Nice Work

Indiana Public Media
  • 5.0 (5)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Nice Work is a weekly celebration of the arts, culture, and creativity of south central Indiana. From the creators of Earth Eats and Inner States, the show shares stories of artists, musicians, chefs, and dreamers who make our region shine.

  1. Guerrilla Art, Policing, and Power

    10H AGO

    Guerrilla Art, Policing, and Power

    Scholar and curator Faye Gleisser’s book Risk Work: Making Art and Guerrilla Tactics in Punitive America, 1967-1987 won the 2025 Charles C. Eldredge Prize from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The award recognizes outstanding scholarship in the field of American art, and the 2025 committee called Gleisser’s work “gamechanging.” Risk Work is about artists in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, who started using new tactics in response to changes in policing. Rather than creating art that would end up in museums, they showed up in public spaces. A group called Asco staged a photo of a gang war victim. Pope.L started crawling across and along city streets. Gleisser argues that these artists show us how policing and surveillance were intensifying through that period, and that art history and the history of policing and surveillance are not as distinct as we might think.   Alex Chambers talks with Gleisser about her book, and about how art has always been used to enforce power relations as much as to challenge them.  And we check in at the Buskirk Chumley Theatre and learn about local heavy metal band, Wind.

    51 min
  2. Nice Work Present: A Busman’s Holiday Special

    DEC 19

    Nice Work Present: A Busman’s Holiday Special

    This week Nice Work teams up with Bloomington’s own Busman’s Holiday to create something special. A variety show type special, featuring interviews with local artists and writers, a bit of comedy and some top tips for festive snacks. All that and a lot of great music from Busman's Holiday.

    51 min
  3. Not Your Parents' Nutcracker

    DEC 12

    Not Your Parents' Nutcracker

    The IU Nutcracker’s makeover, why art scenes need city government, God on stage, and what to do in Bloomington in these last two weeks of the year.

    51 min
  4. “Bloomington?? Oh, you mean The Gulch!”

    DEC 5

    “Bloomington?? Oh, you mean The Gulch!”

    There’s a podcast produced in Bloomington called It’s a Beautiful Day in the Gulch. The song “Gulch Brigade” is by Bloomington band Full Stride. The Nice Work team sent producer Karl Templeton to figure out why people call Bloomington “The Gulch.” The term goes back farther than we thought.  We learn where to get local art supplies - both new and repurposed - and how an art shop can build community. Plus we hear about what to expect from this year’s Krampus Bizaar.

    51 min
  5. Nothing New Under a Low Winter Sun

    NOV 28

    Nothing New Under a Low Winter Sun

    Alex Chambers visits the Terre Haute museum dedicated to labor leader Eugene Debs.   We head underground to a whole constellation of events at Orbit Room. And then it's a night at the movies with a one-of-a-kind screening at IU Cinema. Plus, Kayte and Tyler discuss their encounter with a pop-up local art show in an empty house.

    51 min
  6. Philosophy and Mini Golf

    NOV 21

    Philosophy and Mini Golf

    We ask professors and curators to talk about their work...while playing mini golf. Richard McCoy reflects on placemaking in Columbus. We see the world through the eyes of painter Wyatt LeGrand. And we finally taste Dubai chocolate. Credits This episode was produced and edited by Alex Chambers. We get production help from Danny William, Holly Wilkerson, Karl Templeton, Eddie Stewart, Leo Paes, Jillian Blackburn and Jonah Ballard. Our theme music was composed and performed by Alan Davis. Additional music from Universal Production Music. The executive producer is Eric Bolstridge.

    51 min
  7. How We Remember

    NOV 14

    How We Remember

    This week on Nice Work Curator Jennifer McComas grapples with American art and the Holocaust. We go inside The IFell, one of the best places to find art and artists in Bloomington. And we hit the court with Bloomington’s Bike Polo Club.

    51 min
  8. Subverting Hollywood Norms

    NOV 7

    Subverting Hollywood Norms

    “They’re comedic, I remember showing my daughter one of those Blaxploitation films and we sat in front of the television and just laughed—because they were so silly.”  This week on Nice Work, Novotny Lawrence, director of the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA) sits down with filmmaker Julie Dash to talk about the resurgence of Blaxploitation themes, and what it meant to be a part of the “LA Rebellion” as a young filmmaker. They discuss Dash’s groundbreaking work, Daughters of the Dust—how it came to be, its unexpected reception and its significance in the world of independent cinema.   We also hear from the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra about their upcoming season, Karl Templeton talks with local legend, Erin Tobey about making murals, and Leo Paes shares a story about a local amateur radio club.

    51 min
See All (13)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Nice Work is a weekly celebration of the arts, culture, and creativity of south central Indiana. From the creators of Earth Eats and Inner States, the show shares stories of artists, musicians, chefs, and dreamers who make our region shine.

Information

  • Creator
    Indiana Public Media
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Trustees of Indiana University
  • Show Website
    Nice Work