BRAHM TO GO Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

Derrick Beasley is a multimedia artist and activist based in Durham, NC. He describes himself as a visual artist, creating at the intersection of community and imagination. He works in photography, graphic design, woodwork, installation, cultural space-making, and community organizing. It is through these mediums that he works to facilitate conversations between the individual and their own imagination. 

The following quote comes from Derrick's artist statement, "I take the familiar and abstract it enough to stretch our perception of what is possible. In doing this, I imagine new worlds where we are less concerned with validating our humanity than exploring its limitless potential within it. I want to show that the radical new world so many of us are fighting for is actually a basic human experience. My hope as an artist is for individuals experiencing my art to reflect on their existence and expand their conceptualization of what is possible."

View Derrick's website: http:www.derrickbeasley.art  

Image Credit: "To Be Changed..." Derrick Beasley. 2018. Acrylic Paint on Wood Relief Carving.

About the exhibit  Wood is one of the most versatile of materials. It can be malleable or rigid, light or dark, smooth or rough, young or old. Artists carve, cut, sand, sculpt, bend, bind, and burn it.  Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina features a diverse selection of work, ranging from wooden furniture to sculpture, as well as a variety of types of wood and techniques used to create these contemporary works. Exhibiting artists come from across the state of North Carolina and include Roger Atkins, Derrick Beasley, Kim & Paul Fuelling, Mark Gardner, Aspen Golann, Craig Kassan, Jim Oleson, Brent Skidmore, Bob Trotman, Anthony Ulinski, Joël Urruty, Zak Weinberg, and Erik Wolken. Works in the exhibition explore concepts of functionality, texture, color, form, space, humanity, belief, and technology. These artists “branch out” to create work out of wood in unique ways, expanding the possibilities within this familiar medium.  Special thanks to our supporters for making this exhibition possible:  Lee Rocamora & John Thompson  Carol Dabbs  Barbara Laughlin  Monkee's of Blowing Rock  Suzanne & Dayn McBee

Hello this is Willard Watson, and you are listening to BRAHM to go. Welcome to season 2 of our podcast. This season we will meet a group of artists who have spent their lives working with wood.

Wood is one of the most versatile of materials. It can be malleable or rigid, light or dark, smooth or rough, young or old. Artists carve, cut, sand, sculpt, bend, bind, and burn it.

Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina features a diverse selection of work, ranging from wooden furniture to sculpture, as well as a variety of types of wood and techniques used to create these contemporary works. Exhibiting artists come from across the state of North Carolina and include Roger Atkins, Derrick Beasley, Kim & Paul Fuelling, Mark Gardner, Aspen Golann, Craig Kassan, Jim Oleson, Brent Skidmore, Bob Trotman, Anthony Ulinski, Joël Urruty, Zak Weinberg, and Erik Wolken. Works in the exhibition explore concepts of functionality, texture, color, form, space, humanity, belief, and technology. These artists “branch out” to create work out of wood in unique ways, expanding the possibilities within this familiar medium.

Our programs and outreach director, Willard Watson, sat down with wood artist, Aspen Golann, to learn more about her background and artistic process.

This interview is part of an Artist interview series we are conducting with exhibiting artists in our exhibit Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina.  

For more information about Aspen, visit her website www.aspengolann.com  

For more information about BRAHM's exhibition, Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina visit: blowingrockmuseum.org/see/branching-out

Learn more about each of these artists by visiting their websites:

**Aspen Golann,** www.aspengolann.com

BRAHM TO GO is made possible by support from listeners like you. Branching out Works in Wood from North Carolina was made possible with support from


Lee Rocamora & John Thompson
Carol Dabbs
Barbara Laughlin
Monkee's of Blowing Rock
Suzanne & Dayn McBee

BRAHM to go is produced by Willard Watson, with support from Ma'ako Shiratori and music by Melissa Edd

**Image Credit:** Aspen Golann (Penland, NC). *"Draped Cabinet* (detail,)" 2019. Mahogany, hand enameled glass, handmade brass hardware. Courtesy of the artist.

Hello this is Willard Watson, and you are listening to BRAHM to go. Welcome to season 2 of our podcast. This season we will meet a group of artists who have spent their lives working with wood.

Wood is one of the most versatile of materials. It can be malleable or rigid, light or dark, smooth or rough, young or old. Artists carve, cut, sand, sculpt, bend, bind, and burn it.

Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina features a diverse selection of work, ranging from wooden furniture to sculpture, as well as a variety of types of wood and techniques used to create these contemporary works. Exhibiting artists come from across the state of North Carolina and include Roger Atkins, Derrick Beasley, Kim & Paul Fuelling, Mark Gardner, Aspen Golann, Craig Kassan, Jim Oleson, Brent Skidmore, Bob Trotman, Anthony Ulinski, Joël Urruty, Zak Weinberg, and Erik Wolken. Works in the exhibition explore concepts of functionality, texture, color, form, space, humanity, belief, and technology. These artists “branch out” to create work out of wood in unique ways, expanding the possibilities within this familiar medium.

In the first episode of the season, we will hear from Dianna Cameron, BRAHM's former executive curator who curated this exhibit before she departed the museum. Today, we're featuring artists Aspen Golann, Bob Trotman, Derrick Beasley, and Roger Atkins. View the Coffee with the Curator tour here, https://youtu.be/kzPCacYr4l8 

Learn more about each of these artists by visiting their websites: 

 **Roger Atkins,** www.atkinswood.com 

**Derrick Beasley,** www.derrickbeasley.art 

**Aspen Golann,** www.aspengolann.com 

**Bob Trotman,** www.bobtrotman.com

BRAHM TO GO is made possible by support from listeners like you. Branching out Works in Wood from North Carolina was made possible with support from


Lee Rocamora & John Thompson
Carol Dabbs
Barbara Laughlin
Monkee's of Blowing Rock
Suzanne & Dayn McBee

BRAHM to go is produced by Willard Watson, with support from Ma'ako Shiratori and music by Melissa Edd. 

Image credit: Branching Out Galler View. Maggie Flanigan. 2020.

On the final episode of season 1, we hear from the Way Watauga Works photographer Ashley Warren and project manager Willard Watson discuss what it was like to document their community. 

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. 

@naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Today we have an interview with Randy Henson. Randy recently retired from working for the state of North Carolina as a school bus inspector for the western third of the state. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Randy’s work history but we also learn about what goes into keeping kids safe as they ride the school bus to and from school. Randy is a character and a good friend of mine,  I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.



Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.



See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Carol Coulter and Dave Walker. Carol runs Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy and recently retired from being the director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. Dave Walker operates Daffodil Spring Farm and is the current co-director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Carol and Dave’s work history. Carl and Dave are immersed in the local food economy of the High Country of North Carolina so this conversation delves into larger themes about agriculture in the region. 



Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.



See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks