Open Studio w/Austen Brantley, Artist and Sculptor.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 206 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art Graves+Mallett we are excited about returning to in-person interviews! We sat down with artist and sculptor Austen Brantley. Austen opened up about how his understanding of microaggressions in high school and how it helped him examine his own identity; how his first ceramics class was “the happy accident” that put him on his path as a sculptor; the role Black women play in inspiring his work; and the creative impact his recent trip to Greece had on him.

Open Studio w/Lynn Weaver, collector, philanthropist and cultural influencer.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 205 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art Graves+Mallett  had the pleasure of speaking with collector, philanthropist and cultural influencer Lynn Weaver Pitts.  Our conversation gave us insight on what drives her to collect; the memorable moment of her first art acquisition; her philosophy on investing in art; why emerging artist are important and the significance of our community supporting and sustaining African American museums.

Open Studio w/Rashaun Rucker! He returns for season 2 to discuss the impact of 2020 and his plans for 2021.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 204 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art Graves+Mallett  we had the pleasure of once again interviewing artist Rashaun Rucker! In season one Rashaun‘s episode was the #1 shared and listened episode of Open Studio’s first season. What a joy it is to have him back to discuss the impact COVID-19 had on his health and creativity; his connection with the Harlem Renaissance; partnering with Speedball Art; his humble philanthropic upbringing that continues to shape his life today and the blockbuster season he has in store for 2021!

Open Studio w/Mario Moore, Artist and Princeton University Hodder Fellow.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 203 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art Graves+Mallett interview’s artist Mario Moore! From Detroit to Harlem to Europe and back to “The D”! Mario shares why he takes the city wherever he goes! He shared with us how his family roots, that began in a diner in Detroit, inspired his recent exhibition; how he put his perspective on a prestigious fellowship at Princeton University; how he feels he is still telling his story in the context of his history and lived experiences and why his love for the people of Detroit is one of the reasons he is back and why he plans to build something amazing here!

 

Open Studio w/Dr. Hubert Massey, Artist. Muralist. Teacher. Visual Storyteller.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 202 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art Graves+Mallett interview’s Dr. Hubert Massey, Artist. Muralist. Teacher. Visual Storyteller. Dr. Massey embraces his art of storytelling from the moment he began today’s conversation and in everyone of his award-winning visual narrations depicted in his masterpieces. Dr. Massey shares with us his early beginnings as an athlete and artist; the impactful experiences his time spent in Europe and Mexico City had on his work; what it means to be recognized as the ONLY master Fresco muralist in the United States, and why he chose “Power to the People” as the statement he painted on a large street mural in downtown Detroit for the 2020 Juneteenth freedom rally.

 

Open Studio w/Bree Gant, multidisciplinary artist, documentarian and 2020 Kresge Fellow.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 201 -Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art. GMAS interview’s Bree Gant a multidisciplinary artist, documentarian and a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow. Bree has been celebrated as a teaching artist with People In Education in 2016 and awarded a 2017 fellowship with Detroit Narrative Agency for the short film riding with Aunt D. Dot. In 2019, she performed with and became a member of the Detroit based dance collective, The Gathering. On our episode today, Bree shares why dancing helps her connect with herself, others and the universe; how riding the bus keeps her grounded and her belief that Detroiters are artist and creators in their own right.

 

Open Studio w/Rashaun Rucker, artist, Emmy Award winner and 2019 Kresge Fellow.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 115 –Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS sits down with artist Rashaun Rucker, a local and national Emmy Award winner for documentary photography, a Harvard University Maynard Fellow, a Black Enterprise magazine Modern Man honoree, a 2019 Kresge Fellow and an artist with the distinction of having his artwork featured in the HBO production, Random Acts of Flyness and the documentary 12th & Clairmount. Rashaun shares how 6th grade was a pivotal point in defining his love for art and finding what he called “his tribe”; why his living room has become his “de facto studio”; how reading inspires his work and the importance of using his platform to speak to the marginalization of the Black Man.

 

Open Studio w/Nettie Seabrooks, collector, consultant to the Manoogian Foundation at the Detroit Institute of Arts and former Deputy Mayor of the City of Detroit.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 114 –Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS sits down with Nettie Seabrooks, collector, consultant to the Manoogian Foundation at the Detroit Institute of Arts, former Deputy Mayor of the City of Detroit and philanthropist extraordinaire! Nettie’s engaging conversation and enthusiasm had us hanging on her every word as she shared her career climb in corporate America; earning her master’s degree in Art History at the age of 70 and the intricate role she played in the birth of the DIA‘s General Motors Center for African American Art.

 

Open Studio w/Asia Hamilton, Artist and Founder of Norwest Gallery of Art

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 113 –Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS sits down with Asia Hamilton, artist and founder of Norwest Gallery of Art in Detroit, MI, on the eve of the gallery’s two-year anniversary. Asia shared some of her early days of collaborating with “Dopest Ethiopian Collective”, dedicating her current exhibition “Hair-Archy to her legendary father who was a hair giant in Detroit and around the world, and why she stays focused on giving artist opportunities to have a place to showcase their work!

 

Open Studio w/Ricky Weaver, Image Based Artist, art Educator and a 2019 Independent Scholars Fellow.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 112 – Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS sits down with Ricky Weaver an image-based artist, art educator and a 2019 Carr Center Independent Scholars fellow. Ricky‘s depth, vision and transparency about her journey was both refreshing and insightful. She shared what “coded in the black woman experience” means to her; how the iconic artist Carrie Mae Weems changed her life in 2010 and how being “present” keeps her balance.

Open Studio w/Dr. Cledie Collins Taylor, pioneer artist, educator and gallerist.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 111 – GMAS sits down with Dr. Cledie Collins Taylor the pioneer artist, educator and galleriest at 93 years young, she shared her wisdom and generous spirit during our Conversations on Art this week at the Arts Extended Gallery in Detroit, MI. Dr. Taylor told us the history around the current location of the 60-year-old Arts Extended Gallery; how art makes us humane and how she can immediately tell if a person had an art class when they were in kindergarten!

Open Studio w/Ifoma Stubbs, painter, photographer, jewelry maker and custom shoe designer.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 110 – GMAS sits down with artist Ifoma Stubbs to discuss his work as a painter, photographer, jewelry maker and custom shoe designer. In all his creations Ifoma has a way of uniquely expressing himself. In today’s conversation, Ifoma shares with us his love for art goes back to his younger years and how he appreciated the influencers that kept him on track and focused on moving forward. As well as how he thrives artistically in an environment of meditation.

Open studio w/Dr. George N’Namdi, owner of the N’Namdi Art Center in Detroit, MI

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 109 – Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art we sit down with Dr. George N’Namdi. George has been a giant in the Art Industry for nearly 4 decades. His visionary approach to gallery ownership and developing the concepts of “creative place making” and “community place keeping his giving him recognition all over the world. But what he is legendary for his having the ability to catapult artist from newcomer to national phenomenon!

Open Studio w/Eric Vaughn owner of Eric’s I’ve Been Framed

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 108–Open Studio set down with Eric Vaughn owner of Eric’s I’ve Been Framed in Detroit, MI to discuss how he got started in the business, his thoughts on the “dying art of custom framing” and some of his memorable moments he has had over the last 30 years in the business.

Open Studio w/Rob Henderson, artist, sculptor, and arborist

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 107–Rob Henderson is a sculptor that specializes in metals and an arborist for over three decades. In today’s interview Rob shares with us his love of gardening, why he works with metal and the love he has had since a young child with connecting the elements of the earth and his work. We also had the pleasure of getting his insight on art in Detroit and how there is nothing like “The soul of Detroit!”

Open Studio w/Camille Brewer, Curator, archivist, Artist, Art History Educator

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 106–GMAS had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Camille Brewer a respected and admired curator, archivist, artist and art educator (to name a few). During our Conversations on Art we tapped into some of her reflections on the work she’s done with the estate of Romare Bearden and her time at the University of Chicago.

Open Studio w/Dr. Dexter Fields, Collector and Art Influencer

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 105–We sat down with Dr. Dexter Fields, the brilliant and enthusiastic art collector that has a breathtaking collection that filled every corner of his home! We learn more about this art influencer, some of his favorite works of art and why the “Red Room” in his home is so important to him.

Open Studio w/Dr. Juliette Okotie-Eboh, Author of The 10 Things I Know.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 104–GMAS sat down with Dr. Juliette Okotie-Eboh, author of “10 Things I Know”. During our Conversations on Art we learned 1 of the 10 things Juliette knows from her book, the connection she has with one of her favorite artist and the cultural foundation that was instrumental in shaping her today.

Open Studio w/Leland Calloway, Chair of Friends of Africa & African American Art-DIA

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 103–Open Studio sits down with Leland Calloway, Chair of Friends of African and African American Art for the Detroit Institute of Arts. He is an avid art collector. During our tour and visit at his home we had a delightful conversation with Leland to learn more about his favorite artist, his passion for engaging new and younger collectors and his mission to keep the FAAAA alive and thriving!

Open Studio w/Carole Harris, textile artist and 2015 Kresge Art Fellow

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 102–Today on Open Studio we interview Carole Harris a world renowned textile artist who has nearly 5 decades of creativity and innovation. Along with her long list of recognitions and publications, in 2015 she received the prestigious honor of being named a Kresge Art Fellow. In today’s conversation, Carole share with us some of her early art influences and the impact one wedding quilt had on her defining what art meant to her.

Open Studio w/Amani Olu, founder & CEO of Olu & Company, marketer, independent curator and artist.

By Graves + Mallett Art Solutions

Episode 101–Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS visits the offices of Mr. Amani Olu located in the historic Fisher building in Detroit Michigan. Amani is a marketer, independent curator, artist and founder and CEO of Olu & Company. We had a fascinating discussion about year two of Detroit Art Week; how as a young boy he had a knack at seizing a business opportunity and the story behind the “name” that allows him to creatively express himself.