Ep 66: Alec DeJesus on almost giving up on art and then choosing to keep going

Artist Alec DeJesus was first a guest on the podcast a year ago. Since then he's had some of his highest highs and lowest lows. He found success with an art commission through Broward College in Florida, painting two murals for them, but then progress on the murals wasn't happening and he almost gave up on art altogether. In the end he didn't abandon his art career and he found tremendous success in actually getting the murals done and inspiring a group of young artists at the college. Episode 66 of the podcast is an often raw and vulnerable conversation where Alec delves into all the struggles an artist carries with them in the audacious attempt to get their art made.

Here are some recent articles detailing Alec's work, focusing especially on his murals in Florida:
Journal Star Article on Painting the Planter in the West Bluff and Photo Gallery
Widower's Grief Blog Profile
Profile on the murals with Amsterdam Street Art
Graphite Gallery Artist Page

Past Podcast Episodes on Peoria Area Artists:
Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Episode 63: Artist Jaci Musec

Episode 60: A Discussion of Nathan Peterson's "Is It a Sin?"
Episode 46: Artist Quinton Thomas
Episode 13: Artist Jessica Ball—Owner of the Art Garage
Episode 22: Artist Blair Jeffers
Episode 21: Carol McPherson—Director of the Fost Gallery
Episode 38: Musician Jared Grabb

Episode 40: Coffee Artist Kagan Masters
Episode 42: Artist Alec DeJesus (2017)
Episode 43: Jimmy Bridgeman of Rock Solid Studio
Episode 44: Natalia and Earl of Yaku
Episode 45: Brooks McDaniel—Philosophy and Religion Professor

Ep 63: Artist Jaci Musec

Jaci Musec paints abstract landscapes filled with symbols open to a surplus of interpretations...but she never really intended to...

Jaci's story is one of an artist whose creativity was borne out of her pain. After numerous years of sorrow, frustration, and longsuffering from infertility she began to paint simply for the sake of her own personal health. You might say she painted to survive. But in the years that have passed Jaci has transformed her story into a growing body of work layered with thick meaning. She has her own studio at the Studios on Sheridan off of Main St. in Peoria, Illinois and she is beginning to speak to others about how allowing ourselves to create and make art leads to our healing. You can find out more about Jaci at: http://www.capturedandreclaimed.com/

Check out the end of the article for more examples of Jaci's work.

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Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Ep 42: Artist Alec DeJesus

Alec DeJesus is a Peoria, Illinois based artist. His works seem to come from another time while also drawing from pop culture. They are familiar and otherworldly, earthy and sacred, mythical and everyday. In our conversation we covered where he draws inspiration from and how he has developed entrepreneurial skills to become a working artist. You can stream the episode below or subscribe on itunes, Stitcher, or other podcast services. A number of Alec's works are mentioned in the interview, most of which I include in this article. You can follow Alec on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/alecdajesus/

Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Past Episodes on Peoria Artists:
Episode 13: Artist Jessica Ball—Owner of the Art Garage
Episode 22: Artist Blair Jeffers
Episode 21: Carol McPherson—Director of the Fost Gallery
Episode 38: Musician Jared Grabb
Episode 35: Christmas Album Excerpts and Commentary

Episode 40: Coffee Artist Kagan Masters

PCR Podcast Episode 13: Jessica Ball—artist and owner of The Art Garage

Episode 13 of the PostConsumer Reports Podcast features a conversation with Jessica Ball, Peoria area artist and owner of The Art Garage. Jessica shares her journey as an artist and through it I get to ask about her views on abstract art, the monetary value of works of art, and where the art community is headed in Peoria. Check below for examples of her work (which we also discuss in the interview). Make sure to check The Art Garage page for class times and upcoming exhibits.

Subscribe to the podcast on itunes

Related Article:

Supporting Local Artists—an article on the time my church had an exhibit in The Art Garage.

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Past Podcast Episodes:

Episode 06: Mike Condo of Superfan Vinyl on the release of DC Talk's Jesus Freak 
Episode 07: Pastor Luke Edwards on "why churches should stop giving stuff away"

Episode 08: Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs on Postmodern Apologetics

Episode 09: Caleb J. Kruse on Meeting Rich Mullins

Episode 10: David Leo Schultz Director of Brennan
Episode 11: Thom Blair on the Hebrew English Interlinear O.T. and Logos Bible Software

"To be or NOT to be ('Christian', that is): The Dilemma of a Christian Artist

If you could only choose one...

Last week I wrote two posts on "Christian" music:
Why I Cringe Every Time Someone Says "I hate Christian Music" and
Yes, There is Such a Thing as "Christian Music": A Response to Derek Webb

This week I have two more articles on the same subject in response to two comments I received from readers. You can read the first article here: 'Christian music is like beer': An insight from a reader."

Today I am responding to Heather Peterson, keyboardist, singer, and songwriter in the band Hello Industry. You can go here to listen to an interview I did with her husband Nathan last year when their album Matter came out. I think Heather's position on whether or not to call oneself and one's art "Christian" is important. She is a working musician (she's also a piano teacher!) and actually has to exist out in the big bad world. As artists Hello Industry has gone back and forth for years playing in Christian environments (churches, youth camps, ministry conferences) and then just trying to play "normal" shows wherever they can. Their faith is embedded in every aspect of their art and yet I can tell they really feel a tension in how they label themselves and how they communicate their faith.