The State of Fem Art: Recent Episodes
Timea Faulkner
Hosted by Timea Faulkner, The State of Fem Art podcast is a space where we celebrate and amplify the voices of women artists and creative entrepreneurs taking a deep dive into the successes, barriers, and joys of what it means to be a woman navigating your creativity, personal life, and the industry. Here, women will tell their own stories, authentically, boldly, and unapologetically. Each interview is a new journey, as we continue to curate spaces, conversations an resources for women artists + creatives to thrive!
Timea Faulkner kicks off season 4 of The State of Fem Art podcast with Georgia Stitt, composer, musician, and founder of Maestra Music.
Lala Economides was working in marketing before realizing that she could turn her love for cake design into a viable career. Her company, Cakes by LaLa will be creating the SheROCKS Decade Celebration Cake commemorating 10 years of showcasing women in the arts.
Timea Faulkner chats w/ Deborah Anderson, a 3D modeler who got her start working in a South Korean animation studio working on shows such as Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Scooby-Doo.
She continued her career back in the states in New Orleans where she worked for TurboSquid on their Checkmate program and Louisiana Economic Development - FastStart as an Animation Specialist.
On YouTube she makes content about the animation industry and has interviewed 80+ Black (and other) animation professionals.
You can follow Deborah everywhere @BlkWmnAnimator
Morgen Whiteman is a film and television director with a background as a filmmaker-in-residence in Ghana, and a 2022 Stowe Story Labs finalist for the SAGIndie’s Top Emerging Filmmaker of Color Fellowship. Morgen is a graduate of the AFI Conservatory’s Directing MFA Program, and her films have been featured as official selections at numerous film festivals. She has directed talent with credits on All American, Wonder Woman, and We Own This City. Morgen has a passion for the thriller and science fiction genres, especially speculative fiction. Her work can be best described as “allegories set in heightened realities”.
Currently, Morgen is crowdfunding for her crime thriller limited series Apophenia. This 5-minute 5-episode series follows Eva Nicholson, a struggling recluse who falls into the public spotlight as a superhero when a series of premonitions lead her to a serial killer moments away from claiming the life of his next victim. As Eva basks in the attention, her boyfriend, Daniel, is the only person even remotely concerned that Eva also brutally murdered the serial killer in the process. Then it happens again. And again. And as Eva’s body count rises, so do the suspicions surrounding who, or what, she really is.
It is estimated that 2 out of 3 Americans enjoy true crime/crime thriller content. Meanwhile, the canon of fictional serial killers in film are most often middle-aged heterosexual white men. Studies have shown that the homogeneity of the serial killer profile reinforces the societal hierarchy in America. In a bold way, Apophenia tackles representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, by mitigating the constant barrage of victimization on individuals who experience oppression in real life.
It is said that women are often interested in true crime because these stories make them feel more prepared for the horrors that exist in the real world. Apophenia is a series that will not capitalize on the victimization of women (or minorities), which is a significant psycho-social shift.
Donate here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/theapopheniaseries
Laura Simpson, is the CEO and co-founder of Side Door. Side Door is an online platform created to connect musicians to the host of their next gig. The platform gives agency back to artists by turning any space into a music venue, negating the hassle and massive costs of traditional renting venues.
She shares her journey navigating the tech industry, how she turned her backyard into a mini music festival for indie artists, and why she's passionate about creating spaces for performing artists to share their art.
If you're currently an artist performing at Folk Alliance International (FAI) in Kansas City or showcasing at South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festival in Austin, Side Door ensures a $200 USD guarantee for artists. The guarantee is in addition to the net ticket revenue split from shows. Please visit their program details page to apply and read more about the program.
You don't have to be a starving artists! I chat with Adrianne Ramsey about what it's like being an art curator and how artists can get their work into art shows, but more importantly, start getting PAID for their work.
Adrianne Ramsey is an independent curator, writer, and arts editor. She has organized exhibitions for Root Division, Berkeley Art Center, and USC Roski Galleries, and is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of GIRLS Magazine, an online publication that interviews femme-identifying contemporary artists, art professionals, curators, and writers about art, politics, and their individual practices. Her writing on contemporary art and culture has appeared in several publications and exhibition catalogues. She is also Director of Communications of Art Into Acres, a non-profit environmental, art, and land conservation initiative, and is an MA Candidate in Curatorial Practices at the University of Southern California.
Connect w/ Adrianne on Instagram: @aramsey125
Check Out GIRLS Magazine: https://issuu.com/girlsmagazine3
"I AM..." (2021) exhibition page:
https://rootdivision.org/exhibition/exhibitions-iam/
I chat with designer and founder of Proof of Concept™️, Brittany Pierone on her journey in the industry. She shares why she left Nike to go to Africa, what it's like working with Jerry Lorenzo, and how she's been able to keep her footing in an industry where women are often overlooked and under-celebrated. Now, as a design director for James Perse, Pierone continues to leave her mark in design by remaining intentional and only doing the things that stir her soul.
Recording Academy Genre Manager Jalyn Nelson talks about her journey from radio to where she is now. She shares the importance of moving authentically in an often glamourized, relationship-oriented industry. We also chat about what she does as a genre manager, how to improve your networking skills, and giving yourself the grace to move through life as it happens.
This is our final episode until our 3rd Season starting Oct. 6!
Michelle is a Wiyot and Latina filmmaker who grew up on the Table Bluff Reservation, where she found her love for filmmaking. She has a Masters in Film and Electronic Media at American University in Washington, D.C. and a B.A. at Humboldt State in both Film and Native American Studies. Michelle most recently participated as a fellow for the 2nd Annual Native American Writer’s Seminar. She’s also a past fellow for 3rd Annual Native American Animation Lab with her script Edgar and His New Friend. Additionally, she won the Horizon Award at the 2019 LA Skins Fest and the April 2021 Showcase Cinema Femme Womxn to Womxn in Film Mentorship Program with her film Douk.
She is also the co-founder of Sugarbush Hill Productions.
Jiya Simon shares what life is like in publicity & awards at Paramount, provides tips for navigating the hectic red carpet, and shares the importance of navigating the balance of work, wellbeing, and creativity.
Our guest Lucy Crivelli has been proving time and time again that passion can lead to countless opportunities. As Creator & Founder of Tomorrow Isn't Promised, a Mexican + Boricua-owned creative agency that brings traditional ideas to life, she is creating the kinds of things she wants to see in the world. She is also leading creative content and social for tech start-up Aglet, a geolocation gaming app for sneaker collectors. Fusing her love of sneakers, culture, and photography has opened many doors for Crivelli. Now she gears up for the launch of the apparel side of her agency, Tip Supply, which will be available across the U.S. later this month.
You can connect with Lucy everywhere @LucyCrivelli
Janishia Jones is a senior music business executive, an entrepreneur, and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA.
Upon graduating with an Associate in Recording Arts, Bachelor in Music Business, and Master in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, Janishia has led a decade long career working for some of the most revered music companies in the world including SRC / Loud & Motown Records, eOne LP, and Kobalt Music Publishing. Currently, in her role as a Director of Strategic Integrations & Operations at EMPIRE, a leading worldwide independent label, distribution, and publishing company, her expertise in publishing administration has led her to building systems which have expanded business operations increasing revenues by over 400% within the past year.
As CEO / Founder of Fresh 'N Sassy Productions, Janishia's mission is to bring awareness to socio-economic issues affecting women while showcasing the talents of female executives and artists. She hosts Pub Royalty Queen Podcast as a safe space for women of color in the music industry to share their experiences while navigating white male-dominated spaces.
As Data Scientist & Founder of A Seat at the Table Market Research Agency she presents data research & analysis on intersectionality in order to consult on creating equitable opportunities for marginalized groups within the music industry.
Janishia is Co-Founder of The SEAT, the music industry's premier professional networking & executive search agency where she helms community building efforts in order to lead the charge for diversifying major music corporations.
She is Founder of JukeJoint Foundation a non-profit organization aimed at providing resources in the form of scholarships, grants, and access to music business-related events to women of color in the music industry.
In this episode, I talk with Ariel Adkins, the Curator of Art, Culture, & Community at Twitter. Not only is she the ultimate art lover, but she aims to live her life as a living work of art each day. Through her movement Artfully Awear, she produces clothing that recreates artwork in wearable form. Adkins also champions artists by creating curatorial opportunities for the work of underserved artists to be seen, appreciated, and amplified.
Connect w/ Ariel on Social Media @artfullyawear
Follow @sofemart and share your thoughts on the episode using #sofemartpodcast #thestateoffemart
Jammcard Operations Manager Katrina Lee talks about the resilience it took to break into the music industry, how her previous role at the recording academy changed her life, and what she does to stay on top of her game.
Season 2 of #SoFemArtPodcast kicks off with this year's SheROCKS Event Artists. Hear the stories, journeys, and creative processes of our 2022 grant recipient Roxanna Denise Stevens Ibarra, Denise Khumalo, and Christine Noel.
Catch Episode 1, Part 2 next!
Do you know any women in film who also do color-grading? The numbers are scarce and the statistics surrounding women filling this role are almost non-existent.
We speak with Yale graduate, film colorist, and owner of Bowman Pictures, Patrice Bowman.
Her business produces short-form narrative work and provides color correction/grading services for a variety of projects including commercials, documentaries, music videos, and more.
Her work has screened at PBS Reel South, DOC NYC, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora, and the Tribeca film festival. She has also color graded branded content for companies like Nike, Facebook, and Foot Locker.
Natasia Malaihollo is the Vice President of Business Development at PopCom, and was the CEO and co-founder of Wyzerr (acquired by PopCom), a startup company that gammifies customer feedback collection, analytics, and reporting.
At Wyzerr, Natasia grew its’ customer base to over 2,100 small and large businesses in 42 countries in less than 2 years, and counts Google, Facebook, P&G, Unilever, Walmart, and Kroger as clients.
Natasia has won multiple business and innovation awards for her customer feedback work with Wyzerr. In 2017, Smithsonian Magazine named Natasia to their annual Eight Innovators to Watch List. Other awards include: Forbes Under 30 Global Change the World, FedEx’s 36|86 Entrepreneurial award, CART Retail Innovation, Cincinnati Courier's Women Who Mean Business, and Kentucky's Thoroughbred Award.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Natasia was a patent specialist in Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley, where she prosecuted patent applications on behalf of large tech companies like IBM and Samsung.
You can follow more of Natasia's Journey at LoveNatasia.com!
Creative Eliana Reyes shares her experience growing up as an Afro-Latinx plus-size woman in an industry built on vanity. She also sheds light on the lack of representation & misrepresentation of people who look like her in the entertainment & art industries.
Carolynn Haydu's latest work, "THE GREAT HERE AFTER," was created in response to the sale of American Steel Studios, which will ultimately evict all artists by May 2022 who have called this space their creative home. Haydu has had her painting studio there for almost 11 years.
The solo show on March 19-April 15th at Metal Haus Gallery spotlights the artists' resilience and need to survive in the current climate. We speak about what's happening in Oakland, the importance of art to creators and spectators, and reserving space for yourself as an artist.
You can learn more about Carolynn Haydu by visiting her website carolynnhaydu.com or on Instagram @carolynn_haydu.
Debuting at Frieze Art Fair in Los Angeles, CA, (Don’t) Use Me is a bold declaration about the inequity in pay for Black women. I chat with the mastermind behind it all—Autumn Breon. We explore the interplay between art and advocacy, reclaiming the time of Black Women who have been under-compensated, and she also shares her first NFT project dropping March 8th, during International Women’s Day.
Her work reimagines global narratives through art and creativity. As a former engineer, she studied Aeronautics & Astronautics and researched aeronautical astrobiology applications for NASA. Autumn went on to advocate for global access to affordable education in South Central Los Angeles, India, and South Africa. During her frequent travels to the African continent, Autumn examined contemporary African art throughout the Diaspora and its impact.
Based in Los Angeles, she founded Autumn Breon Projects. She curates art and produces art programming to communicate ideas related to liberation, the politics of identity, and Diasporic memory. She has collaborated with art institutions and brands including LACMA, PacSun, and Amazon Studios. Her work has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, Aspen Institute, TED, the Obama Foundation, and LA Magazine.
Musician and composer Yasmin Williams shares the truth about artist compensation, being a Black women artists in folk music, and things she's learned from her success in the music industry.
You can learn more about Yasmin and purchase tickets to her upcoming shows at yasminwilliamsmusic.com
How The State of Fem Art came to be; we cover the trailblazing women featured on our podcast cover and speak to Addie Rawr about the importance of community, authenticity, and sticking to what you believe in creatively.