Art Attitude

Today's interview is with Cal Poly Humboldt Lecturer Emeritus James Floss. We discuss his varied professional career and the multiple meanings of both "retirement" and "inspiration." He got his start in theater "accidentally," he says, with his many years of work with The Chamber Readers and then moving on to acting and directing solo and ensemble theater productions. He taught oral interpretation and public speaking for more than 30 years, instructing these courses for both Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods. He produced and hosted "Immigrant Voices" for several years for KHSU. Recently, Floss has devoted much of his time to writing stories and poetry with a creative nod to science fiction. He performs some of these works during this interview.

Art Attitude: Interview with CPH Lecturer Emeritus James Floss by Wendy Butler

The first interview today is with Jenna Catsos, one of three coordinators of the Eureka Street Art Festival. The sixth annual festival is July 31-Aug. 5. We discuss the festival's history, visiting artists, artist talks and the festival's special projects. The second interview today is with two Dell'Arte International faculty members. Tony Fuemmeler heads the Training Programs and Julie Douglas heads Arts Engagement. We discuss the Blue Lake-based organization's faculty and programming transition as well as this year's Baduwa't Festival, which continues through Saturday, Aug. 5.

Art Attitude: Interview with ESAF's Jenna Catsos and Dell'Arte's Tony Fuemmeler and Julie Douglas

An interview with Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine. She discusses the film commission's purpose and resources and the commission's new location in Eureka. Hesseltine also shares her perspective about the Writers Guild of America/SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strike after failed contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Finally, she talks about what makes a film special for her as well as a recent favorite film. To find out more about the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission and more about its resources, visit hdnfc.org.

Art Attitude: Interview with Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine

The topic is Festival of Dreams: Secrets of Wigi, a free arts and culture festival to be held Friday, Aug. 25-Sunday, Aug. 27 in the Eureka Cultural District in Old Town and Halvorsen Park along the shores of Wigi (Humboldt Bay). My guest is North Coast Repertory Theatre Managing Artistic Director Calder Johnson. The festival's development is a partnership between NCRT and City of Eureka. The latter granted upwards of $40,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to individual artists and artist groups participating in the festival. For more information about Festival of Dreams, visit ncrt.net/festivalofdreams.

Art Attitude: Interview with NCRT's Calder Johnson About the Upcoming Festival of Dreams

An interview with Kingston, New York-based producer/director Susan Strickler about her multi-year project, the documentary "The Vow From Hiroshima".  During this interview she speaks about what prompted her to begin work on this documentary, an intimate portrait of Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. We talk about Strickler's content choices, including her decision to alternate between Thurlow and a second generation survivor Mitchie Takeuchi telling their personal stories. Additionally, we discuss the status of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which was adopted by the United Nations July 7, 2017. We also talk about Christopher Nolan's recent film "Oppenheimer" and what it did and did not address. Strickler says, whether it be through a film like Nolan's or through educational institutions or just community dialogue, she wants people to "keep the conversation going" about this critical issue. For more information about this film and how to view or to obtain copies of this film, visit thevowfromhiroshima.com.

Art Attitude: Interview with New York-based producer/director Susan Strickler

An interview with visual artist Jim McVicker in his Loleta studio. His current exhibit titled "Jim McVicker 25/25: Twenty-Five Paintings of Humboldt County Artists, Twenty-Five Works by the Artists" is on display through Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka. We discuss this exhibit, which features McVicker's portraits of artists in a variety of locations, but often in their studios at work creating their art. Each portrait has by its side an artwork created by the artist featured in the portrait. We also talk about how McVicker feels he's developed as an artist, and we refer specifically to an oil painting he's currently in the process of finalizing, one from which he continues to add and remove images. If you want to find out more about McVicker's work, visit his website: jimmcvickerpaints.com.

Art Attitude: Interview with visual artist Jim McVicker in his Loleta studio by Wendy Butler

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Art Attitude: Interview with CPH Lecturer Emeritus James Floss by Wendy Butler

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