The Waystation Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Chrysalis Institute
WAYSTATION is a podcast created to highlight and amplify the creative trajectories of emerging artists. This guided dialogue aims at unpacking histories, triumphs, and creative insights relevant to BI&POC creators.
On the last episode of season 4, we highlight the work and voice of Paula Mans. Paula is a self-taught painter, collagist, and art educator based in Washington, DC, Original land of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway peoples. While Paula is a native Washingtonian, she spent many of her formative years living in Tanzania, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Brazil. Her experiences throughout the African Diaspora shaped her identity and informed the development of her artistic voice.
Living in Washington, DC and Salvador, Brazil has been particularly impactful for the artist. Both cities are diasporic meccas for Black cultural expression and are famous for their prominent and influential Black populations. Nonetheless, racism and gentrification often render Black people invisible within the power structures of both cities. Paula seeks to critically address this social phenomenon by amplifying the visibility and agency of the Black figure in her artistic practice.
To learn more about Paula, and see more of her work, visit her website (https://paulamans.art/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/paulamansart/).
To learn more about the artists that inspire Paula, please visit the links below:
Zanele Muholi - https://www.instagram.com/muholizanele/?hl=en
Elizabeth Catlet - https://nmwa.org/art/artists/elizabeth-catlett/
Simone Leigh - https://www.instagram.com/simoneyvetteleigh/?hl=en
Romare Bearden - https://beardenfoundation.org/
Octavia Butler - https://www.octaviabutler.com/
Rivers Solomon - https://rivers-solomon.com/
Nnedi Okorafor - https://nnedi.com/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we are thrilled to highlight Dara Etienne. Dara is a multidisciplinary visual artist and craftsperson applying both institutionally learned and self taught processes in their work. Dara’s art spans from printmaking to woodworking, quilting, weaving, and more. Their pieces often revolve around labor, workmanship, expression of the self, and gender identity. Currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania original territory of the Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Osage, and Shawnee peoples. Dara is a member of the artist collective "HOT•BED" and spends their time laboring over materials to fashion new artwork.
To learn more about Dara, and see more of their work, visit Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_dararara_/).
To learn more about the artists that inspire Dara, please visit the links below:
Sanaa Gateja - https://afriartgallery.org/artists/sanaa-gateja
Cecilia Vicuña - https://www.ceciliavicuna.com/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we talk to rapper and songwriter Itee. Deeply rooted in her Nigerian background, "Itee'' began her music career professionally in 2019. Despite her underground presence, many ears are tuned in to this versatile artist. Taking inspiration from Lauryn Hill and J Cole, Itee embodies a nostalgic vibe that many of her generational peers born in the 90s can relate to.
Stick around until the end of the podcast to hear a hand picked track by Itee, titled: “Already Know”
To learn more about Itee, and hear more of her work, visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/itee.er/) and Website (https://infiniteerec.com/).
To learn more about the artists that inspire Itee, follow the links below.
Wande Coal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wande_Coal
MI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I_Abaga
J. Cole -https://www.dreamville.com/artist/cole/
KJ - https://www.instagram.com/kjnito/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we chat with Kashira Dowridge. Kashira describes herself as a woman with an intuitive heart- based in Detroit, MI, original territory of the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi people. Her practice highlights the world's current issues and her inner development. Kashira explores various dynamics of psychology and the well-being of others with intentionality. She is a self-taught artist and aspires to finish her BFA to deepen her knowledge during her transition from working exclusively in photography and film to a more interdisciplinary approach.
A Quick note: Between the 15:00 and 18:00 minute mark there is a discussion about gun violence that some may find challenging.
To see more of Kashira’s work, please visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kashiradowridge/) and website (https://www.kashiradowridge.com/).
To learn more about the artists that inspire Kashira, follow the links below.
Vivian Maier - https://www.vivianmaier.com/
Gordon Parks - https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/
Rog & Bee Walker - https://rogwalker.com/
Jenn Nkiru- https://www.jennnkiru.com/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we talk with Noah M. Shankool. Noah is a musician, producer, and audio engineer based in Kalamazoo, MI unceded territory of the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. With influences ranging from Disco and Funk to Indie and Punk, his personality is what ties it all together for an introspective yet danceable experience. Since his first EP was released in 2017, Noah has been a part of numerous bands, recording projects, and live sound companies. Along with receiving a Bachelor’s in Multimedia Arts Technology from Western Michigan University, he plans to further his studies in the recording arts through an upcoming residency with the Arab American National Museum. At the end of the podcast stick around to hear "Knot", a dreamy yet rhythmic Indie Pop track from Noah’s latest project, "The Kool Tapes’.
To hear more of Noah’s music, visit him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shankoolerthanu/) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NEZVsfwmEu5Ybo1ktNa3Q).
To learn more about the artists who have inspired Noah, please visit the links below:
Talking Heads - https://talkingheadsofficial.com/
David Byrne - https://davidbyrne.com/
Flaming Lips - https://www.flaminglips.com/
LCD Soundsystem - https://lcdsoundsystem.com/
Animal Collective - https://myanimalhome.net/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we talk with dancer and illustrator Austin Warren Coats. Austin is Originally from Reynoldsburg Ohio, original territory of the Ofo, Myaamia, Shawandasse Tula, Hopewell, and Kaskaskia peoples. He has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Studies from Kent State University and an MFA From New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Austin currently performs with Ronald K Brown's EVIDENCE Dance Company. Coats also has many interests in the arts including writing, illustration, dance, film, and fashion design. He has published illustrations in college publications and has provided artwork for various creative projects.
His life goal is to become a choreographer and artistic director, and hopefully find a space where all his artistic interests can collaborate and emulsify.
See more of Austins work on his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/austin_wears_coats/?hl=en ) and website (https://www.austinwarrencoats.art/ )
To learn more about Ronald K. Brown, visit https://www.evidencedance.com/ronald-k-brown
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode we are delighted to introduce another gifted artist, Sam Modder. Sam is a Nigerian-Sri Lankan artist that works figuratively in pen, collage, and digital media to portray larger-than-life Black, female characters taking up space in real and imagined worlds. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2017 with a BA in Studio Art and Engineering and from Washington University in St. Louis with an MFA in Visual Arts in 2022. She currently works as an Assistant Professor of Art and Design at the University of Tampa.
You can find Sam’s work on her website (https://sammodder.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sam_modder/?hl=en)
To learn more about the artists who have inspired Sam, please visit the links below:
Toyin Ojih Odutola - https://toyinojihodutola.com/
Trenton Doyle Hancock (She Called him Trenton Hancock Doyle) - https://www.jamescohan.com/artists/trenton-doyle-hancock
Wangechi Mutu - https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/wangechi_mutu/
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On the first episode of season 4, we talk to Saif Alsaegh. Saif is a United States-based filmmaker from Baghdad and is a part of a Chaldean indigenous minority in Iraq. Much of Saif’s work deals with the contrast between the landscape of his youth in Baghdad, growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s, and the U.S. landscape where he currently lives. He received his MFA in film from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
You can find Saif’s work on his website (https://www.saifalsaegh.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saifalsaegh/)
To learn more about the artists who have inspired Saif, please visit the links below:
Charles Burnett - https://spoutible.com/CharlesBurnett
Derek Jarman - https://www.theartstory.org/artist/jarman-derek/
Nathaniel Mary Quinn - https://gagosian.com/artists/nathaniel-mary-quinn/
Alberto Giacometti - https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/alberto-giacometti-1159
The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!
On this episode, we uplift the visually striking and bold work by artist Kimani Johnson, a fiber artist based in Atlanta, home of the Muscogee people. Kimani’s pieces tell a story about their personal experience as a black and queer person. The themes in their work continuously explore black erotic autonomy. Kimani uses images sourced from vintage black pornographic magazines to celebrate the sexuality of the women found in them. Join us in a discussion about questioning and challenging norms in art and self care.
To see Kimani’s work, please visit their Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/thenameiskimani/).
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
Today we are thrilled to introduce the work of the tenacious and talented Asha Rowland.
Asha, who is from the Greater Chicago area, traditional home of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations, is a multi-disciplinary artist and dancer with a focus in Bharatanatyam, various African idioms of dance, Raqs Sharqi, Hip Hop, and more. She has taught dance to the youth of the Chicagoland area for over 6 years and has been a professional group and solo performer since 2014.
Her personal work and movement have been a guide and a by-product of exploring her multi-ethnic heritage- Asha is driven by her curiosity of cultural intersections and ancestry.
Asha is also an ensemble member and collaborator with Lakshmi Ramgopal, of Lykanthea, as a dancer and vocalist.
To see Asha’s work visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/asha.d.rowland/) and website (https://asharowland.weebly.com/)
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
On this episode of The Waystation podcast we have a conversation with Jessica Aquino. Jessica is a fiber & multidisciplinary artist, poet, and horticulturist from Santa Ana, CA, unceded land of the Acjachemen and Tongva peoples . Inspired by her grandparents who have woven memories and ancestral knowledge across generations with their hands, Aquino approaches her work as a vehicle to reclaim this lineage. Her practice challenges the notions separating craft traditions from fine art.
She has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts, Creative Art Alliance , and Anna Zorina Gallery . Jessica was an artist in residence at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Chautauqua School of Art, Textile Arts Center, Santa Fe Art Institute. She has given visiting artist lectures and workshops at Rowan University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Haverford College. Listen as we discuss re-learning rest and family history as inspiration.
See Jessica’s work on her website (https://www.aquinoje.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/aquino.je)
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
Today we are excited to talk to powerful Melissa Ferrer Civil! Melissa lives on the traditional lands of the Osage, Kaw, Missouria, Shawnee and Wyandot people. They are a christian, first-gen, queer, black, femme, multi-disciplinary artist, organizer, educator and theologian who battles with mental illness. As such, a lot of their work deals with the impact of oppressive institutions upon the mind, heart, body and soul of marginalized individuals as well as the reclamation and redefining of community. Primarily a poet, Melissa writes into and from the body, and the spirit therein. They believe deeply in the quote spoken by June Jordan that says “Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth.” Their work has been published in Rising Phoenix Review, voicemail poems, Fahmidan Journal, Zin Daily and elsewhere. She was long listed for the 2021 Palette Poetry Emerging Poet Prize. Listen as we discuss living lovingly, and radical disengagement.
Experience Melissa’s work by visiting their website (http://melissaferrerand.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/melissaferrerand)
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
On today's episode we talk with Musician Henry Parwoth. Henry, artistically known as Headband Henny, is currently based in Kalamazoo, Michigan original lands of the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. Born in Kampala, Uganda, he writes and performs music influenced by hip-hop, R&B, and bedroom pop. Henry spends a lot of his time in his home studio recording tracks, listening to music and writing. Listen as we discuss inspiration through innovation, the importance of human connection, and be sure to stick around until the end to hear a full version of “Iceberg.”
Check Henry out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/headbandhenny/?hl=en), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5TVg3o43tfrceLxSCPTvro?si=CKwv0fxPSvWkNwvyJoGwEg), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_PweWv2PCAplsx_wbK7zg).
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
On this episode we talk with the absolutely delightful Nieko McDaniel!! Nieko is a visual artist currently residing in Davidson, North Carolina, traditional lands of the Catawba. Growing up in Southern California, McDaniel was influenced by Graffiti, Rap, and the desire for an urban lifestyle. Nieko portrays "Escapism" by using materials that have an inherent history and function but that are re-purposed to fit his vision. Nieko earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Art from American University in Washington, D.C. Recently, he had a solo exhibition at Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon. McDaniel is currently working as a full-time Professor of Art & Design for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, North Carolina. Tune in for a discussion centered around care, and prioritizing being over doing.
To see Nieko’s work, please visit his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/niekosart/) and website ( https://www.niekomcdaniel.com/)
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
In the first episode of Season 3, we are joined by Dominic Green, a Baltimore, Maryland (Lumbee, Piscataway)- based photographer and filmmaker. Through his photographs and work in film, he highlights the experience of people impacted by systemic injustices. Dominic seeks for authentic moments to be recorded/preserved. Dominic has worked in multiple creative projects within the entertainment industry and is currently working on his first play! Tune in as we discuss the power of listening, the importance of solitude and more!
To see Dominic's work, please visit his website (https://www.dominicagreen.com/) and Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/thewritingdirector
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
Laura Casas resides in Raleigh, NC, original territory of the Skarureh and Tuscarora, where she operates her own studio practice, Casas Studios. Casas graduated from Western Carolina University in 2018 with a BFA in Studio Art and has been featured in several gallery exhibitions and markets. She acknowledges not only her identity as a contemporary latine individual, but engages with indigenous influences and history through forms, clay choice, color palette, and techniques. Laura aims to create wares that resonate with the user while expressing her individual inherited cultural memory through narrative and latent energies. Tune in as we discuss burnout, the importance of spaciousness, and revisiting values!
Learn more about Laura and see her work on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/casas.studios/) or her website (https://www.lauracarolinecasas.com/).
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
In this episode, we talk with Ophelia Arc. Ophelia is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City, unceded Munsee Lenape territory. Using sculpture, video, and installation, Arc’s work centers the human psyche and draws connections to the artist’s personal experiences and memories. Her meticulous, research oriented approach renders a body of work that is rich in complexity and attention to detail. Ophelia has shown pieces at galleries such as No Format in London, Studio 3 in Brooklyn, New York, and many more. Listen in as we discuss the role of research in the creative practice, the importance of cultivating authenticity, and more!
To check out Ophelia’s work visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cease.and.perish) and website (https://www.ceaseandperish.com/).
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
In this episode of The Waystation Podcast, we are joined by poet Aerik Francis from Denver, Colorado, the unceded territory of the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples. Francis is the author of two chapbooks and has released several audio projects. Widely published, Aeriks' work explores the intersection of the body and politics. Tune in as we discuss the importance of community as fuel to creative practice, befriending our bodies as an act of liberation, and listen to 3 very special reads by Aerik.
An extensive list of Aeriks work can be found on their website https://www.phaentompoet.com/
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
*This episode was recorded only two days after the Club Q mass shooting in Colorado Springs, CO, where five people were killed and 17 people were wounded. Having this conversation with Aerik during such a devastating time reminds us of the unfortunate reality that our art practices coalesce frequently with unspeakable tragedy and loss. If you wish to help Club Q restore its ability to provide a safe and affirming space for the LGBTQA+ community, please click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-club-q-fundraiser
In the first episode of season 2, we talk with Kenia Hale. Kenia is a writer, collagist, and bassist from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, the traditional homeland of the Shawnee, Wyandot Miami, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and other Great Lakes tribes.
Join us as we discuss challenging expectations, nature connection as foundation to creative practice, and to get a preview of "Garden," a song by Kenia's band!
You can find Kenia's work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/keniaiscreating and check out Speakeasy at https://www.instagram.com/speakeasy_nb/
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
In the final episode of Season 1, we talk to multi-instrumentalist, educator, artist, and Milkweed Learning Hub Alumni, Evon Sams. From Rockford, Illinois, unceded territory of the Ho-Chunk, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi, Evon began drum lessons at his home church at the age of ten, before seeking formal music education in middle band, where he chose the saxophone as his primary instrument. Evon’s unique approach blends all the music he has experienced and studied, from European classical and concert band music to R&B, hip hop, and jazz. Listen in as we discuss exploring identity, value systems, being enough, and to get a preview of Evon's music!
In this episode of The Waystation Podcast, we are joined by photographer and Milkweed Learning Hub alumni, Lisa Brown. Raised between Washington, D.C. unceded territory of the Nacotchtank, Anacostan, Piscataway, and Compton, CA unceded territory of the Tongva, Lisa developed a love of photography at a young age. Today, her photography highlights the beauty of women of color. Listen in as we discuss the importance of community and sharing your stage.
In this episode of The Waystation Podcast, we are joined by interdisciplinary artist and Milkweed Learning Hub alumni, Melissa Sutherland Moss. Residing in Brooklyn, NY, unceded territory of the Lenape, and working across collage, assemblage, installation, and social engagement Melissa's practice is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of African and Caribbean diasporas within contemporary media. Today, she expands upon an immersive body of work that evokes the fragility and diversity within the black community.
Listen in as we discuss her creative process, sources of inspiration and the importance of self care.
The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
In our first episode of The Waystation Podcast, we had the opportunity to talk to storyteller, environmental educator, and Milkweed Learning Hub alumni, Ashia Ajani. Originally from Denver, CO, unceded territory of the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples, and writing as a queer Black femme, Ashia works to preserve, interrogate and imagine how the Black diaspora has shaped and continues to shape land stewardship in the Western hemisphere. Listen in as we discuss her creative process, the importance of rest, sources of inspiration, and the idea of radical permission. The Waystation Podcast is a component of The Chrysalis Institute. Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more.
Waystation is a podcast created to highlight and amplify the creative trajectories of emerging BI&POC artists.
This guided dialogue aims at “unpacking” histories, obstacles, triumphs, and creative insights relevant to BI&POC creators.
Please visit www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!