How Art is Born Podcast

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The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver's original podcast, How Art is Born, delves deep into the creative process with artists representing the spectrum of artmaking. Join host R. Alan Brooks, as he uncovers each creative's artistic practice through engaging and authentic conversation. Discover how each artists career began, where their ideas are generated, which ideas become art and which ones faded away into the ether. Explore the stories behind the artist on How Art is Born.

Subscribe and listen to How Art is Born wherever you listen to your podcasts.

LISTEN TO THE SEASON 3 TRAILER

Season 3

Image with text. A crumpled white piece of paper as background with the text "How Art is Born" in the upper left corner; and "Season 3" across the top, centered; and "Episode 1" across the bottom centered. In the middle of the graphic is an image of artist Kaneem Smith in a Pink Sweater.
Image with text. A crumpled white piece of paper as background with the text "How Art is Born" in the top left corner. Also shown is a portait of artist Gregg Deal wearing a black full brimmed hat, and black suit with Native American bead designs on the lapel of the jacket.

 

Image with text. A crumpled white piece of paper as background with the text "How Art is Born. Season 3, Episode 3". Also featured is an image of podcast guest, artist Thomas "Detour" Evans.

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font in the top left corner of the image on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of photographer Amanda Lopez. The graphic also reads "Season 3 Episode 4" in orange handwritten font.

Episode art for How Art is Born Season 3 Episode 5 featuring musical artist N3ptune. N3ptune is wearing a lacey black tank top. His hair is styled in black and silver long braids.

How Art is Born podcast graphic with headshot of John Jennings

Episode art for How Art is Born Season 3 Episode 7 featuring photo of artist Leo Castaneda wearing a green, gray, and beige polo shirt and clear framed glasses

 

Comedy duo Lee Robinson and Kate McLachlan posing for a photo at a Dyketopia event
Episode art for How Art is Born Season 3 Episode 9 featuring Derrick Hodge. Derrick is wearing a black baseball cap, a black blazer, and a white collared shirt

 

SEASON 2 BONUS EPISODES

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of R. Alan Brooks in a red shirt and a fedora hat.

Image with text. A crumpled white piece of paper as background with the text "How Art is Born. Bonus Episode: Best of Season 2 Part I". Below the text are headshots of guests AJ Haynes, Blake Jackson, Sebastian Jones, Diego Gerard Morrison, Lucia Hinojosa, and Wes Watkins.
Image with text. A crumpled white piece of paper as background with the text "How Art is Born. Bonus Episode: Best of Season 2 Part II". Below the text are headshots of guests Cami Galofre, Sofie Birkin, Maia Ruth Lee, Finnegan Shannon, and Eric See.

SEASON 2

Podcast graphic with the words "Season 2" in orange handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of AJ Haynes posing in front of an earthy red toned backdrop wearing a silver dress, looking over her left shoulder. Below the portrait is the words "Episode 1" and "Engaging with community through art with singer/songwriter and reproductive justice leaders AJ Haynes"

Podcast graphic with the words "Season 2" in orange handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a black and white portrait of Blake Jackson posing in front of a brick wall with a stoic expression on his face and a respirator mask on top of my head. Below the portrait are the words "Episode 2" and "Self expression through artwork with photographer and director Blake Jackson."

Podcast graphic with the words "Season 2" in orange handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a photo of podcast guest Sebastian Jones holding four comic books. Underneath the image of Sebastian is the episode title, "Emphasizing story and representation in independent comics with President of Stranger Comics Sebastian Jones"

 

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is portraits of Diego Gerard Morrison and Lucia Hinojosa Gaxiola

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of musician Wes Watkins wearing a wide brim hat, smiling, and looking over his right shoulder.

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of artist Cami Galofre wearing a white top with two pink flamingos embroidered onto the shirt.

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of Sofie Birkin in a pinkish purple hue sitting with her back against a mural she painted.

Podcast graphic with the words "Season 2" in orange handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a photo of podcast guest Maia Ruth Lee wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt with yellowish orange aspen leaves in the background.

 

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of artist Shannon Finnegan in a black, blue, green and red collared shirt with pinstripes and tiger stripes.

Podcast graphic with the words "How Art is Born" in black handwritten font on a crumpled piece of white paper. In the center of the image is a portrait of Eric See at night wearing a white mesh shirt.

SEASON 1

Episode 1: Introverts and the danger of ego with photographer Armando Geneyro

Episode 2: From acting to stand-up and winning over the audience with comedian Janae Burris

Episode 3: Creating through grief with indie-pop producer and recording artist ZEMBU

Episode 4: Designing to heal the inner child with immersive installation artist Lonnie Hanzon

Episode 5: Using art as a light in a dark world with painter Diego Rodriguez-Warner

Episode 6: Mental health and representation with comic artists Jacenta L. Irlanda and Diamanto Sala

Episode 7: The artistry of food and hospitality with chef Kelly Whitaker

Episode 8: Holding up a mirror to the audience with choreographer & performance artist Helanius J. Wilkins

Episode 9: Exploring the "true self" with multidisciplinary artist Laura Shill

Jason Moran How Art is Born Podcast

 

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

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ABOUT THE HOST

[Image description: A photo of R. Alan Brooks in a comic book store. He is wearing a tan fedora, a red graphic t-shirt, and beaded bracelets.]

Photo by Joe Rogers

R. Alan Brooks teaches graphic novel writing for Regis University’s MFA program, and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. He’s the author of “The Burning Metronome” and “Anguish Garden” - graphic novels featuring social commentary. His award-winning weekly comic for The Colorado Sun, “What’d I Miss?” has been praised for its direct engagement with social issues. His TED Talk on the importance of art reached 1 million views in 2 months. His graphic novel work is featured in the Denver Art Museum's renovated Western exhibit. He hosts the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art's "How Art Is Born" podcast, as well as his own “MotherF**ker In A Cape” comics podcast, and has written comic books for Pop Culture Classroom, Zenescope Entertainment, and more.

Website: www.ralanwrites.com
Instagram: @ralanwrites
Twitter: @r_alan_writes

TEAM

PRODUCER AND EDITOR: Dele Johnson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Law
Special thanks to the entire staff of MCA Denver for their support

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