Episodes

Painter and sculptor Tori Tinsley joins Joe and Matthew for a broad discussion on the creative life. They start with a look at the process of putting a mural together, then move to the inspirations for her work. She shares the experience of a studio flood and dealing with its aftermath, recalling a previous episode on studio fires. Work habits are explored, along with donkeys as inspiration, side hugs, and Agnes Martin. The therapy episode is referenced, yet again. Who Is Tori Tinsley? Tori...

Exploding beers punctuate a conversation between Joe and Matthew on the nature of experiences in the arts. A recent piece in The New York Times – “Fixing the Met: Art Lovers Speak” – inspires discussion on museum visitor expectations and the trajectory toward the all-encompassing experience. What are the reasons for this shift? Are we really losing the museum experience? Southeastern road trip arts destinations are offered. An audio pick of the day is provided by Matthew. Joe pays a cleaning f...

Joe and Matthew lead a group of arts patrons on a Brain Fuzz excursion in support of arts non-profit Burnaway. Sitting down for a discussion at the Zuckerman Museum of Art with curator Sarah Higgins, they discuss career trajectories for curators, how shows come together, titles, wall text, and more. Sarah recounts an impressive number of academic, professional, and residential waypoints. William Burroughs gets a reference. Jim Henson gets quoted. Joe shares the audio pick of the day. And, in a...

On a sunny afternoon back at the studio complex, Joe and Matthew recap recent episodes including their conversation with artist Bojana Ginn. Topics include the compulsion to create, artist jobs, and managing expectations in the creative life. The Shins are mentioned. Jenny Holzer is referenced. A future episode is teasered. The post Recapping On A Sunny Afternoon | Episode 22 appeared first on Brain Fuzz.

Joe and Matthew join artist Bojana Ginn at her studio to explore her unique cross-disciplinary path. They examine her work and how she finds balance in the creative life. Sustainability, immigration, and communism are discussed. Richard Tuttle gets a mention. Finally, she reveals how she found her own personal Yoda. Who Is Bojana Ginn? Bojana Ginn is an interdisciplinary artist and former physician and scientist. Combining art, science and technology, Ginn creates sculptures, video-installat...

Back at Joe’s studio, Matthew is armed with a copy of Eric Maisel’s Mastering Creative Anxiety. The two explore coping (or not coping) with anxiety in the creative life. Another source of solace – Letters To A Young Artist – is also called upon.

An Airstream Argosy pulls up and parks. Joe and Matthew get in. The driver is Lacey Haslam, the Archive of Creative Culture’s Lead Organizer. Conversation ensues, centering on the creative minds that help populate the Archive. Airstream restoration, travel, and mobility are explored. David Salle is read aloud, and advice for art school graduates is offered at no charge. Multiple book recommendations are made. Dwell is revealed as a vice. A growler is emptied. Who Is Lacey Haslam? As Lead Org...

Back from a Deep Dive in Savannah, Joe and Matthew reflect on their visit and their conversation with curator Rachel Reese. Stops at The SCAD Museum of Art and the Jepson Center – part of the Telfair Museums – are included. Exhibitions by Jose Parla, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Chiharu Shiota, are discussed. The day’s audio pick – following up on an earlier pick from the baroque pop genre – is presented by Joe. Savannah-specific peculiarities are identified. A book is recommended. An ethical dilemma...

While on a Brain Fuzz Deep Dive in Savannah GA, Joe and Matthew are joined by curator Rachel Reese. In a first for Brain Fuzz, the conversation is simulcasted live from the Jepson Center on KCHUNG radio. More about that in the podcast. They discuss museums and the life of a curator. Along the way, they go post-studio and talk about Instagram’s impact on how curators discover work. The rise of artist-run spaces is explored. Shows about “The South” are brought into question. Savannah’s unique ec...

Joe and Matthew review a trip to Houston. Recommendations are made – highlighting hotel, museum, and gallery stops. The occasion calls for a discussion of Cy Twombly and the symbology in his oeuvre juxtaposed with that found in Jackson Pollock‘s work.

Joe and Matthew are joined by artist William Downs. They delve into art career paths and trajectories. Automatism and the practice of performative drawing are explored. Studio visits, critics, and the trials and tribulations of academic life are discussed. Along the way, numerous artists and luminaries are name-checked including: Eva Hesse Louise Bourgeois Philip Guston Lawrence Weiner David Hammons Amy Sillman . . . and more. Matthew gives voice to the average viewer and takes heat from Joe...

Joe and Matthew discuss the work of Lonnie Holley and recent guests Justin Rabideau and Michi Meko. Trends in art making and distribution are examined within the framework of John Berger’s Ways of Seeing, David Salle’s How To See, and selected criticism: No Paintings for Old Men: I’m Done with Amy Feldman (Art F City) Flipping and the Rise of Zombie Formalism (Artspace) Who Has the Cure for “Zombie Formalism?” (Hyperallergic) Continuing to Make a Vinyl Collection Great Again Through the Purc...

Sustainability – both in the sense of materials and in maintaining an art practice – was a central topic when Justin Rabideau joined Joe and Matthew for Brain Fuzz episode 13. Joe spotted the connection with Gordon Matta-Clark’s work.

Joe and Matthew join Michi Meko at his studio as he prepares for not one, but two exhibitions in the same week. The creative struggle and permanence versus impermanence in art are discussed. Sun Ra however is the catalyst for this gathering. And Sun Ra leads to an examination of Afrofuturism, altered destiny, jazz, and artist personas. Michi scores very respectably on the Art Speak Red Flags. Namechecks go to Wynwood, Sam Gilliam, Robert Rauschenberg, Thornton Dial, Black Herman, and Daddy D’z...

Joe and Matthew take a few moments for a full accounting of their art speak red flags list. And, armed with some game show sound effects, they plot a path forward for policing art speak in conversation. In this episode, you will benefit from insights into such art speak terms as liminal, ontological, phenomenology, and reify . . . as well as a way to play along at home. The Blind Boys of Alabama are discussed along with concert etiquette. A vinyl collection update yields insights on how to not...

In a special fake news edition of the Brain Fuzz arts and culture podcast, Joe and Matthew myth bust caffeine in espresso versus drip coffee. Speaking of needing caffeine, Woody Allen’s Crisis in Six Scenes is discussed, and a related film recommendation is made. Joe and Matthew also reflect on a conversation with curator Daniel Fuller, triggering an exploration of Chet Baker, jazz, and the mythologies of our cultural heroes. Some Dave Hickey is read aloud. Ed Ruscha is invoked.

Daniel Fuller joins Joe and Matthew at Joe’s studio for a lively discussion. Topics range from what it means to be a curator to the beauty of cheap baseball tickets. Just back from a road trip, Daniel shares his aggressive itinerary including a signles...

Back at Joe’s Atlanta Contemporary studio, Matthew offers an update on his effort to make his vinyl collection great again. Following up on an earlier discussion regarding the cleaning of vinyl records with wood glue, the Spin-Clean record cleaning system is reviewed. The Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup is rediscovered. The origin story behind the iconic album’s name is explored. Spoiler alert: It involves both the culinary arts and male enhancement. Speaking of the Rolling Stones, bad song ly...

On a Brain Fuzz Deep Dive in Lexington, KY, Joe and Matthew are joined by Stuart Horodner. Recorded live from an Airbnb, the three start by discussing the sharing economy and its impact on how we experience travel. In this thoughtful discussion, Stuart shares unique insights from years of observation and curation. Topics include Félix González-Torres, Judy Linn, celebrity encounters, museum experiences, and how children interpret art differently than adults. Shouts out to Philip Roth, Philip G...

Joe and Matthew begin their discussion in episode 6 with a continuation of the seagull curation idea from episode 5. Beware of Seagull Criticism Seagull criticism happens when an art critic flies into an environment and quickly judges the exhibition and/or locals. He or she then quickly flies away, leaving a mess of feathers and poop. Making a Vinyl Collection Great Again Matthew has begun to make his vinyl collection great again and is building the platform on which to do it. . . . With Wo...

Joe and Matthew’s conversation continues at Joe’s studio on the campus of Atlanta Contemporary. Art stops in Denver are recommended. Another stop – a Mexican restaurant with a dive show – is described and deemed a must-see.

Episode 4 of the Brain Fuzz arts podcast begins mid-conversation: Joe and Matthew are discussing social media and the real value of social proof in the arts. The importance of authenticity is highlighted. A Tom Waits anecdote is brought to mind. The two then dig into the topic of artist-run spaces, requiring an espresso for Joe. Some pros […] The post I’m Gonna Make An Espresso For This | Episode 4 appeared first on Brain Fuzz.

It’s now 2016 and almost one year since their last recording. Joe and Matthew scout a couple of locations for acoustics. Still, they settle back into Joe’s studio at Atlanta Contemporary for the day’s conversation.

It’s late 2015. Joe and Matthew are still thinking about doing a podcast. One of the first issues to tackle is bumper music of course. Joe and Matthew discuss other podcasts and Mark Maron‘s approach specifically.