Voices + Visions: The Podcast

Today we will hear from Rachel Elizabeth Harding, a mentorship Resident at Indigo Arts Alliance in April 2025. Rachel takes on many roles as a poet, historian, and scholar of religions of the Afro-Atlantic diaspora. Rachel writes about religion, creativity, and social justice within communities of African descent in the US and Brazil. Coming from a family of writers and activists, her poetry conveys her spiritual leadership and social justice. Rachel is the author of numerous essays, poems, and scholarly articles. Particularly two books: A Refuge in Thunder, a History of the Afro-Brazilian Religion, Candomblé; and recently, Remnants: A Memoir of Spirit, Activism and Mothering. Please enjoy.

In this episode we welcome Anna Tsouhlarkis & Shane Perley-Dutcher, both artists in residence at Indigo Arts Alliance in July 2024, were commissioned to produce a permanent sculpture on the grounds of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG), and that was unveiled during our second symposia entitled, Deconstructing the Boundaries: The Land Fights Back. The first of its kind at the Gardens, this program brings together community members of all backgrounds to ground ourselves in difficult conversations, creative expression and the power of being together. Please enjoy their words, recorded by Nolan Atvater.

Today we will meet Minoo Emami, who was an artist in residence at Indigo Arts Alliance in June of 2024. Emami is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist and brings over three decades of experience to her rich artistic journey and is deeply committed to art practice, teaching, and exhibition. In this interview, Emami talks about her current project while at Indigo Arts Alliance, which is related to Persian domestic culture and how the materials she uses are all from home spaces.

Today we will meet CC Paschal who was an artist in residence at Indigo Arts Alliance in May 2022. CC, who is an award -winning audio journalist and experimental documentary artist led the editorial vision for NPR's critically acclaimed narrative series Louder Than a Riot. In 2017, she was a lead producer of Gimlet Media's Peabody award-winning production Uncivil. CC studied aesthetics, earning a B.A. in Art and Philosophy from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY in 2010.

Today we will hear from Raquel P Miller who was a Black Seed Studio Resident in January 2024 at Indigo Arts Alliance. Born and adopted from Cuenca, Ecuador, Raquel is an emerging artist from Biddeford, Maine. From painting to drawing, her work is focused on the confrontations and expressions of identity, experiences, and emotions. She was the recipient of a 2022 BIPOC Fellowship at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and in 2023 was awarded a residency at SPACE Gallery’s Residency Room in Portland, Maine. Her work has been displayed online, in New York at Collarworks (Troy), Deanna Evans Projects (NYC), SOIL Gallery (Seattle)and throughout Southern Maine at the Harlow, the Buoy Gallery, New System Exhibitions, Alice Gauvin Gallery, and Engine.

Today we will hear from Dr. Krina Patel who was an artist in residence at The Indigo Arts Alliance Studio in April 2024. A practicing multimedia artist and researcher, Dr. Patel designs and develops inclusive community based arts projects collaboratively with educators and healthcare practitioners. Her passion for the arts in learning, healing and well-being comes from her experiences practicing and promoting the creative arts in a range of settings from schools to neighborhoods and with diverse groups including immigrant communities in the United States and disability communities in South Asia. Together with an arts and health collective and a neighborhood community health organization, Dr. Patel creates opportunities for engaging in creative expression and cultural experiences that invites participation from all.

In this episode we welcome Nyamuon Machar 19’, Maya Williams, Brian J. Evans 23’, and Samuel James 20’, were all participants in ECHOES. This is part 2 and a continuation from season 1 finale. Echoes, Led by Black Haitian American composer, violinist and activist Daniel Bernard Romain, ECHOES was a site-responsive composition project that aims to reflect the breath, sorrow and beauty of Portland, Maine’s complex history and relationship to its Black community, utilizing live performance to mark, reclaim and celebrate a site of significance and enduring legacy. With the Abyssinian Meeting House as inspiration, Daniel Bernard Romain created an original score, to which local artists across disciplines are invited to remix and respond. In their interview, these artists reflect on the collaborative project that took place in May 2024 and their contributions.

In this episode we welcome Nyamuon Machar 19’, Maya Williams, Brian J. Evans 23’, and Samuel James 20’, were all participants in ECHOES. Led by Black Haitian American composer, violinist and activist Daniel Bernard Romain, ECHOES was a site-responsive composition project that aims to reflect the breath, sorrow and beauty of Portland, Maine’s complex history and relationship to its Black community, utilizing live performance to mark, reclaim and celebrate a site of significance and enduring legacy. With the Abyssinian Meeting House as inspiration, Daniel Bernard Romain created an original score, to which local artists across disciplines are invited to remix and respond. In their interview, these artists reflect on the collaborative project that took place in May 2024 and their contributions.

In this episode we welcome Shane Charles, who was an artist in Indigo Arts Alliance's Mentorship Residency Program in April of 2023. Shane Charles was born in Maine and creates paintings, sculptures and photographs within a process of abstraction and poetics. Charles is a direct descendent of the Penobscot Nation and is also of (colonial) British ancestry. His grandfather was a mapmaker and his father was the Penobscot tribal surveyor after the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980. Charles received his Master of Fine Arts degree from UNC at Chapel Hill, where he focused on sculpture and performance. He previously studied painting at the University of Maine through the indigenous Wabanaki program. Charles utilizes raw and sourced material, body prints and open compositional spaces, to engage with themes of artifact, presence and continuity.

In this episode Ashley Page, Studio and Program Manager, interviews Rachel Gloria Adams. Adams was an Indigo Arts Alliance Black Seed Studio resident in May 2022. Adams is a textile designer, muralist, and painter in Portland, Maine. She has a BFA from Maine College of Art. Her ongoing business venture TACHEE utilizes her graphic visual language with references from the natural world.

In this episode we welcome Renata Felinto + Liza May who were artists in Indigo Arts Alliance's Mentorship Residency Program in September-October 2022. Felinto has been working for decades in the visual arts as an artist, researcher, and educator. Her production focuses on the issue of black female identity, displacement and connections such as globalization in dialogue with ancient history. May is a dance powerhouse, choreographer and fire artist. May's recent exploration is into group choreography in nontraditional spaces and solo work with lighting manipulation.

In this episode we welcome Aina Sullivan + Tanya Crane who were artists in Indigo Arts Alliance's Mentorship Residency Program in April 2022. Sullivan has been exploring various styles of jewelry-making and multi-media art for over ten years. Her collection of handcrafted wire-wrapped natural gemstone jewelry is called Black Stone Alchemy. Crane is a professor of the Practice in Metals at the School Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Crane's work embodies the many layers of human existence, to include history, race, class and culture.

In this episode we welcome Meghna Singh + Deepanjan who were artists in Indigo Arts Alliance's Mentorship Residency Program in May 2023. Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay works investigate shifting meanings within post and neocolonialism while still reflecting his background in photography and object and image based practices. Deepanjan is originally from Kolkata, India and received his MFA in photography from the University of Georgia and currently teaches at Bowdoin College. Meghna Singh is a visual artist with a PhD in visual anthropology from the University of Cape Town. She works with video installation and XR, blurring the boundaries between documentary and fiction. She highlights issues of humanism through the tool of the imaginary.

In this episode we welcome Alexandra Bell + CC Paschal who were artists in Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Residency Program in May 2022. "CC" Paschal (she/they) is an award-winning audio journalist and experimental documentary artist. They are currently developing a new season of their own show Spark, a podcast about the perils and paradoxes of creativity. Bell is a multidisciplinary artist who investigates the complexities of narrative, information consumption and perception. Utilizing various media, she deconstructs language and imagery to explore tension between marginal experiences and dominant histories.

This episode we welcome Antonio Rocha + Maestro Isaura Oliveira who were artists in Indigo Arts Alliance's Mentorship Residency Program in October-November 2021. Rocha, a Brazilin native and a graduate of University of Southern Maine has taken his fusion of mime and spoken word to over 16 countries on 6 continents. Maestra Isaura Olivera founded Teatro Brasileiro de Danca in Boston, MA and is an expert in the African roots of Brazilian Sacred & Popular Dance, rhythms chants and performance - rituals.

This episode features Chief Janice who was an artist in Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Residency Program April 2023. She and her husband Willard "Buddy" Joseph are accomplished weavers and teachers from the Squamish Nation.m They have co-founded L’hen Awtxw Weaving House to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. Chief Janice George graduated from Capilano University, North Vancouver BC, and the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM, USA. She feels her education at these schools helped her excel as a teacher, adding to her most important traditional teachings. She is a hereditary chief, trained museum curator and educator. George also co-organized the 1st Canada Northwest Coast Weavers Gathering with other Squamish Nation Weavers. George and Joseph are from prominent Squamish families and have numerous ceremonial and cultural responsibilities in their community. Joseph is the former director of the Squamish Housing and Capital Projects and currently consults on capital projects for First Nations communities. Please enjoy their episode.

This episode we will meet Adama Delphine Fawundu and Liz Rhaney who were artists in the Mentorship Residency Program June of 2022 at Indigo Arts Alliance. Adama Delphine Fawundu, a assistant professor of Visual Arts at Columbia University, is a photographer and visual artist. Liz Rhaney has her MFA from Maine College of Arts and Design with a focus in video and installation. Please, enjoy their conversation.

This episode features Signature Mimi. It is the second episode of a two part session, where both artists are involved in a panel during their residency at Indigo Arts Alliance. Signature Mimi is a poet, spoken word artist, language enthusiast and creative expressionista, working in Maine. Being born in the Philippines and raised in the US, MiMi writes and draws upon her experiences being a multi-ethnic child of the AAPI diaspora. She uses words, sounds, visuals, space, earth, and technology to share stories of survival, decolonization, alignment and balance. We hope you enjoy part 1 as much as you enjoyed part 2.

This episode features Arisa White who is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at Colby College. As the creator of the Beautiful Things Project, Arisa curates poetic collaborations that are rooted in Black queer women's ways of knowing. Arisa is also working on an opera. Please enjoy her sharing of her artistic endeavors and her experience at her residency at Indigo Arts Alliance.