illustrator turned oil painter who blends his background in animation drawing with classical painting approaches to create works based off conversations with the sitters. Jasa reviews the exhibition From Non-Conformism to Feminisms: Russian Women Artists from the Kolodzei Art Foundation at the Museum of Russian Art of Art in Minneapolis. She touches on some history behind the collection, exhibition design, and highlights so...
Sep 05, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Greeting SOTAns! This week Sarah catches us up on what past SOTA interviewees have been up to recently. Many exciting things have been going on so, listen in for the inside scoop! Jasa addresses the Egypt’s Sunken Cities exhibition at Mia and leads a discussion on the art museum vs. the history museum experience. In the news, we talk about the cutest story we have covered yet! Two cats have been attempting to enter a museum in Japan, prompting a friendly relationship with a museum guard. ps. We ...
Sep 05, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 12
