Can Art Save Us?
I’m raising the first national and international conversation to explore courage and curiosity and why it makes a big difference to our mental, societal and democratic health. Scroll down for all episodes. I’m grateful to share my reviews below. I talk to award-winning, diverse, national and international artists about the role of courage and curiosity in their lives. What do these qualities really mean and why do they matter to our mental, societal and democratic health? Can the Arts change the global epidemic of mental illness, loneliness, the polarization of our communities and global conflict? My dedicated website including interview transcriptions is www.canartsaveus.com All of my guests share personal stories, often life changing, their deep challenges and perseverance with success through their different responses to courage and curiosity. Be inspired, we talk, hip-hop poetry, Islamic architecture building peace , tap dance in protest, surrealism and WWII front line photography, life as a drag King, the Queen of the Qanun, war displacement and Syrian music, the Art School for the Homeless, the 1970s West Indian Front Room, inclusive dance, wheelchair acrobatics, British-Pakistani, Black-British, Jewish, and Irish spoken word artists, giant talking ceramics, an end of life film, the music industry and discrimination, graffiti art and Muslim faith, shamanic storytelling, a Cameroonian clay addict, a world leading sculptor and voices of Windrush in arts activism, comedy, photography and iconic sculpture.
Listen on:
Can Art Save Us?
I talk to diverse and award-winning artists about the role of curiosity and courage in their lives and work. I'm exploring the role of courage and curiosity in our mental, societal and democratic health, why these qualities matter and their wider meanings. I explore international and national perspectives. In the UK the Arts have been relentlessly cut and notably ripped out of education systems. This podcast series is in response to that political prejudice, the arts inequality that exists as a result and to assert the value and purpose of the Arts to our mental, societal and democratic health. This is a free to listen podcast for everyone.
The dedicated website with all episode visuals and transcripts are at: www.canartsaveus.com
Your Host and Reviews
Paula has interviewed throughout her career in music and film television, including Talkin' Jazz, Talkin' Blues and Music Legends for NBC Europe and A list actors and cast for BSkyB Movies. In recent years she has regularly interviewed artists and craft makers.
"Amazing Episode of Can Art Save Us? Such a well-informed and intelligent interview. I thought you did an amazing job. Really great podcast idea." Listener, Dr. Craig Jordan-Baker, author.
"I am in floods of tears. What an awesome, inspiring and generous conversation." Listener, Ali Beddoes.
"Thank you so very much, your questions trigger the narrative in a really intuitive and splendid way." Guest, Marice Cumber, Ceramicist and CEO of the Art School for the Homeless.
"I listened to Barry J. Gibb, so great and you're excellent at extracting info and making the conversation flow. Really loved it!!!" Listener, Jody Levitus.
"Wow, I really enjoyed that question!" Guest, Adam Kammerling, Poet and former Slam Poet Champion.
"Listened to your podcast and it's fantastic! Really authentic conversation, congratulations on such a great show!" Listener, John Offord, BBC Producer.
"Wow, that's such an interesting question. Wow. That really speaks to me." Guest, Otis Mensah, the UK's first hip-hop poet laureate.
"These are very interesting, very good questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation." Marwa Al-Sabouni, Architect, Author, Top 50, Global Thinkers List.
"I love the way you are steering the interviews, I'm loving the Anthony Penrose interview. I have enjoyed my first two episodes immensely." Listener, Giles Pooley
"Great to have an interviewer who delves deep and is so well prepared! Thank you. A great pleasure." Guest, Cherry Smyth, Royal Society of Literature, Fellow.
"Excited to discover your podcast and can’t wait to listen to this." Listener, Carrie Stanley.
"Your podcast is creating important conversation Paula. Thank you for inviting me!" Guest, Qudsia Akhtar, Poet, Highly Commended, Forward Book of Poetry.
"Excited for this to be out in the world!" Guest, Bobby Brown, Music and Creative Producer.
"Absolutely brilliant to see this pop up in my podcast feed today. Can’t wait to listen! Inspiring stuff!" Listener & Guest, Barry J. Gibb, award winning filmmaker.
"I love the content you do because it is soo important!!!" Listener, Podcast Host of Crisis Talk, Pelumi.
"You're such a joy to talk to, right, because people don't ask, you're waiting for people to ask those questions." Guest, Tom Delahunt, Hobo Poet and author.
"What a stunning line up!" Listener, Bhumika Billa.
"I’m dead excited to be here." Guest, Lady Kitt, Drag King & Maker.
"I’m a fan ! … amazing episode, I think you’ve created an extraordinary body of work." Listener, James Russel.
"Loved coming on your podcast Paula. It was wonderful." Guest, Princess Arinola, spoken word artist, musician, songwriter, BBC Words First winner.
Episodes
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Mohammed Ali, MBE, is a graffiti artist who works internationally and creates immersive events combining theatre, music and poetry too. Mohammed has a deep respect for heritage, community and the arts and his purpose is clear; he wants to empower communities and celebrate multi-cultural stories around faith and migration. His art work could be understood as a vital community service, one of human connection. Mohammed is changing community division by demystifying culture, faith and ethnicity, spray can by spray can. We explore whether public space really exists, the empowerment of people, art without pretention and where courage exists.
Closed Captions are added to all interviews in this series. Read only, text versions of every interview can be found here: https://canartsaveus.com/
Images: Courtesy of Mohammed Ali, MBE
Audio Edit: Courtesy of Joey Quan.
Series Music - Courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Discover Mohammed Ali: https://www.artofmohammedali.com/
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Marije Nie is a classically trained musician and percussive tap dance poet. Marije's Ted Talk features her multi award-winning dance documentary 'One Million Steps’ with Eva Stotz, where she tapped poetic dance steps in the face of an explosive protest with police using tear gas in Gezi Park, Istanbul. Marije is also the recipient of the Dutch Jur Naessens prize for innovation and she has performed with classical orchestras, jazz and contemporary ensembles on concert stages around the world. We explore space in rhythm, the mind and the community. We discuss stretching our 'imagination muscles' and the rhythm of music to over coming fear of bodily harm and death.
Closed Captions are added to all interviews in this series. Read only, text versions of every interview can be found here: https://canartsaveus.com/
Image: Courtesy of Marije Nie
Audio edit courtesy of Joey Quan
Series Music - Courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Discover Marije Nie: https://marijenie.com/
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Otis Mensah, is a hip-hop poet and master of vulnerable expression. Otis became the City of Sheffield’s first poet laureate and his live performances include Glastonbury Music Festival and opening for numerous artists. Otis breaks down barriers of power, elitism and control including stereotyping and branding. He reminds "people that poetry is meant to be for the people.” – The Guardian. We explore curiosity and courage through identity, power struggles, daily fears, anxieties, the beauty of dyslexia and how we can give language freedom to let ourselves flourish. We discuss why poetry can speak but we may not speak to each other.
Closed Captions are added to all interviews in this series. Read only, text versions of every interview can be found here: www//canartsaveus.com/
Image: Ai Narapol.
Audio edit courtesy of Joey Quan.
Series Music - Courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Discover Otis Mensah: www.otismensah.com/
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Lady Kitt is a creative activist, artist, maker and drag king, described as ‘an international superstar of feminism.’ You may also encounter Kitt as Captain Privilege or as King Kitt, a terminally confused, toxic male. Kitt’s practice however as a socially engaged artist is crystal clear. From performance art to giant origami, Kitt addresses inequality and inclusivity and creates projects all over the world. We talk about socially engaged art as acts of compassion and failures in social provision as acts of harm. We talk about art as a collaborative heartbeat but not a cure all for community regeneration led by poor policy. We explore curiosity as mess and the structures of support we need for courage.
Images: Courtesy of Lady Kitt.
Headshot PlentyUpTop (Colour photo, interior. Head and shoulders portrait of Kitt, a white shaven headed human. Kitt is smiling a wide smile. They wear a headdress which, in bright pink 3D letters, reads "Plenty Up Top". They also wear a necklace which, in the same pink lettering, reads "Gallery". 2019)
Headshot QueerCripCraftPower (Colour photo, interior. Kitt, white haven headed human with a big smile wears a headdress made of huge multi coloured flowers and a black long sleeved shirt on which white and orange text reads “queer crip craft power”. 2021)
Audio edit courtesy of Katherine Wiley.
Series music: Created by and courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Closed Captions are added to all interviews in this series. Read only, text versions of every interview can be found here: https://www.canartsaveus.com
Discover Lady Kitt: https://www.lladykitt.com/
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
Barry Gibb is a multi, multi-award winning filmmaker with over 100 science films and a series of powerful shorts about time, life and death. He often films in deeply sensitive and difficult circumstances. His recent film 'The Gift,' follows the artist Barbara Bird's end of life but also her continued journey by gifting her body to science. This film has won 15 international awards alone. Barry is also a neuro-scientist and award-winning author of the 'Rough Guide to the Brain.' We explore curiosity and courage through vulnerability, time, life and death. Barry shares his fear of death and how the camera lens invites his courage to share meaningfully creative work and his compassionate purpose.
Closed Captions are added to all interviews in this series. Read only, text versions of every interview can be found here: https://www.canartsaveus.com
Image: Courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Episode audio edit: Courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Series music: Created by and courtesy of Barry J. Gibb
Discover Barry's work: https://www.barryjamesgibb.com/