What drives cultural practitioners to experiment, discover, and create?
Theater artist Alex Torra (2018) spoke to us about his concentration on physical theater and why language sometimes feels “limiting,” as well as his in-progress work rooted in his Cuban American familial history.
Choreographer Leah Stein (2018) spoke to us about the origins of her site-specific choreography, her present-day process, and the “inexhaustible” qualities of Philadelphia.
Composer and guitarist Nels Cline explains the distinction between when virtuosity is an “aesthetic obstacle” to music and when it “changes the way you think about sound.”
Quentin Morris talks about the early moments that shaped his career, starting with trips to the Philadelphia Museum of Art with his father, and how Philadelphia has transformed in his time as an artist.
Documentary filmmaker Jonathan Olshefski spoke to us about how he came to filmmaking, how stories build a sense of connection, and why he says he “makes art to make friends.”
Interdisciplinary poet, performer, and recording artist Ursula Rucker spoke to us about the influences that shaped the trajectory of her career, from crucial early advice to collaborating across disciplines
We asked Michelle Angela Ortiz how she thinks artists can effect social change and about her legacy as an artist working in public spaces.
Composer and violinist Diane Monroe spoke to us about the musical lineage of her work and her family, as well as the influence of her mentors and Philadelphia public school music education.
Syd Zolf (2018) spoke to us about their works in progress and the “conscious choice” to live and work in Philadelphia.
Ken Lum (2018) spoke to us about his path to contemporary art making and the curiosity that continues to drive his work.