June 18–July 31, 2021
Subject Matters, curated by Imani Mixon, gathers diverse, artistic voices to analyze today’s cultural climate.
Red Bull Arts Detroit and Kresge Arts in Detroit are pleased to present Subject Matters, their inaugural podcast that responds to contemporary socio-political truths within the context of individual artistic practices.
Curated and hosted by culture writer and producer Imani Mixon, Subject Matters pairs Red Bull Arts Residents and Grantees with Kresge Artist Fellows, Gilda Award recipients, and Eminent Artists to investigate the cultural nuances that inform their work. This timely and important series will address topics at the center of popular discourse, from gatekeeping and resistance strategies to intergenerational exchange and safe spaces.
Listeners will have the opportunity to hear from visionary artists who offer critical perspectives on how to collectively navigate through this unparalleled moment in history. Mixon says, “With Subject Matters, I want to hold space for the kind of conversations that I know so many artists are having about their craft, their communities, and their futures. A lot of us have been able to identify the kind of scenes and industries we’d like to return to, so I invited guests who have wonderful work, powerful insights, and beautiful intentions that will sustain us for whatever comes next.”
These intimate conversations will not only address the universal, but also aim to generate concrete ideas and actionable steps to foster a more equitable and sustainable cultural landscape in Detroit and beyond. Following each recording, conversations will be transcribed, key takeaways will be highlighted, and supportive visuals will be collated to support each episode and increase accessibility.
Materials, along with recordings, will be publicly available on Kresge Arts in Detroit’s online exhibition platform throughout the duration of the series and packaged as an openly available resource after the final episode airs.
Part II of Subject Matters will be released on Spotify, Amazon, and other common podcast platforms every other Wednesday from June 16–July 28 with Part I now available across all platforms. For transcripts and supplementary materials visit win.gs/subjectmatters.
Part II
June 16—episode 5: Taylor Aldridge and adrienne maree brown discuss queering the traditional bounds and expectations of the archive by actively infusing their practices with ephemera, research, and documentation
June 30—episode 6: Ian Kuali’i and Jessica Care Moore consider the threshold between information sharing and exploitation as artists are currently faced with the opportunity of drawing from cultural backgrounds and societal understanding
July 14—episode 7: Rashaun Rucker and Gina Reichert connect on managing an art practice along with other full-time responsibilities to reveal how those experiences impact their work negatively and positively
July 28—episode 8: Patrick Quarm and Ajara Alghali discuss what it is like to simultaneously exist within and create art for the diaspora through exploring the elements of creating an artistic practice that upholds communal support
Part I
Episode 1: American Artist, Darryl D. Terrell, and Salakastar interrogate identity and resistance through alter egos
Episode 2: Cristina Tufiño, Ahya Simone, and Nour Ballout recall frameworks and environments that have made them feel most comfortable, welcome, and creative while imagining structures to help replicate these experiences
Episode 3: Joiri Minaya and Jennifer Harge discuss how their practices illuminate the larger issues of where and how art can be seen through interacting with public spaces and site specificity
Episode 4: Holly Bass and Cherise Morris, three artists at different phases of their career, explore how mentorship, maturation, and love have propelled their progress
