Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast

This week, Ben interviews Lauren McChesney & Matthew McClanahan, the owners of Shankweiler's Drive-in as well as The Moving Picture Cinema. Matt has always known he wanted to work in the movie industry. He has a filmmaking degree from Temple University and has produced numerous independent short and feature films. After completing an internship in Los Angeles, Matt became enamored with indepen...

This week, we talk with interdisciplinary artist, designer and arts administrator, Melissa R. Strom. Melissa R. Strom is an interdisciplinary artist based in the Lehigh Valley and New York City Metropolitan area. She earned her BFA in Studio Art and Graphic and Interactive Design at Moravian University. Primarily working with oil paint and found object assemblages, her practice stems from themes i...

On Saturday, January 21st from 11am-3pm at Art Beat Café ( @ArtBeatStudioCafe ) in Emmaus a group gathered for a New Years Artist Get Together. They made artist trading cards, worked on some of their personal projects, had coffee, and talked with us about what they were most excited for in the Lehigh Valley arts scene this year! This event was planned by David Matzura in collaboration with The Leh...

Daniel Paashaus was born and raised in Coopersburg, went away to college.  He studied English literature and writing at Temple University and Temple's Rome Campus.  While there, he immersed himself in film culture, stop motion animation, and self-portrait photography.  He spent time in New Mexico at the Santa Fe Photography Workshops and as a resident artist at Millersville University.  Afterward,...

This week, Ben talks with Christa Neu about finding connection through photography, Christa's career, and how the world of photography has morphed and changed over time. Christa Neu is a photographer and photo editor for Lehigh University. She serves on the board of Healing Through the Arts, a non-profit organization that provides information and resources to encourage and support healing to indiv...

This week, Ben and Elise interview Doug Boehm LIVE from Studio 248A at the Banana Factory. The conversation focus on Doug's career as an artist, how he developed his style, the meaning behind the colors and subjects he creates in his work, and so much more! Doug also provided the bass loops we used at the beginning and end of the episode! Doug Boehm is a painter and illustrator whose personal work...

SPOOKY & EXPLICIT CONTENT LIES WITHIN THIS EPISODE: LISTEN IF YOU DARE!!! In this special episode, we talk with Kiki Keyser from Mission Spooky about all things death and dying! More specifically, we talk about the history of art in gravestones & graveyards! In our conversation, we talked about gravesites around the world, in the state of Pennsylvania, and even in our local Lehigh Valley s...

This week, Bruce Ward sits down to talk about his documentaries, photographs, and time as a worker at Bethlehem Steel with Andria Zaia, the Curator of Collections at the National Museum of Industrial History. This episode was created alongside the National Museum of Industrial History as a way to uplift the prominence of Bethlehem Steel on the history and culture of the Lehigh Valley. For the oppo...

This week, Elise is joined by Eliana Vélez, a mixed-media collage artist who focuses heavily on self portraiture in her works. Born and raised in rural Eastern PA, with a Jewish mother and a Puerto Rican Father Eliana was inspired to create art that could encapsulate her specific experiences with adversity and trauma throughout her life. As a survivor of sexual abuse, and a person with a learning...

This week, we feature a fun conversation between Matt Molchany & Josh Berk about local music, the importance of participating in the local music scene, and why accessible recording studios are important to the community! Josh Berk is the Executive Director of the Bethlehem Area Public Library as well as an author and musician in the Lehigh Valley. Josh comes from a family of librarians and has...

This week, Elise talks with Devyn Briggs & Katie Hovencamp about their work in the community and how it ties to their personal art practices. Katie Hovencamp received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2009 and her MFA from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Hovencamp has exhibited her work in numerous exhibitions within the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her work has been revi...

This week, Kendal Conrad, singer/songwriter, and Kate Hughes, Director of Fig Lehigh Valley, talk about Kendal's music, inspiration, story, and so much more! You can follow Kendal Conrad on Instagram at @kendalconrad and follow her food page at @kendalsbites . Make sure to check out her new song, I Don't Need You Now, at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kendalconrad/i-dont-need-you-now . You can...

This week, we talk with Rachel Peri.  Rachel Peri is a lifestyle and portrait photographer as well as jewelry maker who operates out of the Lehigh Valley. In addition to being an artist, she is the current acting president of ACE, also known as the Arts Community of Easton. ACE was founded in 1999 and incorporated in April 2000 by artists, business owners, art institution representatives, and art...

This week, we talk with local musician Seth Witcher. Seth is a seasoned musician described as being "Current, contagious, and in demand" according to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley Style Magazine. He is the Season 2 winner of FOX 29’s “Spotlight Under the El,” and has also recently been featured on both WFMZ 69 News and the Q Show on FOX 29. Seth is a singer, song-writer, producer, and a luthier who...

This in this episode, we went to the opening reception for Anthony Smith ( @ansmithjrnyc ) and Doug Boehm's ( @dougbohemart )exhibition Sweet Distress at The Art Establishment ( @theartestp a). We talked with Ellen Flynn, the owner and general manager of The Art Establishment. and both artists about the show, space, and the exhibited works. We also talked with a few attendants about their experien...

This week, we kick off our 3rd season with an interview between Elise and Hannah Ehret! Hannah is a local artist and gallery owner who recently found herself back in the Lehigh Valley! She is a visual artist and self proclaimed mud larker with a master's degree in art from Fontbonne University. Currently living in Easton, Hannah is also the owner of Hemlock Art Space & Gallery. You can find he...

This week, Ben and Elisabeth talk with Rachel Bell ( @rachellbel ). Rachel Bell is a mixed media artist living and working in the Lehigh Valley.  After graduating from Tyler School of Art at Temple University with a BFA in painting and drawing and a minor in art history, she immersed herself in the Lehigh Valley art scene.  She began working as the front desk receptionist at the Banana Factory and...

This week, Elise talks with local pet portrait artist, beer can designer for Lost Tavern Brewing, wife, and mother of 2 Gretchen Gross. Gretchen, who goes by @thetwistedplottco on Instagram, was recently had a design of hers voted "Best Beer Can Design in PA" for a can she designed for Lost Tavern Brewing. The can featured a realist depiction of Allen Iverson on the can for Lost Tavern's beer titl...

This week, we talk with abstract artist, Abraham Darlington! Abraham Darlington is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He has always had an interest in art, especially tattoo art; but, was not until he developed a shoulder injury that he began to pursue his artistic interests. Abraham has no formal art training, except for taking a small number of courses at The Baum School of Art at a young age. Ev...

This week, Elisabeth is joined by guest-host and former season one podcast guest Ikechukwu Okorji! At the beginning of this episode, we cover what Ikechukwu has been up to since he was last on and talk about musical inspirations! This week's special guest is singer/songwriter Stefanie Johnson! Singing and writing songs since a young girl, Stefanie hails from the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvani...

This week, we recorded live at Godfrey Daniels with the Managing Director, Ramona Labarre.  Ramona is a Texas native who came to Bethlehem in 1985. Looking for music on the left end of the dial, she found Hep Cat’s Holiday - hosted by Dave Fry - on WMUH radio, where she heard that Nanci Griffith would be performing at a place called Godfrey Daniels. She remembers finding and walking into the club...

This week, we kick off the episode by thanking everyone for coming out to Nina Boodhansingh's artist reception at the Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios . After that, Ben and Elisabeth talk with Marie Jeanna Haba about her artwork.  Marie Jeanne is an independent artist working and living in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Her interest in art and stained glass began in 2010 when she first arrived to the U.S...

This week, Elise and Ben interview featured artist, Marlow Rodale ( @wolram )! Marlow Rodale paints imaginary landscapes, rich in color and texture, to capture the ephemeral world of dreams.  The surreal color combined with the skewing of perspective and geometric form is an attempt to capture the otherworldly feeling of being in a dream; a world familiar but not confined to logical conventions of...

This week, Elise interviews featured artist, Rei Ukon ( @reiukon )! Rei Ukon is a queer and trans Japanese collage artist with a fascination for the hidden, spiritual world. Their art reflects a journey of understanding the relationships that make up our lives and towards inner peace. Specifically, collage has been a healing medium. The act of taking an existing material to create from imagination...

This week, Elise is joined by guest host Nina Boodhansingh to interview this week's featured artist, Andi Grunberg. Starting off the show, Elise and Nina talk about what Nina has been up to. Later on, they talk (and often times laugh) with Andi about her studio, process, and so much more! Andi Grunberg is a sculptor and mixed media artist living and working in the Lehigh Valley. She was born and r...