On the last episode of season 4, we highlight the work and voice of Paula Mans.  Paula is a self-taught painter, collagist, and art educator based in Washington, DC, Original land of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway peoples.  While Paula is a native Washingtonian, she spent many of her formative years living in Tanzania, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Brazil. Her experiences throughout the African Diaspora shaped her identity and informed the development of her artistic voice.

Living in Washington, DC and Salvador, Brazil has been particularly impactful for the artist. Both cities are diasporic meccas for Black cultural expression and are famous for their prominent and influential Black populations. Nonetheless, racism and gentrification often render Black people invisible within the power structures of both cities. Paula seeks to critically address this social phenomenon by amplifying the visibility and agency of the Black figure in her artistic practice. 

To learn more about Paula, and see more of her work, visit her website (https://paulamans.art/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/paulamansart/).

To learn more about the artists that inspire Paula, please visit the links below:

Zanele Muholi - https://www.instagram.com/muholizanele/?hl=en

Elizabeth Catlet - https://nmwa.org/art/artists/elizabeth-catlett/

Simone Leigh - https://www.instagram.com/simoneyvetteleigh/?hl=en

Romare Bearden - https://beardenfoundation.org/

Octavia Butler - https://www.octaviabutler.com/

Rivers Solomon - https://rivers-solomon.com/

Nnedi Okorafor - https://nnedi.com/

The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!

On this episode we are thrilled to highlight Dara Etienne.  Dara is a multidisciplinary visual artist and craftsperson applying both institutionally learned and self taught processes in their work. Dara’s art spans from printmaking to woodworking, quilting, weaving, and more. Their pieces often revolve around labor, workmanship, expression of the self, and gender identity. Currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania original territory of the Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Osage, and Shawnee peoples. Dara is a member of the artist collective "HOT•BED" and spends their time laboring over materials to fashion new artwork. 

To learn more about Dara, and see more of their work, visit Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_dararara_/).

To learn more about the artists that inspire Dara, please visit the links below:

Sanaa Gateja - https://afriartgallery.org/artists/sanaa-gateja

Cecilia Vicuña - https://www.ceciliavicuna.com/

The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!

On this episode we talk to rapper and songwriter Itee. Deeply rooted in her Nigerian background, "Itee'' began her music career professionally in 2019. Despite her underground presence, many ears are tuned in to this versatile artist. Taking inspiration from Lauryn Hill and J Cole, Itee embodies a nostalgic vibe that many of her generational peers born in the 90s can relate to. 

Stick around until the end of the podcast to hear a hand picked track by Itee, titled: “Already Know”

To learn more about Itee, and hear more of her work, visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/itee.er/) and Website (https://infiniteerec.com/).

To learn more about the artists that inspire Itee, follow the links below.

Wande Coal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wande_Coal

MI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I_Abaga

J. Cole -https://www.dreamville.com/artist/cole/

KJ - https://www.instagram.com/kjnito/

The Waystation Podcast is an important pillar of The Chrysalis Institute. For more information on our residency, please visit: www.thechrysalisinstitute.com to learn more!