ReVisioning the Arts

Katy Pyle of the Ballez Company joins us to talk about the origins of the company and their journey in starting this alternative queer ballet troupe. 

Katy speaks to how the evils and wrongdoings that we experience, and the way that they stick with us, can lead us to an expression of our own values and desires. 

This is a conversation for anyone who has struggled with abusive systems and has, or longs to have, a community surround them in working towards a healing alternative. 

Katy Pyle is a genderqueer lesbian dancer, choreographer and teacher. Pyle has been dancing professionally in New York City since 2002 for John Jasperse, Jennifer Monson, Faye Driscoll, Ivy Baldwin, Xavier Le Roy, and Young Jean Lee, among others. Pyle founded Ballez in 2011 to push classical ballet towards an inclusive future by centering the experiences of queer, lesbian, trans, and gender non-conforming people within the creation of large-scale story ballets, open classes, and public conversations. Major story ballets: “The Firebird, a Ballez,” Danspace Project, 2013, “Sleeping Beauty & the Beast,” La Mama, 2016 and "Giselle of Loneliness," The Joyce, 2021. Pyle has brought Ballez to Princeton, Sarah Lawrence, Yale, Movement Research, CounterPULSE, Bowdoin, Whitman, Beloit, Slippery Rock University, Rutgers, Berea and Swarthmore. Pyle currently teaches undergraduates at Eugene Lang College and Marymount Manhattan, and professional dancers at Gibney Dance. ballez.org

Patreon: 

https://www.patreon.com/roguetheology

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Millicent Johnnie comes on the podcast to bring insights and perspectives into justice in the arts, including artists' own complicity in injustice. We talk about the practice of land acknowledgement and complications around its current manifestation. Millicent shares her perspectives from being in indegenous communities and what bringing those practices to her art has meant. 

We finish the episode with a hugely important discussion of the philanthropic system and how it is still rooted in practices of genocide and exploitation. These are the cultural models of funding in the arts.

Millicent Johnnie is a dancer, choreographer, director, activist and educator. She is a two time United States Artists nominee in dance, Chief Executive Officer at Millicent Johnnie Films L.L.C. and Chief Visionary Producer of 319 Productions.

Millicent’s website is currently under construction, however you can find out more about her work through her youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt16fxxDjoopKOTN0mnUuqw

Patreon: 

https://www.patreon.com/roguetheology

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Inspired by a recent episode of "This Jungian Life", this episode of ReVisioning the Arts delves into the concept of normalcy. As artists, we are socialized to strive to be exceptional. We learn that in order to stand out from other applicants our work and our ideas have to be unique, original and above all, highly impressive. 

Deb, one of the hosts of This Jungian Life, tells the story of how one of her best teachers told their students:

"Dare to be ordinary."

When I heard that phrase it struck me because it speaks directly to the wound that I, and so many others in my position, carry - i.e. the need to stand out and be seen as exceptional in order to just survive.

In this episode I go into reflections on this quote and how it is helping me to balance my life and outlook.

Sourced from "This Jungian Life: Episode 174: Time & Truth about its Use"

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

This is a conversation about ambition in "career artists" and the cost of ambition. You'll absolutely want to listen to if you struggle with feelings of inadequacy. 

We go into deep talk about productivity and the toll it can have on our mental health and how we can define ourselves as artists with regards to our rate of productivity. We go into the dangers of relying on the feedback we get in terms of recognition.

Mira tells us about the damage of equating self-worth with productivity. She’s so honest and generous with her inner life and inner world- the shifts that has happened, what she used to want vs what she wants now.

She talks about her relationship with the “American exceptionalism and bootstrap mentality", and she's overall a huge badass. I think you'll love her.

Mira: 

Mira Treatman is an artist and writer born, raised, and rooted in the city of Philadelphia. Prior to 2020, she spent ten years in arts management working primarily with non-profit dance companies. She is currently pursuing an MS in Community and Trauma Counseling at Thomas Jefferson University. As an artist, she has been fortunate to receive support from Earthdance E|MEREGE, BodyMeld, Arts Letters & Numbers, Gibney Dance Center LANDING, Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and The Knight Foundation/National Center for Choreography/Akron. Mira's career highlights have included working the box office rush during Nutcracker, producing the 2020 Rocky Awards, teaching at 954 Dance Movement Collective, mentoring some stellar college interns over the years, and making work with collaborators Irina Varina, Susanna Payne-Passmore, and The Foxy Doxies. https://www.miratreatman.com/

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

It's an industry norm that companies ask dancers to pay to be considered for employment.

In this episode I talk about the most common forms of this that I've encountered: asking dancers to pay for a summer intensive in order to be considered or asking for an audition fee at the audition. 

I argue that any form of a dancer paying to be considered for employment is an exploitation of that person's desire to belong and find their place. There is no other industry that I'm aware of in which an employer asks a candidate to pay to be considered for employment- so why do we let this practice persist in dance?

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Busting the myth of the "successful art career".

Most of us have been conditioned with this story: When I am making a significant portion of my income from art, when I can show on my tax return that x percentage of my job revenue is from my artwork, then I am truly an artist. Anything less is just "hobbyist". Many artists are turning away from that story, as it is damaging, elitist and not realistic. It is also largely due to the way Capitalism shapes how artists must operate on the market.

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Yanira Castro and I sit down to discuss equitable funding and the problem of giving money to artists. Yanira describes the current funding system as “a mess of grants that create no stability for anyone.” She brings up the quandary of justice in funding, and how we can even begin to justify how we give artists money.

This episode is, hopefully, the first of many RA episodes to dive into the mess of our current methods of funding and offer hopeful avenues of exploration that benefit the well-being of all artists, not just a select few.

Creating New Futures: https://creatingnewfutures.tumblr.com/

Yanira Castro: https://acanarytorsi.org/yanira-castro/

Julia Brandenberger: www.roguetheology.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

julia@roguetheology.com

Chris Davis, organizer of SoLow Fest (www.solowfest.weebly.com) joins me to talk about tenacity and resilience in the DIY world. Keep this podcast in your arsenal for the times when you feel down about your art and the world isn’t meeting you. Chris’ inspiring stories of continuing on his path without traditional fame and glory (but with much love and admiration from those in his community) will help you to reframe success as an artist.

Chris Davis (actor/writer) is a writer and performer residing in Philadelphia, PA.  His solo shows have toured throughout the United States and Europe. Recently he won the Special Prize as part of the Thespis Monodrama Festival in Kiel, Germany. 

Recent projects include solo shows One-Man Nutcracker (“a refreshing splash to the face…”), The Presented (★★★★ - The List), The Last Emperor of Mexico, One-Man Apocalypse Now (★★★★★ - “superbly crafted” - Underdog Reviews), Juan-Winfield, Bortle 8 (“…a strikingly original writer and performer.” - The Scotsman), Drunk Lion (“A potent success” ★★★★★ - Wee Review), and Violence of the Lambs (“…absurd comedy at its very best." ★★★★★ – The Student Newspaper ).  He has participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the last 6 years.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

Julia Brandenberger can be reached at julia@roguetheology.com

Her work can be found at www.roguetheology.com 

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Episode 3: The Falsehood of the Meritocracy and Comparison with Logan Schulman

In this interview, Logan Gabriel Schulman(they/them) and I explore the ownership of the title "artist".

Logan brings in the falsehood of the meritocracy of capitalism - i.e. that if our work is just "good enough" it will take off and be seen. They also go into the dynamics of social networks and how it is now incredibly difficult to consider oneself an artist given that we are constantly in comparison and being told we aren't good enough. Our validation, so often these days, lies in metrics-- this many people have seen it, liked it, etc.

Logan and I discuss the need for government funding rather than philanthropy from the wealthy. We discuss DIY production as a necessary means for resiliency. Logan also gives us some great tips for consistency and follow-through in networking with institutions.

Logan's website: https://loganschulman.net/

Logan Gabrielle Schulman is a genderqueer interdisciplinary visual and performance artist, theater director, and educator. Through performance, installation, and video, their practice labors to weave empathy, criticality, and the rupturous notion of deep time into immersive narratives, challenging commonplace configurations of faith in America. Their work has been presented by the Chautauqua Institution, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and Vox Populi Gallery, among other institutions locally, nationally, and abroad. They received their training from the New College of Florida with a dual degree in religion and performance studies, and from the Stella Adler Studio for Actor Training.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

Julia Brandenberger can be reached at julia@roguetheology.com

Her work can be found at www.roguetheology.com 

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

Episode 2: Non-Competitive Funding with Colin Logue

Today’s guest, Colin Logue, brings us conversations about how to fund art in a noncompetitive way. How does market-based economics/capitalism play into our current understandings of how we fund art? How could we support artists without making us win out over each other and compete for resources?

We discuss the pitfalls and failures of the current mainstream granting system, such as the exclusion of new ideas and the systemic perpetuation of ideas that align with those who are giving money.

Colin joins me to discuss this and other questions surrounding egalitarianism and the arts. 

As a larger takeaway- we question what the role of the artist should be and how art truly works within a culture.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

Julia Brandenberger can be reached at julia@roguetheology.com

Her work can be found at www.roguetheology.com 

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0 

ReVisioning the Arts is an anti-elitist arts podcast focused on inclusivity and egalitarianism. The show has two primary focuses: offering strength and encouragement to struggling artists and dreaming up new world models that would support as many people as possible in making their art.

In this podcast, I will bring on guest artists who have experience in creating environments of inclusivity within their disciplines or who are asking similar questions of the wider culture.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisioningthearts/

Julia Brandenberger can be reached at julia@roguetheology.com

Her work can be found at www.roguetheology.com 

Music:

"Theme for Julia," by Mira Treatman, licensed under CC BY 2.0