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!

On this episode we chat with Kashira Dowridge. Kashira describes herself as a woman with an intuitive heart- based in Detroit, MI, original territory of the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi people. Her practice highlights the world's current issues and her inner development. Kashira explores various dynamics of psychology and the well-being of others with intentionality. She is a self-taught artist  and aspires to finish her BFA to deepen her knowledge during her transition from working exclusively in photography and film to a more interdisciplinary approach.

A Quick note: Between the 15:00 and 18:00 minute mark there is a discussion about gun violence that some may find challenging. 

To see more of Kashira’s work, please visit her Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kashiradowridge/) and website (https://www.kashiradowridge.com/).

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

Vivian Maier - https://www.vivianmaier.com/

Gordon Parks - https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/

Rog & Bee Walker - https://rogwalker.com/

Jenn Nkiru- https://www.jennnkiru.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 with Noah M. Shankool. Noah is a musician, producer, and audio engineer based in Kalamazoo, MI unceded territory of the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. With influences ranging from Disco and Funk to Indie and Punk, his personality is what ties it all together for an introspective yet danceable experience. Since his first EP was released in 2017, Noah has been a part of numerous bands, recording projects, and live sound companies. Along with receiving a Bachelor’s in Multimedia Arts Technology from Western Michigan University, he plans to further his studies in the recording arts through an upcoming residency with the Arab American National Museum.  At the end of the podcast stick around to hear "Knot", a dreamy yet rhythmic Indie Pop track from Noah’s latest project, "The Kool Tapes’.  

To hear more of Noah’s music, visit him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shankoolerthanu/) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NEZVsfwmEu5Ybo1ktNa3Q).

To learn more about the artists who have inspired Noah, please visit the links below:

Talking Heads - https://talkingheadsofficial.com/

David Byrne - https://davidbyrne.com/

Flaming Lips - https://www.flaminglips.com/

LCD Soundsystem - https://lcdsoundsystem.com/

Animal Collective - https://myanimalhome.net/

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 with dancer and illustrator Austin Warren Coats. Austin is Originally from Reynoldsburg Ohio, original territory of the Ofo, Myaamia, Shawandasse Tula, Hopewell, and Kaskaskia peoples. He has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Studies from Kent State University and an MFA From New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.  Austin currently performs with Ronald K Brown's EVIDENCE Dance Company. Coats also has many interests in the arts including writing, illustration, dance, film, and fashion design. He has published illustrations in college publications and has provided artwork for various creative  projects. 

His life goal is to become a choreographer and artistic director, and hopefully find a space where all his artistic interests can collaborate and emulsify.

See more of Austins work on his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/austin_wears_coats/?hl=en ) and website (https://www.austinwarrencoats.art/ )

To learn more about Ronald K. Brown, visit https://www.evidencedance.com/ronald-k-brown

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 delighted to introduce another gifted artist,  Sam Modder.  Sam is a Nigerian-Sri Lankan artist that works figuratively in pen, collage, and digital media to portray larger-than-life Black, female characters taking up space in real and imagined worlds. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2017 with a BA in Studio Art and Engineering and from Washington University in St. Louis with an MFA in Visual Arts in 2022. She currently works as an Assistant Professor of Art and Design at the University of Tampa. 

You can find Sam’s work on her website (https://sammodder.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sam_modder/?hl=en)

To learn more about the artists who have inspired Sam, please visit the links below:

Toyin Ojih Odutola -  https://toyinojihodutola.com/

Trenton Doyle Hancock (She Called him Trenton Hancock Doyle) - https://www.jamescohan.com/artists/trenton-doyle-hancock

Wangechi Mutu - https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/wangechi_mutu/

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 the first episode of season 4, we talk to Saif Alsaegh. Saif is a United States-based filmmaker from Baghdad and is a part of a Chaldean indigenous minority in Iraq. Much of Saif’s work deals with the contrast between the landscape of his youth in Baghdad, growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s, and the U.S. landscape where he currently lives. He received his MFA in film from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  

You can find Saif’s work on his website (https://www.saifalsaegh.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saifalsaegh/)

To learn more about the artists who have inspired Saif, please visit the links below:

Charles Burnett - https://spoutible.com/CharlesBurnett

Derek Jarman - https://www.theartstory.org/artist/jarman-derek/

Nathaniel Mary Quinn - https://gagosian.com/artists/nathaniel-mary-quinn/

Alberto Giacometti - https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/alberto-giacometti-1159

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!