Today’s Art World Horror Stories are a mixed bag of tragedies and disasters that serve as cautionary tales to empower artists to protect themselves and hope for the best while planning for the worst, because you never know what is going to happen! For example, David Alexander Willis shares the story of painter, Jason Shawn Alexander, who had a show at Booth Gallery in New York City where a forklift was driven through one of his paintings. Yikes! In this episode, we share more horror stories of assholes doing asshole-y things, stolen intellectual property, and even a real-life haunted art venue. The stories you’ll hear in today’s episode are not read by the artists involved, but by an AI avatar, introducing an added element of spookiness, so make sure to tune in and enjoy! Key Points From This Episode: Mikel Cirkus shares how Swatch Watches stole his intellectual property after a pitch. The lesson in Micheal’s story: do not give away your ideas, sign contracts, protect yourself! The horrifying comment that Diane Navarro received from a pretentious museum president. How his comment about “living artists” damaged Diane’s art career. Dan Monteavaro’s creepy tale of a haunted mural site in the old Howard Hughes Hangar. Ally Zeleter on the scams artists face, from contests with crazy submission fees to inadequate pay from curators. For more info, visit: https://notrealart.com/art-world-horror-stories-vol-3 Support this podcast

Not Real Art

Art World Horror Stories Vol. 3: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst

Welcome to Volume 2 of Art World Horror Stories, where we share the stories we have collected from our larger network of artists and creators. These are intended as cautionary tales about how things can go wrong in the art world and beyond, and will hopefully prevent you from falling victim to the same horrors! Today’s stories come from two artists who share their accounts of the disrespect that artists are oftentimes subjected to when someone damages our artwork or insults our artistic integrity. In this episode, you’ll hear from Tara Vantapour, a multidisciplinary artist based in Paris, and OG low brow artist, Anthony Ausgang, about the contempt and ridicule they have endured at the hands of gallery curators and wealthy art collectors. In one, the artist walks away with new ground rules and, in the other, with $100 in cash. Make sure to tune in today to find out how these horror stories end! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s artists: Tara Vantapour and Anthony Ausgang. Tara shares an Art World Horror Story, which starts with a pre-pandemic exhibition in Paris. How the gallery disrespected Tara by ghosting her and refusing to return her artwork. How Tara believes her work has been ‘emotionally’ damaged by the art and fashion worlds. Another horror story about how a restaurant owner belittled Tara’s fashion design practice. Hear how these horror stories have inspired her to create ground rules to protect herself. Anthony’s Art World Horror Story that happened many years ago when he was an art installer. How a Warner Brothers’ executive ridiculed Anthony’s work by saying it wasn’t art. The contempt Anthony was subjected to when he was asked to install a Mark Kostabi shopping bag in the same executive’s home. For more info, visit: https://notrealart.com/art-world-horror-stories-vol-2 Support this podcast

Art World Horror Stories Vol. 2: So Disrespectful, It’s Scary!

Today we are starting a new segment, something terrifying, something horrifying; introducing Art World Horror Stories! Over the last couple of weeks, we have been collecting stories from our larger network of artists and creators, intended as cautionary tales, or reminders about how wrong things can go in the world of art and beyond. Some of the time all the hard work and love you put into projects pays off, but sometimes the best-laid plans come to nothing, and the ship sinks in front of your eyes. Today's episode is the first of these and Sourdough kicks things off by talking about the events of 2014 when Crew West Studios almost saw through an amazing vision to oversee the painting of jumbo jets for Virgin Atlantic. Right before the plan really kicked into motion, the tragedy of the VSS Enterprise occurred, something that shook the whole of Virgin to its foundations, and unfortunately resulted in many ideas and initiatives being shelved or forgotten. To hear all about this, and a clear reminder of the lack of guarantees in life, listen in with us today for this segment of Art World Horror Stories! Key Points From This Episode: The kinds of bad things that can happen to anyone: a lesson from 2020 and the pandemic.  Dreams at Crew West Studio of painting a jumbo jet!   Connecting with Pippa Lambert at ICM and pitching the idea to Virgin Atlantic. How the competition was going to work; voting for designs across different continents.  The great reception that the idea initially received at Red Dog and Virgin.  The scheduled meeting with the Virgin Atlantic CEO and the rising tide of excitement.  How tragedy struck on October 31st, 2014 with the crash of the VSS Enterprise.  The resultant shelving of the global art project that Crew West had envisaged. Accidents happen and circumstances change; best-laid plans can be devastated.    A reminder about counting blessings too soon, and staying focused on what really matters. For more info, visit: https://notrealart.com/art-world-horror-stories-virgin/ Support this podcast

Art World Horror Stories Vol. 1: Virgin Nightmares

In this episode we welcome our original co-host, artist Man One, back to launch our new segment Gringo & The Man, where a middle-aged white dude (aka Scott “Sourdough” Power) and an O.G. Latino graffiti artist (aka Man One) talk about living in a world gone loco! This premiere of Gringo & The Man takes NOT REAL ART back to its roots, to a time when Sourdough & Man One just hung out, talking about whatever they want, and having a good time. Nothing is off-limits with Gringo & The Man! GenXers from Chicago and L.A. respectively, Gringo (aka Scott “Sourdough” Power ) & The Man (aka Man One) bring their devil-may-care attitude to discussing contemporary culture. Long time friends, Sourdough and Man One’s banter is what you'd expect from two dudes who grew up in The Eighties. (Warning: Gringo & The Man may not be appropriate for those easily triggered.) In this first episode, the dos amigos discuss the curious name of their segment and wonder if anyone will understand the cultural reference. Man One shares more about gringos in Mexico and tells some hilarious stories from Spring Break. Then, they dive into Man One’s quest for an assistant or intern, and he talks about some of the character traits he looks for in those who help him. The wide-ranging conversation also touches on raising kids, the drawbacks of technology, and more of Man One’s tales from Mexico. We are so excited about this new project, so tune in today to hear it all! Key Points From This Episode: Hear about Man One’s colorful family tree. What the typical gringo on vacation in Mexico looks like. Talking about how many people will understand the reference Gringo and the Man draws on. The importance of fucking shit up to shake things up. Brainstorming whether or not we should drink tequila during this segment. How older Mexican people view partnering with a gringo. Man One’s experience of going on Spring Break to Mexico with white people from his high school  A terrifying story of Google Translate gone wrong. So many people across Europe are polyglots. What we will do when Sourdough’s gringo privilege rears its head.  Find out whether Man One is a sentimental person. Hear about how Man One pays attention to detail. The criteria Man One looks for in an assistant or intern.   The catch 22 of hiring someone to help you with your art practice.  Hear about what a VA is and how this could help if you need to delegate tasks. Gaming is a whole world separate from the real world, and people are getting left behind. How Sourdough feels about technology and his children immersing themselves in it. Before, playing outside was cool, but now gaming is cool.  The difficult decision parents have to make when allowing their children to have social media. Technology is no longer viewed as a tool; it’s seen as entertainment. At the end of the day, it is about raising a mentally healthy child. Man One shares more stories from Mexico. We can now tell our wives we are going to record these episodes. For more info, visit: https://notrealart.com/gringo-and-the-man (https://notrealart.com/gringo-and-the-man) Support this podcast

Launching Our New Segment: Gringo & The Man

Although we may see what’s happening on the U.S-Mexican border on the news, how many of us truly understand the plight of people who are stuck there or those who have made it across but live in constant fear? Daniel Garcia is a first-generation Mexican American artist and a 2021 NRA Grant Winner. Along with this, she is also an art educator and just an all-around incredible human being. In today’s episode, we hear about why Daniel is so passionate about the border and immigrant-related issues. Having grown up in California, a liberal state, she was not aware of just how dire things were at the border, and when she found out, she knew she could not stay quiet. We hear about her artistic process and what goes into her producing a piece of her moving work. Daniela also works as a teacher, and she talks about what this is like, particularly during Covid, and how she balances it with her artistic practice. Having a job while you are an artist takes the pressure off what you create, but it also does take time away from creating. Our wide-ranging conversation also touches on rituals, capitalism, and what Daniela is currently working on. Tune in to hear it all! For more info, visit the following: https://notrealart.com/daniela-garcia/ Key Points From This Episode: •  Where Daniela was in Mexico recently and what the province she was in is like. •  Insights into the farm Daniela’s family has in Mexico. •  This was Daniela’s first grant that she applied for, and she won. •  Where Daniela was when she found out that she won the grant. •  Daniela’s artistic process and why she feels so passionate about shedding light on what is happening at the border. •  There is so much money to be made off of what is happening with immigrants. •  Why Daniela makes such non-confrontational work. •  The symbolism that is present in Daniela’s work. •  There are so many people who are hurt and traumatized and they are taking it out on others. •  Hear about what gives Daniela the most hope. •  If you buy into the capitalist idea, there is a winner takes all mentality. •  The students Daniela is teaching and what her teaching philosophy is. •  Difficulty Daniela had in the first year of teaching a balancing teaching and her art practice. •  What Daniela’s art production process looks like. •  How Daniela markets her work and how she uses social media. •  Daniela’s thinking around how she prices her work. •  What Daniela is currently working on; exploring rituals.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Daniela Garcia — https://www.danigarciaart.com/ Daniela Garcia Hamilton on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dahnniii/ (https://www.instagram.com/dahnniii/) Man One — http://www.manone.com/ (http://www.manone.com/) Man One on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ManOneArt (https://twitter.com/ManOneArt) Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.instagram.com/sourdoughpower/ (https://www.instagram.com/sourdoughpower/) Not Real Art — https://notrealart.com/ (https://notrealart.com/) Not Real Art School — https://school.notrealart.com/ (https://school.notrealart.com/) Not Real Art on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/notrealartworld/ (https://www.instagram.com/notrealartworld/)           Support this podcast

Daniela Garcia: Winner of the 2021 NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists

On today's show, Sourdough encourage listeners to call in and leave messages on the hotline: 833-688-7325 Support this podcast

Sourdough's Hotline: 833-688-7325

Have you ever wondered how certain people and companies achieve larger-than-life status? Well, today’s guest has some theories about what legends are made of, with empirical evidence to back them up! International brand consultant Gair Maxwell has worked with some of the world’s most dynamic organizations, including Apple, Caterpillar, NAPA, and Virginia Tech. He has also shared conference stages with some of the world’s biggest business icons, such as Richard Branson and Gene Simmons, delivering 80 to 90 presentations every year with global representation from speaker bureaus in Canada and Mexico. “If you want to create something truly legendary, especially with something as intangible as a brand, there are no guarantees, but you have got to be the one to basically [do what] we were talking about earlier, with Steven Pressfield and the legend of Bagger Vance. You are the golfer, metaphorically. You have got to step up to the tee, and you have got to put the ball in play.” — https://twitter.com/GairMaxwell (@GairMaxwell) [0:40:02]“As the business world gets more focused on metrics and logic and that which is linear and analytical, that’s not, big picture, how you win over the long haul. I think it’s art. In the end, it comes down to the art that you create and, in many respects, your business or your nonprofit or whatever it is, think of it as a canvas. I know it sounds very metaphorical, but I see it that way. It’s a canvas, and then you paint it in the image that you feel good about.” — https://twitter.com/GairMaxwell (@GairMaxwell) [1:06:55]A former broadcaster, Gair racked up over 10,000 interviews and more than 30,000 broadcasts in an award-winning radio and television career in his native country of Canada. Today, he is a global authority for helping organizations create iconic brands that attract legions of customers and top talent. In this episode, Gair and Sourdough bond over their mural love for Van Halen, and Gair shares some stories about the people, companies, and communities that he has encountered who were determined to change the rules and compete on their terms. You’ll learn how they are creating raving fans, attracting top talent, enjoying substantial growth, and establishing themselves as what Gair defines as a Category of One. Fundamentally, Gair believes that you can’t create a legend without a story. Deep down, you have to come to grips with your own story and truly live it! Tune in today for some poignant advice on how to do just that. For more info, visit here: https://notrealart.com/gair-maxwell/ Key Points From This Episode: •   Gair emphasizes the power of virtual technology like Zoom, LinkedIn, and YouTube. •   When Gair’s love for Van Halen started and why he calls them the “soundtrack of his life.” •   The importance of communicating through feeling in a data-driven, KPI-obsessed society. •   How to live up to your potential by understanding that everyone has a story to tell. •   Gair reflects on his career journey and his lifelong fascination with all things ‘legendary’. •   Why he believes that a story either happens to you or you have to make one happen. •   The origin of legends and how to decode their enduring appeal to create great brands. •   Find out how Gair got into TV and radio broadcasting in Canada in the first place. •   His transition from broadcasting to business; creating a story grounded in emotional truth. •   Why your story has to be about more than “making a buck” if you want to build a legacy. •   Gair highlights the value of embracing the wisdom of uncertainty. •   Scott explains to Gair where his pseudonym, Sourdough, comes from. •   Setting yourself apart as an essential component of success; the enduring value of... Support this podcast

Gair Maxwell: Inspiring Leaders to Create Legendary Brands

“Publishing and performing rights are constantly in flux, and I find myself constantly having to keep up with that stuff.” — https://twitter.com/Syberspace?ref_src=twsrc%255Egoogle%257Ctwcamp%255Eserp%257Ctwgr%255Eauthor (@Syberspace) [0:42:48]A true artistic chameleon, today’s guest, Sy Smith, is a renowned songwriter, session singer, and actor. She has provided backup vocals to legendary artists like Whitney Houston and Sheila E and has also released five of her own critically-acclaimed albums. You may have also seen her on Ally McBeal, where she had a recurring role on the hit show. From an early age, Sy was immersed in culture. From visiting museums to going to the theater to reading and writing, she understood the value of creativity in her life and the world. As travel has always been an integral part of her life, Sy has always been inspired by her surroundings and has been creatively fed by whichever environment she has been in. Whether it was go-go in Washington or hip hop in New York, Sy soaked it all up!  In today’s episode, Sy offers us a look into her journey. We hear about her childhood, when she knew she wanted to be a performer, and how she got her start as a vocalist. Sy shares what her experience at Howard was like and talks about the opportunity that changed her life by bringing her out to L.A. Our conversation also touches on the ever-evolving topic of performing rights, how Sy has adapted to the pandemic, the importance of being flexible as an artist, and why you should create opportunities that showcase your value. Tune in to hear it all! Key Points From This Sy Smith Episode:•   What growing up in DC was like and Sy’s experience of being raised by her village. •   Different places Sy was exposed to music and her formal and informal musical education. •   How traveling around the country showed Sy different regional hip hop. •   The role that Sy’s mother and father played in exposing her to culture. •   The incredible beginnings of Sy’s vocalist journey. •   Some of the biggest challenges Sy faced when she started singing in choirs. •   The special place that the Kennedy Center has in Sy’s heart. •   When Sy started singing more contemporary music. •   The moment that Sy knew she wanted to be a singer and performer. •   Sy’s experience of going to Howard, an HBCU. •   The opportunity Sy got that led her to move to Los Angeles. •   What happened when Sy got signed by Hollywood Records, where there were not many other Black artists. •   There are constantly developments when it comes to publishing and performing rights. •   When Sy left Hollywood Records and what followed for her afterward. •   How the pandemic forced Sy out of her comfort zone and the incredible results this led to. •   The importance of being flexible as an artist. •   Difficulties Sy has when she has to record and produce her own music. •   The gratitude that Sy feels for having had time to slow down and do the work she wanted to do. •   Voiceover and songwriting work Sy did for a video game, Saints Row. •   How Sy prepares for auditions and her advice for other aspiring singers. •   The importance of creating roles for yourself, according to Sy. •   A look into Sy’s marriage and what it is like being married to another creative. “Traveling was always a part of my life.” — https://twitter.com/Syberspace?ref_src=twsrc%255Egoogle%257Ctwcamp%255Eserp%257Ctwgr%255Eauthor (@Syberspace) [0:03:65]“Singing is such an intimate thing.” — https://twitter.com/Syberspace?ref_src=twsrc%255Egoogle%257Ctwcamp%255Eserp%257Ctwgr%255Eauthor (@Syberspace) [0:24:43]  Links Mentioned in Today’s... Support this podcast

Sy Smith: The Life of an Artistic Chameleon - The Conduit

“It's important to get your stuff heard by industry people but it's equally, if not more important, to find fans who have made it doing the stuff you're doing.” — Chris Manak [0:25:19]Founding a record label is no easy feat and making it not only survive but thrive for over 20 years is truly awe-inspiring. Stones Throw Records is one of the most prominent independent record labels, having helped develop artists like Madlib, J Dilla, MF Doom, and Anderson Paak, to name a few. Chris Manak, AKA Peanut Butter Wolf, is the Founder of this prolific label, and he joins us on the show today. Along with being at the helm of Stones Throw, Chris is also a DJ and producer.  Having been exposed to a range of music early in his life, Chris has always had an appreciation for many genres. Many of his young memories have music woven into them, and it is clear these moments cemented Chris's passion. Along the way, he has also been lucky enough to have some positive influences who have been generous with sharing what they have, and Chris now approaches sharing in this same fashion.   “Making beats and making tracks was what really got me out of [mourning Charizma's death]. It was my therapy more than anything.” — Chris Manak [0:33:08]In this episode, Chris talks about his musical journey and how he went from saving his lunch money to buy records to where he is today. We hear about his formative relationship with rapper Charizma, and the immense impact that his death had on Chris. After his passing, Chris left music behind for some time, only to return to work through the pain. We also talk about where the idea to start Stones Throw came from, how to stay enthusiastic about music when it is your job, and why streaming, in many cases, is helping rather than hindering labels.   Key Points From This Peanut Butter Wolf Episode:What Chris's life was like growing up and his first musical influences and inspiration. Some of the first records and albums Chris remembers getting. How Chris started collecting 12 inches in fifth grade. An older person in Chris's life who introduced him to a lot of music. What Chris was doing before he started working with Charizma. How Chris met Charizma, and the relationship they had. The story of how Chris and Charizma started working together. The importance of having fans who have accomplished what you hope to achieve. How Chris and Charizma's manager helped them after they got signed. Hear how Charizma died and the impact that this had on Chris. The role that music played in helping Chris deal with Charizma's death. Some of the first gigs that Chris and Charizma played. Major lessons Chris learned from performing with Charizma. How Chris came to work with Kool Keith. Where Chris first got the idea to start a record label. Balancing musical tastes and trying to stay afloat as a label head. What it takes to run a label and some of the people on the Stones Throw Records team. How Stones Throw came to be a fully-kitted-out label. The biggest challenge that comes with running a record label. The decision to create the Stones Throw Records vinyl bar.  Gratitude Chris feels for being around great music. What being a new father has been like for Chris. How Chris started using video in his performances. Chris's take on streaming services and why he supports these services. Why Chris feels like streaming helped save his label in some ways. Experiences where handshake deals have gone wrong in the past. Chris's top record label and producer picks. “As a label, we split our profits 50/50 with the artists, and we're transparent with our accounting.” — Chris Manak [1:15:36]“I think streaming helped save our label in certain ways.” — Chris Manak [1:16:19]Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/pbwolf/ (Chris) https://www.stonesthrow.com/ (Stones Throw Records) https://www.instagram.com/anderson._paak/?hl=en (Anderson .Paak)... Support this podcast

Peanut Butter Wolf: Founding Stones Throw Records - The Conduit

Today, we welcome another one of our six 2021 NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists winners, the one and only Carmen Mardónez, hailing from Chile. Carmen is a fiber artist living in Los Angeles, California, whose work explores an imagery of rebellion and freedom through natural landscapes saturated with lights and colors. She employs a characteristically wild freestyle embroidery method combined with other traditional knitting techniques to create sculptural works using materials ranging from canvas to discarded objects and surfaces, such as lemon bags, old t-shirts, and more recently, castoff bed sheets and pillows. In this episode, you’ll learn about the work that Carmen has done with incarcerated women in Chile and how she was impacted by those experiences. She also shares what she loves about her home country, what it was like growing up in an ‘artsy’ family in Santiago, and her decision to be a stay-at-home mom while also pursuing a career as a professional artist. We also touch on Carmen’s approach to self-care, why she has chosen to reject her Catholic roots, and what her plans are for the future. Tune in today to learn more about 2021 NOT REAL ART Grant winner, Carmen Mardónez! Key Points From This Episode:  •   Learn about the social justice work Carmen has done with incarcerated women in Chile. •   How this work changed Carmen’s perspective on the political and socioeconomic conditions in her home country. •   Why she feels grateful that she had the opportunity to have these eye-opening experiences. •   What Carmen loves about Chile, including how it is changing for the better. •   Hear about her upbringing in the urban center of Santiago with her eight siblings. •   Find out why Carmen says that she comes from a very ‘artsy’ family. •   How becoming a mother fueled Carmen’s rebellion against conservative laws regarding women’s reproductive health. •   Her decision to be a stay-at-home mom while also pursuing a career as a professional artist. •   The importance of prioritizing your mental health as an artist and a mother. •   Carmen describes her practice, particularly how she seeks to address textile waste. •   The tactility that comes with beginning to work in a more sculptural manner. •   Carmen reflects on being a prolific artist, describing her embroidery technique in more detail. •   Her approach to self-care; keep working, have lots of plants, and spend time on the beach. •   Find out why Carmen has chosen to reject her Catholic roots. •   Learn about the recent group show that Carmen was included in at Art Share L.A. •   Carmen shares some of her plans for the future and how they have been affected by COVID. For more info, visit: https://notrealart.com/carmen-mardonez    “My practice and my work is a way that I can feel freedom. I can be working without being worried about all the things that you are worried [about] when you are a parent. It’s really cathartic.” — Carmen Mardónez [0:39:19]   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Carmen Mardónez — https://www.carmenmardonez.com/ (https://www.carmenmardonez.com/) Carmen Mardónez on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/desbordado/ (https://www.instagram.com/desbordado/) Carmen Mardónez on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Carmenmardonezart (https://www.facebook.com/Carmenmardonezart) Defiance of Juncture — https://artsharela.org/event/defiance-of-juncture/ (https://artsharela.org/event/defiance-of-juncture/) NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists — https://notrealart.com/grant/ (https://notrealart.com/grant/) NOT REAL ART — https://www.notrealartconference.com/ (https://www.notrealart.com/) Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/ (https://www.notarealartist.com/) Support this podcast

Carmen Mardonez: 2021 NOT REAL ART Grant Winner

NOT REAL ART celebrates creative culture.

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Not Real Art

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