Binder Podcast

What do a picture frame, a shipping crate, and a book cover have in common? They’re all contained in the latest episode of the Binder podcast! Ray McManus and producer Drew explore the often-overlooked role of the objects that contain the art and play a round of the Frame Game. Then, Drew talks with Jonathan Schwartz of Atelier 4 about the careful craft of packing, transporting, and protecting pri...

In today's episode, Ray wanders the newly refreshed CMA Galleries in search of his next favorite work of art. Joined by his wife, Dr. Lindsay McManus, the two take in the reimagined spaces before being lovingly put on the spot by producer Drew in a spirited round of "Taste Test". After the break, Kress Fellow Erin Kuykendall brings the collection to life, sharing stories about some n...

This episode of Binder steeps listeners in the world of tea, blending humor, history, and cultural insight. First, producer Drew tries to stump Ray with a rapid-fire round of Tea or Title . Then, collector Joseph Bruce spills the story behind his recent gift of New Hall porcelain to the CMA Collection, rooted in history and global trade. After the break, Angela Yong joins the show to brew up a con...

In this special episode of Binder , guest host Rachel Fludd leads a series of conversations inspired by the exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil . Through interviews with civil rights photographer Cecil Williams, arts leader Xavier Blake, and storyteller Darion McCloud, the episode explores how history, land, and memory shape life in the state of South Carolina. Together, they reflect on...

In honor of the upcoming departure of CMA ExecutiveDirector, Della Watkins, we are re-releasing the podcast episode An Affinity for Acquisitions. Originally published in March of 2022, this episode features interviews with Watkins and then Affinity board presidents about the intricacies of acquiring art. New episodes of Binder Podcast coming in March 2026! Host Ray McManus seeks out answers on how...

Ray and producer Drew sit down to reminisce on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. The Binder crew revisit the arts predictions they made last year, owning the hits and the misses, and then turn to what’s coming up at the Columbia Museum of Art and what they expect to matter most in museums and the art world in the year ahead. Learn more about what's upcoming at the CMA: https://www.columbiamuseum.or...

As the CMA’s curatorial team adds the final touches to the newly refreshed CMA Collection galleries, Ray and producer Drew sit down with curators Sadé Ayorinde and Michael Neumeister for a sneak peek at what’s in store when the galleries reopen on January 17, 2026. Hear what it really takes to reimagine and rehang 20 galleries in just 12 months—and how this latest overhaul brings the collection in...

Inspired by the CMA's current exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, the Binder crew goes outside to touch some grass in an episode dedicated to art in public spaces. First, producer Drew puts Ray to the test with a quiz on the artworks on Boyd Plaza. Then One Columbia’s Pamela Zeljak joins the conversation to talk about how public art both reflects and shapes a city’s identity, its ever-cha...

Host Ray McManus is back to discuss simplicity, access to art, and working quickly on an episode dedicated to the CMA's latest exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision. He kicks things off with Chadric Devin, the museum’s Director of Learning and Engagement, to talk about Haring’s bold approach to art and the parallels Devin sees in his own trajectory through the arts. After the break, Richland...

Host Ray McManus experiences the museum through the eyes of its youngest visitors, uncovering the lasting impact of arts education. Producer Drew steps in to chat with museum docent Patsy Storla and 5th grader Amadeo Topakas about their shared experience with Sam Gilliam: Printmaker. Later, Curator of Education Glenna Barlow returns to reflect on the power of curiosity in young audiences and thetr...

On today’s episode, producer Drew explores the fascinating intersection of science, psychology, and the way we experience art. Inspired by the museum's current lighting renovation, Drew sits down with Jackson Councilman, a recent college graduate with a concentration in neuroscience and former intern for the CMA's communications department, to unpack how light waves interact with the human eye, co...

In today's episode, the Binder podcast crew dives into the world of abstract art. Ray and producer Drew kick things off with a conversation about why abstraction can be challenging for some viewers, then play a game designed to explore emotional connections to art. Later, Sadé Ayorinde, curator of Sam Gilliam: Printmaker and Let’s Have a Talk ,joins the show to discuss the CMA’s latest exhibit...

Producer Drew chats with CMA Executive Director Della Watkins for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s lighting renovation project and its 75th anniversary. Discover the details of hard hat tours, navigating unexpected challenges, and the surprising number of paint layers on the special exhibition gallery walls in this engaging one-on-one interview.

In this final episode of the (Un)Settled Podcast, host Drew Baron visits the exhibition's final stop at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. There, he joins Krieble Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, Erin Monroe, to reflect on the impact and outcomes of this distinctive collaborative survey of American art. Later, Baron visits contemporary landscape artists Tom...

To celebrate the museum's 75th anniversary, host Ray McManus takes a deep dive into its history and future. First, producer Drew joins Ray for a game of "Double Date" to spotlight key acquisitions throughout the museum's history. Next, collections specialist Noelle Nelson shares insights into the museum's journey from its early days at the Thomas Taylor House to the present. Finally, deputy direct...

Host Ray McManus and Producer Drew take a nostalgic journey through the past five years of CMA programming, revisiting standout moments. From the Mona Lisa to video games inspired by M.C. Escher, this lively clip show highlights a diverse range of fascinating topics. Featured Programs: Interior Lives Lecture with Curator Michael Neumeister: https://youtu.be/_123uORVr_A?si=fL4Ri3W_I1Ft3dpE Catawba...

To kick off the new year, Ray and producer Drew discuss their predictions for what will shape the arts in 2025 through a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, nostalgia, environmental issues, and, naturally, the CMA.

In today’s episode, Stan Hackney, the curator of art and audience engagement at the Mobile Museum of Art, returns to discuss Un(Settled) and the inclusion of Alex Harris’s photograph Longleaf Pines, Knoll Park, Fairhope. Later, documentary photographer Alex Harris joins series host Drew Baron to explore the art of documentary photography and his work in Mobile, featured in the book Why We Are Here...

Inspired by the CMA's latest exhibition, French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 , host Ray McManus delves into the theme of rebellion across art movements, music, writing, and more. Curator Michael Neumeister drops by to discuss the exhibition and the way artists of this period defied academic norms and critical expectations, forging a new visual language. Next, writer Julia Liz Elliott ret...

In today's episode, the Montgomery Museum of Art's head of learning and programs Emily Stuart Thomas returns to discuss viewer reactions to After The Rain (Methane) on the view in (Un)Settled. Then, the artist of the painting Jacqueline Bishop joins series host Drew Baron to discuss her work, global travel for field research, the ecological impacts of humans on the environment, and why bir...

In the season finale of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series, host Dr. Birgitta Johnson sits down with Cam Wescott and Noah Jones of Charleston-based funk and soul outfit The Psycodelics to discuss the lasting legacy of funk, embracing falsetto singing, and the band's upcoming debut studio album. Featuring clips from their musical performance recorded live at the Columbia Museum of Art in Se...

Producer Drew drops in to host an episode spotlighting CMA community programming. First, Engagement Manager Dana Witkoski returns to share details about upcoming events on Boyd Plaza and the benefits of refreshing your routine. Then, Silent Book Club host Jemia Williams stops by to talk about how the book club found its home at the museum and shares her favorite reading recommendations. After the...

Linger a little longer with an episode dedicated to appreciating art at a leisurely pace. Ray and producer Drew chat about the benefits of taking your time to enjoy art and then play a game before welcoming Curator of Education Glenna Barlow back to the show to talk about how she incorporates visual thinking strategies into gallery tours and how to get the most out of a "slow-looking" ex...

In today's episode, the Columbia Museum of Art's Curator of Education Glenna Barlow talks about the inclusion of 3 pieces of Catawba pottery in (Un)Settled is creating new context for some beloved museum acquisitions. Then Catawba potter Bill Harris shares memories of his grandmother, Georgia Harris, whose work Bowl with Effigy Heads is featured in the exhibition. Bill Harris is a potter a...

Host Ray McManus returns to explore the exhibition (Un)Settled: The Landscape in American Art. First, producer Drew drops by to chat about the exhibition. Then poet and creative social worker Marlanda Dekine sits down to talk about what inspires her work, listening to the land, and her performance project for the (Un)Settled opening celebration. Watch Marlanda's peformance for the opening of t...