Episode 58: Drew Grasso

Today’s guest is Drew Grasso, an artist and printmaker based out of Oakland, CA. We discussed 222 Press, the new publishing project he recently founded and Sun Night Editions, the former print publishing house he once ran with Yoni Asega. We also talked about what motivated him to pursue his passion to be a printmaker and the amount of hard work that goes into operating your own printing press. 

Be sure to follow 222 Press on Instagram to see their latest updates and projects.

  • Drew Gasso & Yoni Asega at Sun Night Editions (Credit: Lenworth McIntosh)
  • Mai Ta for Sun Night Editions “Set The Moon On Fire Because She Wouldn’t Wake Up” 12″ X 16 3/8″ 2021
  • Penelope Anstruther sat 222 Press
  • Lauren D’Amato signing works for 222 Press
  • Tyler Cross for 222 Press “Flower War” Print Size: 3 1/4” x 4 3/8” Sheet Size: 7 1/4” x 8 1/2” 2024

Episode 57: Meryl Pataky

The newest episode of the podcast features, Meryl Pataky, a multi-disciplined artist known for her amazing neon pieces. Based here in the Bay Area, I visited Meryl in her studio to discuss her early beginnings as a mixed media artist, her neon practice and  She Bends, an organization she founded to create a more equitable future for neon. Finally, we also talked about the new exhibition curated by She Bends at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco titled First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art. The exhibition features neon work by various artists including Meryl, that “explores mastery in craft as a devotional pursuit, presenting breathtaking artworks that connect both artists and viewers to spirituality, wonder, and universal questions of human existence.” The show is up at the CJM through April 28, 2024. Visit the museum website for more details. For more info about Meryl and her work be sure to visit her website at merylpataky.com  or follow her on Instagram at @merylpataky. Learn more about She Bends at shebends.com. 

Meryl Pataky (Image by Anna-Alexia Basile)
Meryl Pataky (Image by Kirby Gladstein)
Meryl Pataky (Image by Kirby Gladstein)
Meryl Pataky “Pass Me The Hammer” 2017
“Pass Me The Hammer” 2017 (detail)
“Pass Me The Hammer” 2017 (detail)
Meryl Pataky “I’m Just As Tired As You” 2019
Ru’ach 2023

Episode 55: Isaac Vazquez Avila

After a long hiatus the (art)Scene Podcast is back with a  brand new guest: Isaac Vazquez Avila, a painter & sculptor based in San Francisco. I stopped by his studio in Bernal Heights to discuss what drew him to the Bay Area, his art practice and his recent projects including the exhibition that wrapped up at pt. 2 Gallery in Oakland and teaching. Follow Isaac and his latest projects at https://www.isaacvazquezavila.com/ or follow him on instagram @aliencitizen

Image Credit: Adan Pol Vazquez
Isaac Vazquez Avila ”Sun Stoned” Gouache, flash paint on artist made wood panel 72 x 48 inches 2023
Isaac Vazquez Avila ”Turbo bit flor bug” Gouache and acrylic on wood panel 10 x 8 inches 2023
Force of Healthy Growth

Episode 46: Cléa Massiani #2

New episode with Cléa Massiani, curator & exhibition coordinator at Creativity Explored. We discuss the quarantine, the recent closure of the San Francisco Art Institute and the work that Creativity Explored does in the Bay Area art community.

Episode 37: Marcel Pardo Ariza & The Tallest Part of the Arch

For today’s episode, Marcel Pardo Ariza returns to the podcast to discuss their inclusion in the YBCA’s Bay Area Now (BAN 8) exhibition; the Womxn* Art Handlers group they co-founded & the recent exhibition they curated at Southern Exposure titled The Tallest Part of the Arch. 

The Tallest Part of the Arch closed March 30, 2019, for more info visit the Southern Exposure website. 

To learn more about Womxn* Art Handlers and any upcoming programming visit http://womenarthandlers.com.

Marcela Pardo Ariz & Kaitlin Trataris (image courtesy of Womxn Art Handlers)
BAN 8 at YBCA (Image credit: Charlie Villyard)
Marcela Pardo Ariza
“Randy Andy, Dollface, Tania, Lu, Louis, et al.” (1983~, 1975~, 1992~, 2018)
Tallest Part of the Arch at Southern Exposure (Image credit: Minoosh Zomorodinia)
Tallest Part of the Arch at Southern Exposure (Image credit: Minoosh Zomorodinia)

Episode 34: Susie Kantor & BAN 8

My guest for this special Thanksgiving week episode is Susie Kantor, Associate Curator of Visual Arts at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA).  In our conversation today you’ll hear us discuss her journey to a career in the art world and Bay Area Now 8 (BAN 8), the latest exhibition she helped curated at the YBCA.

For more information on BAN 8 and other programming at the YBCA check out their website at www.ybca.org. Be sure to also follow the YBCA on Instagram as they feature artists in the exhibition.

Episode 28: Muzae Sesay

Today my guest is Bay Area Artist Muzae Sesay who recently opened his first solo show at Part 2 Gallery in Oakland titled Domestic Dive. I hung out with Muzae in his studio to discuss the ideas behind his new exhibition and the preparation that went into putting it together. We also discussed his recent artist residency at Facebook and his educational background in sociology.

Read more about Domestic Dive by visiting the Juxtapose magazine website. You can also read more about Muzae in a recent article for Broadly. titled The Artistic Benefits of Forgetfulness or follow him on Instagram @muzae.

Thanks again to Richie Cunning for the intro music.

Episode 19: David Lasley

I’m joined today by David Lasley, a Bay Area based painter. I recently visited his studio in Oakland where we discussed his experience growing up in the Midwest and his time living and working as an artist in Boston. We also talked about his growth as an artist and how that is reflected in his current work.

To learn more about David and his work visit his website at www.davidlasley.org or follow him on Instagram at @_mr_lasley_.