Brain Fuzz

Joe and Matthew lead a group of arts patrons on a Brain Fuzz excursion in support of arts non-profit Burnaway. Sitting down for a discussion at the Zuckerman Museum of Art with curator Sarah Higgins, they discuss career trajectories for curators, how shows come together, titles, wall text, and more. Sarah recounts an impressive number of […] The post Intellectual Hoarding With Sarah Higgins | Epis...

On a sunny afternoon back at the studio complex, Joe and Matthew recap recent episodes including their conversation with artist Bojana Ginn. Topics include the compulsion to create, artist jobs, and managing expectations in the creative life. The Shins are mentioned. Jenny Holzer is referenced. A future episode is teasered. The post Recapping On A Sunny Afternoon | Episode 22 appeared first on Bra...

Joe and Matthew join artist Bojana Ginn at her studio to explore her unique cross-disciplinary path. They examine her work and how she finds balance in the creative life. Sustainability, immigration, and communism are discussed. Richard Tuttle gets a mention. Finally, she reveals how she found her own personal Yoda.   Who Is Bojana Ginn? […] The post A Cocktail of Contradictions With Bojana Ginn |...

Back at Joe’s studio, Matthew is armed with a copy of Eric Maisel’s Mastering Creative Anxiety. The two explore coping (or not coping) with anxiety in the creative life. Another source of solace – Letters To A Young Artist – is also called upon. New theme music is introduced. Goal posts are shifted. It’s Matthew’s turn to […] The post A Tricky Dance on a Slippery Slope | Episode 20 appeared first...

An Airstream Argosy pulls up and parks. Joe and Matthew get in. The driver is Lacey Haslam, the Archive of Creative Culture’s Lead Organizer. Conversation ensues, centering on the creative minds that help populate the Archive. Airstream restoration, travel, and mobility are explored. David Salle is read aloud, and advice for art school graduates is offered […] The post Marginalia With Lacey Haslam...

Back from a Deep Dive in Savannah, Joe and Matthew reflect on their visit and their conversation with curator Rachel Reese. Stops at The SCAD Museum of Art and the Jepson Center – part of the Telfair Museums – are included. Exhibitions by Jose Parla, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Chiharu Shiota, are discussed. The day’s audio […] The post . . . But, That’s Savannah | Episode 18 appeared first on Brain Fuz...

While on a Brain Fuzz Deep Dive in Savannah GA, Joe and Matthew are joined by curator Rachel Reese. In a first for Brain Fuzz, the conversation is simulcasted live from the Jepson Center on KCHUNG radio. More about that in the podcast. They discuss museums and the life of a curator. Along the way, […] The post The KCHUNG Simulcast With Rachel Reese | Episode 17 appeared first on Brain Fuzz .

Joe and Matthew review a trip to Houston. Recommendations are made – highlighting hotel, museum, and gallery stops. The occasion calls for a discussion of Cy Twombly and the symbology in his oeuvre juxtaposed with that found in Jackson Pollock‘s work. The First Official Brain Fuzz Audio Pick of the Day The trip review ushers in the […] The post The Houston Round Up | Episode 16 appeared first on B...

Joe and Matthew are joined by artist William Downs. They delve into art career paths and trajectories. Automatism and the practice of performative drawing are explored. Studio visits, critics, and the trials and tribulations of academic life are discussed. Along the way, numerous artists and luminaries are name-checked including: Eva Hesse Louise Bourgeois Philip Guston […] The post The High Life...

Joe and Matthew discuss the work of Lonnie Holley and recent guests Justin Rabideau and Michi Meko. Trends in art making and distribution are examined within the framework of John Berger’s Ways of Seeing, David Salle’s How To See, and selected criticism: No Paintings for Old Men: I’m Done with Amy Feldman (Art F City) […] The post To Your Earlier Point . . . | Episode 14 appeared first on Brain Fu...

Sustainability – both in the sense of materials and in maintaining an art practice – was a central topic when Justin Rabideau joined Joe and Matthew for Brain Fuzz episode 13. Joe spotted the connection with Gordon Matta-Clark’s work. Matthew recalled a studio visit and the challenges of scale. With Rabideau’s accomplishments in multiple aspects of […] The post Gilding the Lily with Justin Rabidea...

Joe and Matthew join Michi Meko at his studio as he prepares for not one, but two exhibitions in the same week. The creative struggle and permanence versus impermanence in art are discussed. Sun Ra however is the catalyst for this gathering. And Sun Ra leads to an examination of Afrofuturism, altered destiny, jazz, and […] The post The Ultimate Game of Chess with Michi Meko | Episode 12 appeared f...

Joe and Matthew take a few moments for a full accounting of their art speak red flags list. And, armed with some game show sound effects, they plot a path forward for policing art speak in conversation. In this episode, you will benefit from insights into such art speak terms as liminal, ontological, phenomenology, and […] The post Art Speak Red Flags | Episode 11 appeared first on Brain Fuzz .

In a special fake news edition of the Brain Fuzz arts and culture podcast, Joe and Matthew myth bust caffeine in espresso versus drip coffee. Speaking of needing caffeine, Woody Allen’s Crisis in Six Scenes is discussed, and a related film recommendation is made. Joe and Matthew also reflect on a conversation with curator Daniel Fuller, […] The post A Special Fake News Edition | Episode 10 appeare...

Daniel Fuller joins Joe and Matthew at Joe’s studio for a lively discussion. Topics range from what it means to be a curator to the beauty of cheap baseball tickets. Just back from a road trip, Daniel shares his aggressive itinerary including a signless restaurant. The Artspeak Red Flags list is revisited with an addition from […] The post Distillation with Daniel Fuller | Episode 9 appeared first...

Back at Joe’s Atlanta Contemporary studio, Matthew offers an update on his effort to make his vinyl collection great again. Following up on an earlier discussion regarding the cleaning of vinyl records with wood glue, the Spin-Clean record cleaning system is reviewed. The Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup is rediscovered. The origin story behind the […] The post On Clean Grooves and Male Virility |...

On a Brain Fuzz Deep Dive in Lexington, KY, Joe and Matthew are joined by Stuart Horodner. Recorded live from an Airbnb, the three start by discussing the sharing economy and its impact on how we experience travel. In this thoughtful discussion, Stuart shares unique insights from years of observation and curation. Topics include Félix González-Torres, […] The post Meta Moments with Stuart Horodner...

Joe and Matthew begin their discussion in episode 6 with a continuation of the seagull curation idea from episode 5. Beware of Seagull Criticism Seagull criticism happens when an art critic flies into an environment and quickly judges the exhibition and/or locals. He or she then quickly flies away, leaving a mess of feathers and poop. Making a Vinyl Collection […] The post Making Vinyl Great Again...

Joe and Matthew’s conversation continues at Joe’s studio on the campus of Atlanta Contemporary. Art stops in Denver are recommended. Another stop – a Mexican restaurant with a dive show – is described and deemed a must-see. The accompanying images should whet your appetite (note that no food is pictured). A term is added to […] The post Flight of the Seagull | Episode 5 appeared first on Brain Fuz...

Episode 4 of the Brain Fuzz arts podcast begins mid-conversation: Joe and Matthew are discussing social media and the real value of social proof in the arts. The importance of authenticity is highlighted. A Tom Waits anecdote is brought to mind. The two then dig into the topic of artist-run spaces, requiring an espresso for Joe. Some pros […] The post I’m Gonna Make An Espresso For This | Episode...

It’s now 2016 and almost one year since their last recording. Joe and Matthew scout a couple of locations for acoustics. Still, they settle back into Joe’s studio at Atlanta Contemporary for the day’s conversation. They catch up on the state of his studio and how a studio becomes a home. In other events, Matthew’s recent trip […] The post So What Have You Been Up To? | Episode 3 appeared first on...

It’s late 2015. Joe and Matthew are still thinking about doing a podcast. One of the first issues to tackle is bumper music of course. Joe and Matthew discuss other podcasts and Mark Maron‘s approach specifically. The conversation soon turns to social media and how visual artists leverage social media. They discuss the rise of […] The post So We’re Still Thinking About Doing a Podcast . . . | Epis...

In the first episode of the Brain Fuzz podcast, Joe and Matthew consider doing a podcast. They discuss a potential space for recording – live in Joe’s artist studio at Atlanta Contemporary. The Atlanta Contemporary space has its peculiarities which leads them down several conversational paths. Discussion of studio life ensues, including the separation of studio […] The post So We’re Thinking About...