Toast to The Arts & Parks

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features musician and composer Rachel Mari Kimber, the National Parks Arts Foundation's Fall 2024 artist-in-residence at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Rachel Mari Kimber is a musically creative artist from Wales, UK. She composes, sings, plays guitar and cello, orchestrates, harmonises, teaches, and produces, all fr...

In celebration of American Artists Appreciation Month and the upcoming National Park Service anniversary (Aug. 25, 1860), this episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick features photographer Tanya Ortega. Hear their discussion covering the Then & Now of Art and Artists in Parks and Public Lands.  Talking about the history of art and artists in parks, VICTORIA...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "A Toast to The Arts & Parks" Podcast features National Parks Arts Foundation artists-in-residence Carissa "Lucky" Garcia and Chelsea Bighorn. Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous/Chicana writer, poet, performing artist, community organizer, anti-oppression educator and Indigenous Justice advocate. Her NPAF residency was in Chaco Culture National Historical...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features Arizona writer Leah Newsom, the National Parks Arts Foundation's summer 2024 artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Leah Newsom was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and holds an MFA in creative writing from Arizona State University, where she now teaches creative writing. Her work has previously ap...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features mixed media artist Chelsea Bighorn, the National Parks Arts Foundation's June 2024 artist-in-residence at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Chelsea Bighorn was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. Her tribal affiliations are the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes from Montana and the Shoshone-Paiute from Nort...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features Rick Makanaaloha Kia'imeaokekanaka San Nicolas (Kanaka Maoli) who returned for the fifth time as the National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.  Recognized as Ke Kumu Hulu Nui, meaning "Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i," San Nicolas is dedicated to preserving and...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation features Carissa "Lucky" Garcia, the Spring 2024 NPAF artist-in-residence in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous/Chicana writer, performing artist, community organizer, anti-oppression educator and Indigenous Justice advocate. She is...

Welcome to the very first episode of Big Blend Radio's NEW "Women Making History" podcast featuring a Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" podcast of our "Parks & The Arts" show featuring Tanya Ortega, an accomplished photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). Hear about the new podcast, Tanya's photography career and NPAF's unique artist-in-residence programs in nation...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features artist Diana Miller, the latest National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Diana lives on the island of Hawai’i near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, combining her passion for art and environmental stewardship. Hear about her art, love of the park, and her advocacy...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who talks about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico....

Traveling musician and composer Ben Cosgrove returns to Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) to talk about his recent travels, artist residency experiences, and beautiful new album "Bearings." Cosgrove’s new album "Bearings" represents the latest chapter in a career that to date has included solo performances in 49 states...

Chihsaun Yang returns to Big Blend Radio's "Toast to the Parks & Arts" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) to talk about her new solo music and EP "Pearls" that was recently released as the electronic music duo ESCP with Bob Garrett. WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/xjCE1xkVuqo Chihsuan Yang (Violin, Erhu, Piano), a native of Taiwan, began studying music at a ver...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) features music industry veteran Steffen Franz, founder of Independent Distribution Collective (IDC) which is celebrating 20 years of is a music marketing, distribution, and event production in San Francisco. WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/OXSVvMCmtP8 I...

On January 2nd, 2016, two musician's Jillian Speece and Nathaniel Hoff, The Bergamot, set out on a tour of all 50 states of America, spreading a message of unity through performing 265 shows and by inviting the curious to sign their message of unity on their station wagon known as The Unity Car. This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show with the National Par...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who talks about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Logegrhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai'i Volcano National Park, and Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico. H...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Parks & The Arts" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation features Leah Waybright, a life-long Her newest CD, “Dreamed” is out now and features members of Happy The Man, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Steely Dan. In this conversation Leah talks about her music, childhood in Gettysburg, and work in floral design and wildflowers, especially at T...

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show, comics journalist Andy Warner discusses his work and third National Parks Arts Foundation residency in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Warner is a comics journalist and artist, whose comics range between journalism, documentary and memoir. He is the author of "This Land is My Land," "Spring Rain," the NY Times B...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) features Tucson Arizona-based singer-songwriter Lara Ruggles who talks about her music and creative process, and month-long NPAF residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Lara Ruggles is an activist, singer/songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and electronic music produce...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show focuses on Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. FEATURED GUESTS: - Tanya Ortega, Founder of National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who discusses their unique artist residenty programs, one of which is at Hawai'i Volcanoes NP. More at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ - Elizabeth Fien, President & CEO for t...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) features photographer Jim Schlett who discusses his photography and month-long NPAF artist-residency at Fort Union National Monument in Norther New Mexico. Learn more about Jim and view his work at https://photomanva.zenfolio.com/ Fort Union National Monument, located in...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) features scientist turned comedian Ben Miller who discusses his career and month-long NPAF residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Learn more about Ben at https://www.benmillercomedy.com/ Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation and their unique artist r...

This special Big Blend Radio “NPAF Artists Reunion Show” celebrates over 7 years of hosting the 1st Friday “Toast to The Arts & Parks” Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). Featured NPAF Park Artists-in-Residence: - Astro-photographer Stan Honda - https://www.stanhonda.com/ - Master Featherworker Rick San Nicolas - https://www.hawaiianfeathers.com/ - Multi-media Artist Mary Babc...

Airing live from Peachtree City, Georgia with mother-daughter hosts Nancy J. Reid & Lisa D. Smith, this special Big Blend Radio “NPAF Artists Reunion Show” celebrates over 7 years of hosting the 1st Friday “Toast to The Arts & Parks” Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). Featured NPAF Park Artists-in-Residence: - Painter Alice Leese – https://www.aliceleese.com/ - Composer a...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who talks about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and Dry Tortugas and Hawai'i Volcano National Parks. NPAF is a non-profit offering unique Artist-in-Reside...

Acclaimed painter and rancher Alice Leese is back on Big Blend Radio's "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show to discuss her recent and second National Parks Arts Foundation artist residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Alice has also been a NPAF artist-in-residence in Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, and at Fort Union National Monument in New Mexico. More about Alice Leese: https://www...