Conversation with Artist Courtney M. Leonard

"Baleen". Courtney M. Leonard. 

When speaking with ceramic and mixed media artist Courtney M. Leonard, I can't help but feel a tidal rhythm in her story, a knowing, a conscious patterning of learning and teaching, as if a map is being drawn up through the conversation, a reminder that all things are connected, and to be aware of the connection points. By relating greatly to the ocean in her work, which has sustained her people for generations, Leonard gives us an opportunity  to look deeper at our natural world, and remember to listen to nature. Leonard's work opens a vital conversation about the environment, and our impact on it, but never in a forceful way. When first engaging with the art of Courtney M. Leonard,  a conversation begins in pure abstraction, delicate patterning, line and color, a dream story. But upon learning Leonard's journey and experiences, it becomes apparent there is an urgency within her work. A story mapped out through the various forms and lines, connecting one image to another, and layered in context and concept. The viewer is not told what to see, but invited to look deeper, to see further, to engage with the environment and remember how to think critically about the world we are a part of.

Artist Courtney M. Leonard of Shinnecock Nation

In this episode of Art Beat Conversations, artist Courtney M. Leonard shares with us her journey through education and the various tools for connection and growth she has collected along her path as the artist. We also learn about her travels in Aotearoa and the many inspiring people who weave together her story and continue to inspire her work and world.

"BREACH: STRANDING #1" Courtney M. Leonard, 2014. 2' x 4' Acrylic on Wood Panel. 

Here is the conversation with the intensely hardworking and inspiring indigenous artist, Courtney M. Leonard. 

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Music Featured in this episode by Fat Freddy's Drop.

Featured Song: Fat Freddy’s Drop vs. SP:MC, mash-up by dj erin e

BREACH: Scrimshaw Studies. Courtney M. Leonard, 2014

More about the artist:

Courtney M. Leonard from the Shinnecock Nation of Long Island, New York. Leonard's work explores the evolution of language, image and culture through various mixed media pieces, woven together with an asthtetic that seems to map an experience of the world she has experienced. She studied art and museum studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts (AFA 2000), Alfred University (BFA 2002), and the Rhode Island School of Design (MFA 2008). She currently lives in Santa Fe, NM and works as a professional artist and educator.

Visit Courtney M. Leonard at her website here.

Connect with Courtney M. Leonard on her Facebook Fan Page.

Conversation with Activist and Artist Jesse Hazelip

'Feather Merchant' mixed media. Jesse Hazelip

It was truly inspiring to have a conversation with the profound and activated artist, Jesse Hazelip. A humble and very thoughtful human being, Hazelip seems so modest in his demeanor, yet is work, his focus and the dialogue he evokes is purely radical. He continues to ask questions, to force us to look further into the cracks of our society, the places and the people that many of us pass by and ignore. Hazelips larger than life wheat paste style, coupled with his 'all in' approach to his vision and cause, creates a place of awareness and pure motivation. He invites the observer to activate themselves and begin to ask questions about our society and its structure. 

'509th' mixed media. Jesse Hazelip

I am proud to invite you into the conversation with Jesse Hazelip on Episode 3 of ABC. 

Music  for this episode by CocoRosie

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Love Lock: Cycle Of Violence. Jesse Hazelip

More about the artist:

Jesse Hazelip was born in 1977 in Cortez, Colorado amidst Navajo and Ute Nation territory, where at a young age, he became acutely aware of the racism and classism of our Nation. At the age of 13, he relocated to Santa Barbara, CA. Shifting into this vastly different environment from his childhood, Hazelip became involved with graffiti, which has become the groundwork for his aesthetic and technique. His love for vandalism is rooted in the traditional sense of the act; where activism becomes ground level, unleashed for the masses to ingest alongside the ever present corporate billboards and consumer propaganda.  Hazelip is currently using the Gallery environment as his main venue for showing his work, but his message does not falter, he simply has the chance to reach another level of audience. Political activism continues to be a huge thread within his works and he is currently addressing the prison system and incarceration. Hazelip is currently based in New York and recently held an exhibition at the Jonathan Levine Gallery entitled, Love Lock: Cycle Of Violence, which addressed the inhumane prison conditions in America. His work with the issue of incarceration seems far from over, and I can only assume there are many more inspiring projects that Hazelip has yet to provide to us as inspiration on how to stay human. 

'Hole', Love Lock: Cycle of Violence. mixed media. Jesse Hazelip. Jonathan Levine Gallery.

Conversation with Artist Cannupa Hanska Luger

Ceramic artist Cannupa Hanska 

In this episode I talk with ceramic and mixed media artist Cannupa Hanska (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara/Lakota). Cannupa Hanska is from Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota, and in this interview we learn about his life and process, beginning with growing up on a ranch, being free to explore his imagination without constraint. He also talks about being the son of an artist mother, about attending art school, being 'art trash', and the shift of becoming a father. Cannupa also explains his process and we learn to further appreciate the dynamic relationship between the artist and the clay.

I invite you to listen in to the world of artist Cannupa Hanska.

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Episode 2 features musical interludes in order of appearance from artists The Advantage, Astronautalis, Doug TwoBulls, Robert Johnson and The Wake Singers. 

Eat Prey, Love. Ceramic. Cannupa Hanska

Rochambeau. Ceramic/Mixed Media. Cannupa Hanska.

Apocalypse Doll. Ceramic/Mixed Media. Cannupa Hanksa

More about the Artist

"Communication drives me as an artist, but ultimately, I create out of responsibility.  In the entire world I am the only one who can see what I see, and maybe I can create a vision that someone can relate to, and this is enough." -Cannupa Hanska

There is a unique way that artist Cannupa Hanska sees the world. It seems he is activated on every level of his being, engaging with his art in such a complex and compassionate way, that it seems he is in a constant state of discovery and adaptation. Perhaps he has found a love for continual creation through art not separate from every part of his life, a balance that not many can maintain. His creative process has no end and no beginning, and this is reflected in each new, refreshing and complex body of work he produces. 

Cannupa Hanska is represented with Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, NM.

Check out Cannupa's Website or follow him on Tumblr and Facebook.

Stereotype: The Stefani. Ceramic/Mixed Media. Cannupa Hanska

Conversation with DJ Inti

Art Beat Conversations is a mix tape of the artist’s process, a collection of ideas and stories that make up the art and give insight into the motivations behind the artist and their work.

In this episode, I talk with DJ INTI. Inti is currently living and Dj’ing in Oakland, CA. He has been working in music stores and collecting records for over 19 years. His connection with music is consuming, in the way all artists must obsessively process life through their chosen art discipline. Inti’s medium is music, specifically, but not limited to vinyl. We begin the conversation by talking about the beginning, Inti’s connection points to music throughout his life, the places and people that inspired him to love music. This is not just an interview, but a collection of stories, insights, and inspirations as seen through he eyes of a DJ and record collector.

Please enjoy the first episode of Art Beat Conversations, and interview with DJ and record collector, DJ INTI.

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Check out mixes made by DJ INTI HERE!

About Featured Artist DJ INTI

DJ INTI lives in Oakland, CA. He collects records, digs for records, plays records and loves obscure music. He lives a life of music. DJ INTI has unique and incredible taste in music. When it comes to the mix-tape, he always comes legit, bringing well thought out, thematic, rare and intelligent composition within the mix.

I wanted to highlight DJ INTI as an artist because his type seems to be disappearing. The lover of the hunt for the rare groove, the DJ who straps a crate of vinyl to his bike to ride across Oakland and play to a small bar full of folks who may have no idea the thought behind the musical set they are yelling over. And he continues, he does not falter or 'sell out'. He learns to adapt and incorporate the new technologies where necessary, but he seems to prefer an old disco record to a club banger any day. I felt very strongly this is an Art worth recognizing and understanding. And I want to introduce you all to this fascinating artist.  

It may be because of the dying art of DJ'ing with vinyl, or the lack of interest i see the younger generation has in digging for new music with the physical hand, choosing to like it because it genuinely moves them as an individual, instead of whats popular. Or it could be the 'download your DJ set and play it from your iphone' future, the auto sync, the 'everyone is a DJ' phenomenon... These could be some of the reasons i felt compelled to dig into the mind and lifestyle of DJ INTI. To find out another way of living with music.

And I do feel that folks are beginning to want another way, beginning to see again the beauty in artists like DJ INTI. Perhaps more and more people will fall in love with the thought behind the music that a DJ puts forth. People will remember to consider the time period, the struggle, the good times and the history in a song. People will begin to admire the DJ's journey to un-earth an amazing musical gem, found at a swap meet or in the back of a dusty basement, cleaned up, and carried across town because the DJ was so excited to share this 5 minute glimpse into a feeling, or a time and place, with you and me. It's remembering that music is shared for the love of it all. And i feel like DJ INTI maintains this pure form of art within DJ'ing and collecting records.