The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast

Christine Kroger, Pamela Rossi-Keen – Creative PlayOn episode 23 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Christine Kroger (executive director of the Neighborhood North Museum of Play) and Pamela Rossi-Keen (executive director of The Genesis Collective) about the importance of art and creative play in the developmental lives of children.

On episode 22 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Daniel Rossi-Keen about the concept, practice, hope and possibilies of Creative Advocacy: "A public and intentional form of engagement that employs artistic practice to disrupt prevailing narratives and strengthen community movement toward an identified goal.”

On episode 21 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with local artist Jennie Johnstone, president of the fine arts association, Beaver Valley Artists.

On episode 20 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with New Brighton artist Laurie Fillinger, long-time member of the fine arts association, Beaver Valley Artists. By her own admission, Laurie is self taught: "I often tend to paint or draw depicting a story or I try to catch movement or a mood. I work in pencil, charcoal, pen/ink, watercolor, oil, and pastel."

On episode 19 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with local artists and musicians James and Debra Tobin about the Beaver Valley Artists fine arts association, their respective creative visions and processes, the value of art, and their long-standing art studio-creator space in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

On episode 18 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Director Michelle Long of the Merrick Art Gallery in New Brighton, Pennsylvania about its venerable collection, old world gallery space, creative programs, and much needed financial patronage to keep the space open and free to the public.

On episode 17 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with a local graffiti artist about the method, aesthetics, legality, cultural authenticity, and artistic merit of graffiti in Beaver County and beyond.

On episode 16 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Beaver Falls artist Guy Ruff, III about his passion for art, street art techniques, and the nature of public art and art culture in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

On episode 15 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Aliquippa artist Marlon Gist about being a professional artist, art supplies, thoughts on Beaver County's arts culture, and his latest commission representing the Underground Railroad.

On episode 14 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we begin our Artist Conversation Series by talking with mosaic artist Melissa Rhines about the process of making art as therapy, her new Ambridge studio that includes a “smash” space and other accommodations for the public to gather, create art, and share in Beaver County’s art culture.

On episode 13 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk about TGC's Media Institute launching in the Fall of 2022. Our guests include the institute's instructors: Erin Ninehouser (photography), Christopher Padgett (film making), Seth Whitted (podcasting and community interviewing), Jacob Swanson (graphic arts), Kevin Farkas (podcasting, oral histories, sound art), and TGC executive director Pamela Rossi Keen. For more information: TGC Media Institute

On episode 12 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we continue our Featured Artist Series and talk with Shaunda McDill, Arts & Culture program officer with The Heinz EndowmentsShaunda has been with the The Heinz Endowments since 2017 as the Creativity Strategic Area’s Arts & Culture program officer, after more than a decade of nonprofit executive and arts management experience. She has worked for theater companies across the country, including The Goodman Theatre of Chicago, Second Stage Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse and Cornerstone Theater Company. She also founded demaskus, a nonprofit, service-oriented collective of artists and administrators who produce theatrical projects sharing stories of the marginalized.In Pittsburgh, Shaunda served as vice president of programming and cultivation at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, where she managed all artistic and educational programs, and oversaw a $1 million programming budget. As the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s director of public relations, she headed both national and local public relations campaigns, including the North American premiere of Florentijn Hofman’s Rubber Duck Project, which generated more than $10 million in direct spending in the city.To learn more about The Heinz Endowments' Arts & Culture funding opportunities, email Shaunda ([email protected]) or contact her here. 

On episode 11 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we continue our Featured Artist Series and talk with director/conductor Kevin E. Newton and flautist Denise Drabeck of the Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble. After our conversation, listen to a live recording of BCSWE’s recent humanitarian benefit concert, “Prayer for Ukraine.” To learn more about the ensemble and their current performance schedule, visit the Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

On episode 10 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we Continue our Connecting Arts to Funding Series and talk with Hana Uman of the Duquesne Light Company. Hana coordinates DLC’s community impact grant program that supports projects and programs led by diverse grassroots community organizations who are working on the ground to directly support DLC’s customers and communities.