Episodes

  • Musician Rachel Mari Kimber Goes to Saguaro National Park
    Sep 6 2024

    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 from the heart. She also plays cello and sings for the band Black Forest Society, and also for Happy Joy Harmony. More: https://freeyourspiritheal.wixsite.com/love

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

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    39 mins
  • The Then and Now of Art and Artists in Parks
    Aug 17 2024

    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 CHICK is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Victoria spearheaded the Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center . * Read her articles about artists in parks: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/art-history-in-national-parks-and-public-lands * Visit Victoria's website: https://victoriachick.com/ * Learn more about the Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/

    Talking about "the now" of art and artists in parks, TANYA ORTEGA is a photographer and the founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation. NPAF is the only nationwide non-profit providing Artist-in-Residence Programs (AiR), Workshops, Exhibits and Museum Loans uniquely in cooperation with National Parks, National Monuments, State Parks, World Heritage Sites and other park locations. * Learn more about NPAF: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ * Check out Big Blend Radio's Interviews with NPAF artists-in-residence: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/national-park-arts-foundation/

    WATCH FOR BIG BLEND'S special digital retrospective publication featuring Victoria's articles and NPAF's artist interviews. It releases on Aug. 25, 2024 in honor of the National Park Service anniversary (Aug. 25, 1860). Subscribe to our Big Blend e-Newsletter to get your copy: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/join-our-newsletter/

    Big Blend Radio's "World of Art" Show with Victoria Chick airs every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/

    Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks Show with NPAF airs every 1st Friday. Follow the podcast: https://arts-parks.podbean.com/

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Poet Carissa Garcia and Artist Chelsea Bighorn
    Aug 2 2024

    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 Park in Northern New Mexico. Hear her initial interview about her writing and poetry, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/poet-carrisa-garcia-goes-to-chaco/

    A mixed media artist, Chelsea Bighorn’s work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Her NPAF residency was in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Hear her initial interview about her art, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/artist-chelsea-bighorn-in-saguaro-national-park/

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation’s unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

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    46 mins
  • Arizona Writer Leah Newsom in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
    Jul 5 2024

    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 appeared/is forthcoming in "Conjunctions," "Ninth Letter," "Juked," "Passages North," and more. Her work has been supported by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and the National Parks Arts Foundation. More at: http://www.leahnewsom.com/

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

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    59 mins
  • Artist Chelsea Bighorn in Saguaro National Park
    Jun 7 2024

    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 Northern Nevada. Bighorn's work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Using this process, she tells her personal history through her art. Bighorn has shown her work at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art, SITE Santa Fe, The Balzar Gallery and her work is currently on display at The Center for Native Futures in Chicago, IL. She graduated with honors from The Institute of American Indian Arts in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. More: http://www.chelseabighorn.com/

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

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    34 mins
  • Rick San Nicolas - Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i
    May 3 2024

    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 perpetuating this art form. Through his expertise and passion, he ensures that the traditions of feather lei making continue for generations to come. San Nicolas draws inspiration directly from the landscape of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, feeling a deep connection to the environment and its historical significance. He finds inspiration in the ancient Hawaiian featherwork tradition, particularly in the regalia worn by Hawaiian Royalty and warriors.

    This year Rick travels to Washington D.C. to present his featherwork for inclusion in the collection of the Museum of the Department of Interior as well as having it on display in the office of Secretary Deborah Haaland (Laguna Pueblo). He is also a consulting advisor in historical featherwork on the upcoming TV Series "Chief of War," starring Jason Momoa. More at: https://www.hawaiianfeathers.com/

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

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    1 hr
  • Poet Carissa ”Lucky” Garcia Goes to Chaco Canyon
    Apr 5 2024

    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 a founding member of the La Resistencia publishing press and poetry collective amplifying LGBTQ+ voices of color. Carissa’s storytelling communicates ideas that focus on her experience as an Iraq War veteran, Native American culture, love, politics, and her appreciation for comic books and science fiction. Her work has been featured at the University of Missouri Latinx Graduate Program, Rhode Island School of Design, UMKC Women of Color Leadership Conference, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Flatland KC, Prescott College, Redline Contemporary Arts Center, Dairy Arts Center, Denver Art Museum, and on the streets all across America.

    Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

    Learn more about Chaco Culture National Historical Park at https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Tanya Ortega - Photographer and Founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation
    Mar 2 2024

    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 national park units across the country.

    Check out Tanya's editorial Q&A about her photography: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/photography-art-insider-tanya-ortega/

    Listen to the Big Blend Radio Podcast Playlist of NPAF's Women Artists-in-Residence: https://soundcloud.com/bigblendradio/sets/npaf-women-artists

    Women's History within the National Parks Service: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/index.htm

    Follow this new Big Blend Radio "Women Making History" podcast: https://shows.acast.com/women-making-history

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    48 mins