Creating Portland Wolf & Thunder Productions

Two teachers - host, Pearson Kunz, and special guest Nicole Smith - go absolutely off on the importance of arts education...

Local multimedia producer Katya is our guest this week. Pearson and Katya reflect on how the global pandemic has allowed creators a sort of intermission; a time to recharge and make healthier one’s creative processes.

This week we talk pop culture in a major way with comic book writer and illustrator Terry Blas. Our discussion runs the gamut from using art as an educational tool, how the financial cost and intended audience of a piece contribute to its legitimacy in the art community, all the way to Ariana Grande and Marvel! It’s a real rollercoaster y’all. Check it out!

Our guest this week, Fran Bittakis is a true creative connector through her organization JOOP JOOP. In our conversation this week we talk about making your own spaces when you don’t fit inside the labels, the multidisciplinary nature of today’s artists, and a concrete plan for large corporations to invest in the artistic capital that Portland’s BIPOC community has to offer our city. You’re not going to want to miss this one y’all!

Our awesome artist this week is Troy Mathews who creates breathtaking pieces in Portland while being an arts educator. In our conversation with Troy this week, we discuss which audiences to address in social justice art-making, the need for more variety in our city’s gallery space, and even how to use tax loopholes to make big money from art in Oregon. We’re all over the map in this important conversation so be sure to check it out!

We have a really exciting episode this week with movement artist Honey LeFleur. Pearson and Honey explore slippery grief, the productive processing of a pandemic year, and manifesting a wholly necessary cultural renaissance in our city. You won’t want to miss this one y’all!