Threads: The Art Exchange: Recent Episodes
Threads The Art Exchange
Threads: The Art Exchange is a podcast and platform serving as a creative safe space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists and creatives. We are rooted in community and seek to share our experiences, knowledge, and creativity. We interview a variety of creatives including but not limited to artists, curators, teachers, art collectors, and art directors on our podcast along with featuring more on our social media platforms.We offer our listeners and viewers perspectives on collaboration, culture, and insight into the art world through a BIPOC lens. We challenge the traditional art world norms by taking an unconventional path for our art careers and creating community through art. Threads: The Art Exchange launched in 2023 by artist Alea Brown and contemporary art professional Sydney Frakes.
On our season 2 finale we interview Detroit-based artist Mario Moore. Examining social, political, and historical issues, Mario Moore explores black identity and black history through his paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Moore sits down with us to discuss the importance of capturing history through his research process, his artistic influences, and what he wants viewers to take away from his work.
Working in the realm of lens-adjacent, interdisciplinary approaches, Rachel Elise Thomas' interests lies in older photography and images by critiquing the past and challenging people to think about changing their attitudes towards consumerism and colorism. Thomas sits down with us to discuss being vulnerable within her art practice and viewers walking away learning from her work and even feeling uncomfortable in order for growth.
Working in both traditional and digital art, artist Mark Sarmel’s practice centers around diverse people and cultures. Sarmel sits down with us to discuss providing a voice for the underrepresented and laying the foundation for his own universe for viewers to see themselves through his heroic characters and storylines.
Julian Jamaal Jones is a multidisciplinary artist and educator from Indianapolis, Indiana who primarily works with textiles and works on paper. His abstract compositions reflect the black experience, black identity, music, and religion. Jones recently sat down with us to discuss how his upbringing influences his work and how he is redefining quilting through his abstract forms.
On episode 8, we interview writer, educator, and fiber artist Fatema Haque who discusses the importance of documenting the Bangladeshi American community in Michigan through her hand embroidered portraits and the meditative healing practice of embroidery.
On this episode we discuss art that addresses injustice and how it has impacted BIPOC communities, culture, and the world at large.
On episode 6, we interview artist Marwa Hachem who discusses her experience as an entrepreneur, the role art has played in her motherhood journey, art’s healing nature and the her passion for depicting and sustaining a feminine presence in the art world.
On episode 5, we interview fiber artist Meli Bandera who discusses expanding their family’s legacy through fiber art by blending their Mexican culture with contemporary practices.
You rarely hear about BIPOC artists contributions to the world of animation. On this episode, we discuss the history of animation, including BIPOC artists who helped create some of Disney’s and Pixar’s most beloved films. Additionally, we shed light on current initiatives that support aspiring animators.
On episode 3, we sit down with artist Cydney Camp to discuss the power oil paint holds when depicting the black figure.
Do you think art can be used as activism? On this episode, we discuss the impact of global warming and if the recent rise in defacing art has been effective.
We open our second season with reflecting and honoring the lessons that have shed light on the reality of maintaining a platform that promotes unity, the essence of self, and the importance of introspection.
On our season one finale, we interview fiber artist, designer, and educator Taylor Childs. Her fiber work (or pieces) explores familial themes and narrates her lived experience as an African American.
Throughout history, art has been a staple in capturing revolutions through many different mediums. On episode 10, we discuss four artists: Shirin Neshat, Barbara Jones-Hogu, Emory Douglas, and F.N. Souza, all of whom have created work exploring race, politics, culture, gender, and class.
On this episode we interview abstract artist Dino Valdez Jr. (also known as Edethism). We discuss artist identity and the benefit of building community through collaboration.
We interview Stephanie Onwenu, a visual artist and landscape designer based out of Detroit. This episode unravels the importance of dismissing perfectionism to be present with your creative vision and journey as an artist.
Choosing a career path as an artist can be challenging; in this episode we discuss the pros and cons of conventional education and being self taught.
On this episode, we interview artist and educator Odette Duke, who approaches her artwork from a cultural and historical lens. Duke also drops gems on the importance of balance as a creative.
On this episode we explain how and why our artist spotlight segment was birthed. We kick off this new opening with Edmonia Lewis, a 19th century sculptor of Black and Native American ancestry and her significant impact on art that is only now receiving attention.
What do you do when your creative flame is no longer lit? In this episode we discuss creative burnout and share personal tips on how to prioritize self, maintain balance, and find a creative flow that works for you.
We dissect and reflect on our lived experiences as creatives and the importance of embracing when there is a party of one (self).
How do we define what art is? Who dictates that? What molds our definition of art- is it society, or our personal attitudes? In this episode, we start off with a simple question with a lot of different attitudes and answers.
Introductions don’t have to be awkward. We are your co-hosts, Alea Brown and Sydney Frakes. As business owners, creatives, and two black women in the art world we realized there is a need for the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) to be shared. Hence, this is why Threads: The Art Exchange was birthed. Join us as we explore past and present BIPOC artists, examine our truths as creatives, delve into current events in the art world, and most importantly, build community.