Season 4 is here! Creative City Episode #31 - Artist & Art Educator Pam Kravetz

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We’re back for Season 4! In episode #31, I talk to Pam Kravetz, an Artist and Art Educator with a penchant for "tutus, big wigs, and faux furs.” She’s done everything from performative art and yarn bombing to teaching children and radical puppetry. We chat about how she found her voice as an artist, the importance of connecting with people through public art, and earning two college varsity letters as the University of Cincinnati Bearcat mascot(!)

We also discussed:

- Celebrating what you’re good at, and pushing yourself in areas you’re not
- How volunteering as a docent helped her realize she enjoyed talking about and teaching art
- Why teaching has made her a better artist and vice versa
- The need to say something different with her work in today’s political climate
- Letting go of the idea of perfection

Visit:
pamkravetzart.com
Pam Kravetz on Facebook
@pamkravetz on Instagram 
artworkscincinnati.org
brazeestreetstudios.com
www.pendletonartcenter.com
thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Creative City Episode #30 - Janet Hill, Project Manager

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For the final episode of Season 3, I talk to Project Manager Extraordinaire Janet Hill (janethillevents.com), who’s a pro when it comes to finding the path to get things done. She’s worked on everything from ArtWorks’ 21 Candles anniversary celebration to location management for the Marauders movie filmed here in Cincinnati. We chat about the reward of seeing a vision come to life, why collaboration is SO important on large-scale events, and how working at Kenner Toy Co was just as fun as you think would be.

We also discussed:

  • How being a Girl Scout led to gaining experience organizing things and events 
  • How working on the opening of Sawyer Point Park and the Cincinnati bicentennial helped her quick start her career
  • The secret to keeping up with all of the moving parts of a large-scale project
  • Being more collaborative than competitive
  • How to take advantage of unpredictable scenarios and go with the flow

Visit:

Creative City Episode #29 - Katie Fraser and Jacob Trevino of Gorilla Cinema

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Katie Fraser & Jacob Trevino founded Gorilla Cinema, a creative experience company. What started as a pop-up pairing cocktails and movies led to opening immersive bar environments (The Overlook Lodge, The Video Archive) that are playful, approachable, and incorporate the element of surprise. We talk about the importance of building trust among your community of followers, their plans to create other large-scale immersive experiences, and how convenient it is to be able to store random stuff in your own bar.

We also discussed:

- Their mission of projecting wonder via guerrilla marketing
- Doing something that seems crazy with the intent of making something magical
- Bringing extra life to neighborhoods by being approachable and considering what works best for each area
- How they hope to foster a community of people who will bring their own creative ideas to life.
- Why they decided to give The Overlook Lodge's biggest fans keys to the bar

Visit:

- GorillaCinemaPresents.com
- GorillaCinema on Facebook
- gorillacinemapresents on Instagram
- @gorillacinema on Twitter
- gorillacinemapr on Pinterest
- thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives!

Music by The Passion HiFi

Creative City Episode #28 - James Avant IV of OCD Cakes

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James Avant IV started Obsessive Cake Disorder to make mental health more approachable by associating it with something positive—like cake. As the winner of the 2016 ArtWorks’ Big Pitch, he’s using the winnings to grow Bakeologie, a community kitchen with the goal of getting friends and neighbors around the table to eat, build, and create community. We talk about his background as a culinary instructor, the versatility of baking, and why he didn’t bring any cookies to share during our interview :-(

We also discuss:

  • How he practiced for the ArtWorks Big Pitch and what he did with the Big Check
  • Why his experience with multiple therapists led him to pursue a degree in Neurobiology
  • Creating a class experience that is accessible, affordable, and social
  • His current baking obsession (hint: it involves eclairs)
  • What it’s like working at the Findlay Kitchen

Visit:

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives!

Music by The Passion HiFi

Creative City Episode #27 - Designer Jenifer Sult of Cut + Sewn

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Fashion Designer Jenifer Sult is the founder of Cut + Sewn, a multidisiplinary studio that provides design and sewing services in addition to a full product development package for fashion and soft-good product designers. Jenifer’s love of sewing started at an early age, when she started making her own clothes in elementary school(!), and hasn’t waned since. We talk about launching a collection of home-sewing patterns called Daughters of Style, how she helps clients get from the idea stage to the product stage, and why Cincinnati is the perfect place to start a fashion business.

We also discuss:
- The intuition and understanding that go into the art of pattern making
- Why 50% of her fashion designer clients come from New York City
- How she connects with small factories right here in the USA
- Being part of Artworks Big Pitch and launching a product with First Batch
- Opening the SHOWROOM storefront to showcase goods from independent designers

Visit:
www.cutsewn.com
Episode 19 featuring Cosette
SHOWROOM independent designer showcase (shwrmgallery@gmail.com)
cutsewncincinnati on Instagram
@cut_sewn on Twitter
@thestylesample on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives.

Creative City Episode #26 - Artist-Designers Janet Creekmore and Ben Neal of Eye Candy

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Artist-Designers Janet Creekmore and Ben Neal focus on branding for retail, restaurant, and mixed-used lifestyle centers via creative studio Eye Candy, but their passion can be summed up thusly: they design for place. We talk about their mobile gallery project POPPED ART, the benefits of being nosy, and how they bring high art into the design process.

We also discuss:
-How they initially partnered up and joined forces
-Becoming part of a community by activating underutilized spaces
-What they’ve learned working with People’s Liberty
-Why art and artists are crucial to economic development
-Tips for combining art and design
-The beauty of whiteboards and kanban, a visual process-management system

Visit:
creativeeyecandy.com
poppedart.gallery
@eyecandydesign on Instagram
@poppedartgallery on Instagram
@thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives!

Music by The Passion HiFi

Creative City Episode #25 - Elementz Spoken Word Instructor Jori Cotton and Teaching Artist for Music Nick Rose

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Spoken Word Instructor Jori Cotton and Teaching Artist for Music Nick Rose work with Elementz, an youth-focused organization dedicated to social and emotional development through the arts. We talk about poetry slams and music performance, the upcoming Artist Showcase, and the rewarding work of helping young people find their voice.

We also discuss:
-The Elementz Artist Showcase on Thursday October 27th, featuring music, dance and youth poetry
-Louder Than a Bomb and the new Poetry Out Loud program via a partnership with Ohio Arts Council
-Providing a space where young people can grow and ask questions
-Open community dance classes on Mondays (!)

Visit:
elementz.org
ElementzHipHop on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud, YouTube and Vimeo
TheStyleSample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Featured music by Elementz artists:
“Brazilian" by Alex Stallings
"Callin’ Me" by T Rock

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives!

Intro & outro music by The Passion HiFi

Creative City Episode #24 - Illustrator Erin Barker

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Illustrator Erin Barker always knew she wanted to be an artist, deciding to focus on illustration after several years of experience. We talk about growing up with parents who were designers, how an unfulfilling job taught her what she shouldn’t do as a career, and the importance of creating projects for yourself in your desired line of work.

We also discuss:

  • The advice she gives to aspiring illustrators
  • Making personal work as a creative outlet
  • Why copying your idols isn’t necessarily a bad thing
  • The childhood influences that inspire her work today

Visit:
erinbarkerillustration.com
www.behance.net/ebarkerdesign
hooraylorraine.tumblr.com
@hooraylorraine on Instagram
@thestylesample on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat

Remember to sign up for the mailing list to keep up with Cincinnati’s amazing community of creatives. 

Music by The Passion HiFi