Jeff Berman is a multi-instrumentalist, improvising artist, and composer whose work reflects his global musical vision. He has developed a genre-extending concept on mountain dulcimer, vibraphone, and percussion, that has allowed him to collaborate across stylistic boundaries with a diverse group of artists from across the globe. In this interview on Art and Inspiration with William Rock, Jeff articulates the somewhat mysterious history of the dulcimer and shares some of his experiences of playing cross-culturally with musicians worldwide - including Tuvan throat singers. He also plays several songs on two different types of dulcimers.

Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Jeff Berman on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Vietnam war veterans Kathleen Trew Swazuk and Joe Diener engage in a dialogue on Art and Inspiration with William Rock. Kathleen was an army nurse stationed at Long Binh, Vietnam. She is the author of "Wartorn Heart/ Poems and art inspired by the Vietnam War." Joe was wounded during the war and this dialogue is the first time in fifty years that he was able to speak of his experiences in Vietnam. This podcast was recorded at Art and Inspiration presents "Wartorn Heart" at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh.

Kathleen Trew Swazuk and Joe Diener on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Poet and educator Michael Wurster is interviewed on Art and Inspiration with William Rock. Michael is a founding member of The Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange and for over forty years he has encouraged and mentored poets. In this dialogue, he articulates his poetic influences and offers insights into his own successful methods of offering poetry to a community. He also shares several of his own poems.  Joining the dialogue is artist/poet Alyssa Sineni.

Michael Wurster on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Poet, educator and humorist Deena November is interviewed on Art and Inspiration with William Rock. Deena grew up in a household where writing and reading was strongly encouraged. She speaks of her academic experience both as a MFA student and also as a creative writing professor. Deena also talks of the impact of motherhood on her poetry. She shares several of her poems including "Passover in Scranton" and "My Mother Never Prepared Me for Mr. T."

Deena November on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Artist Kim Barry is interviewed on Art and Inspiration with William Rock.  Beginning at the age of 4, Kim Barry has had a lifetime of exposure to varying forms of arts education.  Kim speaks of the "great experience" of hanging on the street with kids doing Graffiti as a teenager and how it informs her current work. She explains street art has levels of artistic integrity. Kim talks of her pop-up studios she has created in Los Angeles, Florida and Pittsburgh. She describes pop-ups as experimental creative spaces that have a capacity to embrace an artists creative vision.

Kim Barry on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Artist and educator Celeste Neuhaus is interviewed on Art and Inspiration with William Rock. She speaks of living in New Mexico and how its incredible, intense light affected the formal qualities of her art and also influenced her work with healing modalities. Celeste talks of corresponding ideas she observed in the healing rituals of different cultures and where their methods of approach intersect. She also speaks of Ana Mendieta and other artists that have inspired her work. Celeste Neuhaus then expounds on modern ritual and celebration and the materials that influence and inform her own art.

Celeste Neuhaus on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Tempa Lama is an ordained Tibetan Bon Buddhist Lama, author, poet and artist.  In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, Lama Tempa speaks of the subtleties of the creative process.  He articulates a rarely, if ever heard discourse about creativity from the perspective of the Tibetan Bon philosophy of the mind. He says, "creativity is our birthright, it is primordial potential that exists in every human being."  He speaks of clarity of mind, and the more stable the mind becomes the more it reveals its creativity and becomes flexible and open to all possibility. Tempa Lama also speaks of the healing power of art and sound and performs an ancient Bon chant. For artists, Tempa Lama encourages a focus on the positive benefit of making art and by doing so you are giving birth to cultivating interest, effort and inspiration.   

Tempa Lama on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

The Huffington Post noted Vanessa German is “one of 30 contemporary art makers under 40 that you should know about.”  Vanessa German is the founder of “The Love Front Porch” and the “Art House” in Pittsburgh’s Homewood section.  Her “Stop Shooting We Love You” yard signs have garnered international attention.  In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, Vanessa speaks of fully embracing creativity and imagination and to thoroughly trust the eternal wisdom of our deepest instincts. She speaks of how the neighborhood kids themselves created “The Love Front Porch" and how “Art House" has tapped into a momentum for giving.  Vanessa’s art and sculpture is exhibited worldwide and she states she is proud of being a self-taught artist.  Vanessa German has pioneered the spoken-word opera and in this Art and Inspiration interview you will hear her perform her piece “If my hands were anything other than hands.”

Vanessa German on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Jennifer Nagle Myers is a visual artist and director of site-specific performances for public spaces who makes work to defend new possibilities of imagining and defining our world. In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, Jennifer speaks of her lifelong passion for art and storytelling. She describes herself as “a non-traditional storyteller” who tells stories with much more than just words.  Jennifer explains, “as an artist, everything in front of me is material that I can use.” She has staged several important “art interventions” in public spaces including singing a rendition of This Land Is Your Land at an Allegheny County Council Board Meeting in Pittsburgh. Jennifer N. Myers is also the creator of The Never Ending Book of Women’s Rights and The Baiji’s Last Swim a reenactment of the extinction of a Chinese river dolphin.

Jennifer Nagle Myers on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Pat DiCesare promoted the Beatles concert in Pittsburgh on September 14, 1964. In this interview on Art and Inspiration with William Rock, Pat DiCesare shares details of promoting and financing the historic Beatles concert. He also speaks of encounters with Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and others.  In this Art and Inspiration interview you’ll hear some rare audio from the concerts including Pat DiCesare telling the frenzied Led Zeppelin crowd, “we gotta keep it cool.” Pat DiCesare was a hit songwriter and recording artist at the dawn of the rock n’ roll era and then he went on to promote every major concert act in the last half of the 20th century including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen and hundreds of others. Pat was a pioneer in the birth and development of the modern rock concert and large stadium shows. His Pittsburgh based company called DiCesare Engler Productions was among the top grossing concert production companies in the United States.  Pat DiCesare’s book is called Hard Days Hard Nights.

Pat DiCesare on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

David Bonnett is a Pink Dolphin of The Amazon researcher. David is an acoustical engineer, a nuclear physicist and a retired nuclear submarine commander. For twenty years during the Cold War he monitored and listened to the almost silent coming and goings of Soviet nuclear submarines. In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, David Bonnett speaks of his journey from being a submarine commander to becoming an advocate of The Pink Dolphin of The Amazon. David has spent years utilizing his sonar and acoustical engineering skills to record the sounds of The Pink Dolphin with the hopes of deciphering the communication patterns of this highly intelligent species. In this interview, David Bonnett also plays some of the rarely heard recordings of The Pink Dolphin.

David Bonnett on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Maryum "May May" Ali spent many years as a successful performer and stand-up comedian. In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, May May talks about her lifelong passion for social activism. She also speaks of her father Muhammad Ali and the positive examples he set for her in terms of helping others. Maryum "May May" Ali is the co-founder of DMTL, Families Moving Forward, a non-profit organization that provides hope, education and gang prevention counseling to at risk youth.

Maryum "May May" Ali on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

This is a recording of a talk given by William Rock an artist and founder of Art and Inspiration International. The talk was recorded at The Olmo Ling Center for Meditation and Compassionate Outreach. In this talk, William Rock speaks of the artist as mystic and how making art and mystical insight inform each other.

William Rock on Art and Inspiration

Ani Drubgyudma is a Buddhist monk ordained in both Chan and Tibetan Kagyu traditions. In this interview with William Rock on Art and Inspiration, Ani speaks of what it means to be human and the impact of living from a stabilized realization of the authentic self. She also speaks on how to use objective humility to remove our inner obstacles and to live from a place of equanimity and inner wisdom. Ani tells of her years as a Christian minister in Africa and how the kidnapping of her daughter influenced the spiritual direction in her life. Ani Drubgyudma elaborates on the very favorable condition of being in nature and having solitude as she encourages us, "to be a unique blessing in the world."

Ani Drubgyudma on Art and Inspiration with William Rock

Thaddeus Mosley, at 86 years young, the great sculptor and artist speaks in depth about his art, life and technique to William Rock on Art and Inspiration. A rare opportunity to hear this master sculptor discuss the intricacies and rhythms of a life dedicated to the pursuit of the creative and making art.

Thaddeus Mosley on Art and Inspiration with Wlliam Rock

Art and Inspiration with William Rock is a program designed to give artists, poets, writers, scientists, monks, mystics and others a forum to share ideas, creativity and inspirations.

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Art and Inspiration with William Rock

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