Arts Interview with Nancy Kranzberg

Mary Ann Srenco, a Trustee for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation stopped by to speak with Nancy about the Walls Off Washington project. -----  The Walls Off Washington  features 20 thought-provoking murals by renowned local, national and international artists. The murals are painted on (and off) walls between Josephine Baker Boulevard and N. Leonard Ave. and behind KAF venues Sophie's Artist...

Colin Healy and Bradley Rohlf of Fly North Theatricals stopped by to talk about the company's works and programs. Colin Healy is a dog-owner based in the city of St. Louis who is also a composer, music director, and the artistic director of Fly North Theatricals. Starting at age 15, as a touring singer/songwriter with South Florida-based rock band The Republik, Colin's work as a recording artist s...

  Anna Lum, Poet and Co-Founder of Herding Cats Collective, stopped by to talk with Nancy about her life, career and poetry. ------ Anna Lum has taught Tai Chi since 1973. She evolved from computer programming to poetry/design. The Urge to Play God, published by MoonShadow Press led to performing her poetry nationally and internationally. St. Louis' first Poet Laureate Michael Castro's anthol...

Stéphane Denève, Music Director of SLSO, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the goings on at the symphony. ------ Stéphane Denève is Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the New World Symphony, and from 2023 will also be Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. He recently concluded terms as Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia...

Lyah LeFlore-Ituen, President and CEO of The Arts and Education Council, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the organization. Lyah B. LeFlore-Ituen serves as President and CEO of the Arts and Education Council. In this role she oversees all institutional matters including fundraising and grant making. ------ She is a bestselling author, television and film producer, and music s...

As Vice Provost and University Librarian, Mimi Calter oversees Washington University Libraries and its staff of expert librarians, curators, and archivists. She is charged with strengthening print and digital collections; developing programming in support of research, teaching, and learning; and collaborating with scholars on- and off-campus. ------  Before joining Washington University in Se...

Sue Greenberg, Executive Director for VLAA, stopped by to talk about the organization and its works. St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) supports the creative community by providing free legal and accounting assistance and a wide variety of affordable educational programs. They serve artists of every discipline and career level, nonprofit cultural organizations and smal...

About the New Jewish Theatre: The New Jewish, St. Louis' Premier Small Professional Theatre, is dedicated to the exploration of universal themes and issues and the examination of the full range of the human experience filtered through the lens of the Jewish experience. Through the medium of theater, we build bridges of multicultural understanding, tolerance, communication and education. ——— About...

David Brinker, Director of the  Museum of Contemporary Religious Art , stopped by to talk with Nancy about the museum as well as the current exhibition by Jordan Eagles and a selection of works from the MOCRA collection through December 18th. About MOCRA: Through exhibitions, collections and educational programs, MOCRA highlights and explores the ways contemporary visual artists engage the re...

Bree Maniscalco, Executive Director of Cinema St. Louis , stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the organization. Although she had no formal training in film, Bree's lifelong love of film, moved her to volunteer at Cinema St. Louis. She later became a board member, a staff member, and was recently named Executive Director. SLIFF (St. Louis International Film Festival), Cinema St....

Helen Turner, Director of Education and Interpretation, for the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum , stopped by to speak with Nancy about the happenings at the Museum. ------ The newest version of the museum opens November 2nd 2022. ------ Helen Turner, originally from England, was moved at a young age to study the Holocaust, thinking to herself, "This is a story that must be told and remem...

Rick Erwin, Creative Director at the City Museum, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the Museum and its offerings.  Rick Erwin, describes the City Museum as a "constantly evolving sculpture," or as the world's largest game of "Chutes and Ladders." Both educational and entertaining, the museum is located at 750 North 16th street in downtown St. Louis, and features, tunnels, an aquarium, seve...

Jody Sowell, new President and CEO, at the Missouri Historical Society, stopped by to speak to Nancy about his new job at the MHS and about some of the exhibitions at the History Museum. Though newly appointed as president, Jody Sowell has been working for the MHS for 16 years. Some of the topics covered include the St. Louis Sound Exhibit, as well as the Coloring STL exhibit at the History Museum...

The multi facets of Rich O'Donnell span 65 years as percussionist, improvisor, composer, designer and builder of percussion and electronic instruments, teacher and writer.   He was director of the Electronic Music Studio at Washington University from 1980-2018. He has encouraged and facilitated the growth of independent contemporary music in the community for 49 years as music director of the...

Chris Pieman, Director of Advancement for The Sheldon, and Laurel Wacyk, Director of Education, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the happenings at the Sheldon, and the various educational programs. The Sheldon hosts over 350 events each year. Artists like Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, José Carreras, Herbie Hancock, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Mavis Staples, Wynton Marsalis, J...

Lee Anne Mathews, Artistic Director of The Westport Playhouse , stopped by to speak with Nancy about her career as an actor and director, as well as her new position at the playhouse. ---- The Westport Playhouse is an intimate 240 seat theater in Westport Plaza, that holds all kinds of events including concerts  theater pieces, and more. ------ Upcoming events include "Songs for Ukraine" on S...

Bob Bennett, Artistic Director of Jazz St. Louis, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the happenings of this jazz institution. ------ For over 25 years, Jazz St. Louis has been the foremost presenter of jazz in St. Louis and throughout the region. We are dedicated to preserving the legacy of this musical genre. Hundreds of local and nationally renowned musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Diana Kra...

Gina Grafos, Director and Chief Curator of Visual and Literary Arts for the  Kranzberg Arts Foundation, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the happenings at the Kranzberg venues and galleries. Topics include Music at the Intersection , Exhibitions at the Dark Room Gallery, High Noon at the Hi Lo, and more. ——  

Poet and Kranzberg Resident, Lizzy Petersen, stopped by to speak with Nancy about her life and poetry. ------  Lizzy Petersen is a poet from St. Louis, MO, where she works in public media and directs a student-run, after-school literary magazine, OutsideLitMag.com, through a partnership with St. Louis Public Schools. Her poetry has recently appeared in or is forthcoming in December, Image, Ni...

Dana Turkovic, Curator at Laumeier Sculpture Park, stopped by to speak with Nancy about the new exhibition, "Forest Through The Trees," which opens August 27th and runs through December 11, 2022.  About "Forest Through The Trees": I n art and in poetry, the beauty and power of trees is an alluring subject matter with infinite possibilities. The exhibition Forest Through the Trees pulls togeth...

Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, stopped by to talk about the upcoming Music at the Intersection, which happens September 10th and 11th in the Grand Center Arts District. -----  Music at the Intersection is a civic-led effort presented by Kranzberg Arts Foundation in partnership with Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Loui...

Matthew Kerns, President & Artistic Director of St Lou Fringe , stopped by to talk about this year's festival, which runs August 15 through 21 at venues throughout the Grand Center Arts District. ------  Matthew is a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts award-winning educator, critically acclaim theatre performance artist featured in American Theatre Magazine, and a 2020 St. Lou...

Hana Sharif, the Augustin Family Artistic Director for The Rep , stopped by to speak with Nancy about her career and the upcoming season. HANA SHARIF  (Augustin Family Artistic Director) has enjoyed a multi-faceted theatre career, including roles as an artistic leader, director, playwright and producer with a specialty in strategic and cross-functional leadership. She served for five years as...

Sheila Suderwalla, Executive Director of Artists First, stopped by to discuss the good works of the organization, including the In View Mural Project. ----  Artists First's In View Mural Project provides the community (businesses, residences, and public spaces) with high quality, hand-painted, custom murals. The project provides artists with disabilities, veterans, and at risk youth with conf...

Meredith Malone, Curator at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, stopped by to talk with Nancy about the happenings at the museum. -----  As Curator at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Meredith Malone conducts research on the Museum's permanent collection, propose new acquisitions, and conceptualize scholarly exhibitions of modern and contemporary art that enrich learning and research for t...