Podcast Show Notes

Makeba Boateng is a cultural strategist and the founder of Fashion Forum Africa, dedicated to preserving and promoting Ghana’s rich textile heritage and fostering sustainable fashion practices. With over three decades of experience in public relations, appraisal, and curation, she has worked on globally recognized projects, including the Victoria & Albert Museum's Africa Fashion exhibition, now touring internationally. Makeba is reshaping the narrative around African heritage and creativity for a global audience.

Makeba is an Accredited Public Relations Practitioner, a USPAP-Compliant Personal Property Appraiser leading her company Boaten Appraisal Service, and a passionate advocate for indigenous African design. Her work bridges Ghana’s textile traditions with global innovation, inspiring a sustainable future for African fashion and design.

Her work celebrates the intersection of history and modernity, blending storytelling with advocacy to elevate indigenous African textiles and design. A champion for sustainability and cultural preservation, she collaborates with artisans, designers, and institutions to create meaningful projects that honor tradition while inspiring innovation. By promoting indigenous techniques and fostering cross-cultural dialogue, she aims to inspire the next generation of creators to embrace their roots while shaping a global impact.

Makeba's work is a testament to the power of tradition in driving contemporary relevance, making her a trailblazer in the world of fashion and cultural advocacy.

Links:

Fashion Forum Africa: https://fashionforumafrica.com/

Makeba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makeba-boateng/

Boaten Appraisal Services on LinkedIn

Makeba's ISA Profile

Fashion Forum Africa Instagram

Fashion Forum Africa Facebook

Makeba's main garment worn during the interview: Hand-Batiked Silk Long Kimono by: Studio 189

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Sponsor Shoutout:

This episode of The Art Elevator is brought to you by Appraisal Scribe, where you can optimize your appraisal process with their all-in-one platform. Learn more here!

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Podcast Show Notes:

In this episode of The Art Elevator Podcast, we are joined by Lucy Walter, Head of Small Business Partnerships at Artsy, the world’s largest online marketplace for discovering, buying, and selling fine art. Lucy shares her journey from finance to her current role at Artsy and discusses how the platform is revolutionizing the art market for small and emerging galleries.

From strategies for increasing visibility to the importance of diversifying sales channels, Lucy provides invaluable insights into how galleries can thrive in the digital art world. She also introduces Artsy’s exciting new partnership with ArtCloud, which simplifies gallery operations and empowers them to focus on what they do best: connecting collectors with incredible art.

Whether you’re a gallery owner, an art collector, or simply fascinated by the intersection of art and technology, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiring stories.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What is Artsy? An introduction to the platform and its mission to expand the global art market.
• Challenges for Small Galleries: How Artsy helps galleries grow visibility, reach global collectors, and manage operations efficiently.
• Online Art Sales Trends: Why 80% of collectors are buying art online and how Artsy is leveraging this shift.
• The Power of an Online Presence: Tips for galleries to integrate in-person events with online platforms for maximum impact.
• Artsy x ArtCloud Partnership: How this integration is transforming inventory management and sales for galleries.
• Why Artsy is a Game-Changer for Collectors: A seamless journey from discovery to purchase and beyond.

Key Highlights:

• Artsy has seen a 40% increase in sales this year despite a broader market downturn.
• Galleries on Artsy gain global visibility, which is essential for emerging artists with regional demand.
• Artsy’s tools and analytics help galleries save time, optimize their operations, and grow their businesses.
• The ArtCloud partnership streamlines inventory and sales management, saving galleries up to 80% of time on administrative tasks.
• Collectors can explore curated collections, discover emerging artists, and purchase works from galleries worldwide with ease.

Resources and Links:

• Register interest in Artsy: https://partners.artsy.net/gallery-partnerships/
• Explore the ArtCloud Partnership: https://partners.artsy.net/artcloud/
• 2024 report on collector behavior: https://partners.artsy.net/resource/art-collector-insights-2024/
• Artsy Viewing Rooms: https://www.artsy.net/viewing-rooms

Sponsor Shoutout:

This episode of The Art Elevator is brought to you by Artifactual History and Larissa Wild Fine Art. To stay inspired and informed, join our email list today! You'll receive updates about our latest creations, valuable tips, and a deeper look into the art world.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN! - https://larissawild.com/podcast-signup

In this special Winter Solstice episode, recorded while basking in a welcome sunbeam, Sarah Reeder reflects on the transformative power of creativity and its role in shaping our lives. As 2024 comes to a close—a year full of challenges, growth, and connection—she shares insights on why creativity is essential, not as a luxury but as a daily source of light and inspiration. Sarah explores how the act of creating, regardless of outcome, opens new doors in our imagination and connects us to our kindred spirits, enriching our lives in profound ways. Join Sarah in reimagining creativity as an empowering force, a way to generate our own light, and a means to find joy and purpose.

Click here to join the fun: https://click.artcld.com/podcast-signup?sub=d275c822-5184-46fa-afa0-5cf0cfd35367

Join us as we dive into the world of Kelsey Rose Williams, a design scholar, historian, photographer, and American living in France. With a passion for modern architecture, archival preservation, and cross-cultural exploration, Kelsey shares her journey through art history, her work with iconic institutions like the Eames House, and her inspirations behind her captivating Substack, Absolument. We explore her love of connecting seemingly unrelated artists, stories from her travels, and the joy of weaving together influences from art, architecture, and culture into a vibrant creative tapestry. Don’t miss this intimate and inspiring conversation on The Art Elevator podcast!

Links Mentioned:

Substack: https://kelseyyrose.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyyrose/

Website: https://www.kelseyrosewilliams.com/

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/kelseyyrose

This episode is brought to you by Sarah and Larissa of Artifactual History Appraisal and Larissa Wild Fine Art. To help support us in our efforts to bring you free educational and inspirational content about art, design, collecting, appraising and creativity, we invite you to consider purchasing one of our paid product offerings listed below:

Sarah Reeder

SILVER 101 course: https://artifactualhistory.teachable.com/p/silver-101

Ray Eames book: https://www.amazon.com/Ray-Eames-1930s-New-York/dp/B09PHBWT17/

In this episode we speak with returning guest Tanzy Ward, who is a scholar, book author, educator, antique jewelry dealer, & historic preservationist. Her book publications include Hidden Legacies: African Presence in European Antiques and Unsung Portraits: Anonymous Images of Black Victorians and Early 20th Century Ancestors. Her second historical non-fiction book Unsung Portraits was selected as a 2022 Contingent Book List Award for Historian Authors.

Tanzy's passion for Black material culture and heirlooms has presented her with the opportunity to be featured in critically acclaimed exhibits, including Yale University's 2022 show Allegories, Renditions, & A Small Nation of Women.

Tanzy's connoisseurship training includes the Asheford Institute of Antiques and she is a proud member of the Asheford Associate Membership Program & The American Society of Jewelry Historians. Her expertise and scholarship have been featured in various decorative arts and jewelry publications, including National Jeweler.

In this episode we discuss:

- The inspiration and process of writing her second book

- Tanzy’s scholarship, and how she actively engages with artifacts of self-representation in portraits, in fashion, and in jewelry to illuminate and give voice back to individuals who haven't always been included in historical scholarship

- Tanzy’s philosophy about being a conduit to steward the perspectives of "unnamed ancestors" as she describes them in her book

- How she utilizes modern platforms like Instagram for positive educational impact, creating beautiful content that also shares hidden stories

- How Tanzy’s work has expanded into new historical eras such as Mid Century Modern with her "Modern Black Glamour" themed posts

Links mentioned in the interview:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzyward_antiques/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanzyward/

Books: https://zanathiajewelry.com/collections/tanzy-ward-books

Zanathia Jewelry: https://zanathiajewelry.com/

Tanzy's first episode on The Art Elevator Podcast: https://www.larissawild.com/podcasts/the-art-elevator/episodes/2147617546

In this episode of The Art Elevator Podcast, Sarah Reeder and Larissa Wild speak with Vanessa and Alexander Wendl of Toad Atelier on their exhibition at Larissa Wild Fine Art: Selections from the Toad Atelier Collection. This show will feature 35 rare artifacts from their collection of over 3,000 objects that highlight the history and impact of mid-century modern design.

Through this discussion, Vanessa and Alexander delve into their collecting journey, share their collecting philosophy which centers on three core principles: preservation, sharing, and enjoyment, and highlight how sharing their collection brings joy and fosters connections with like-minded individuals.

The episode is rich with anecdotes about specific pieces in the collection, such as the large-scale photograph of a New York scene and the Herman Miller Collections prototype catalogue. Alexander shares his profound connection to Irving Harper's work, explaining that Harper's creative process and the calming nature of his paper sculptures serve as a source of inspiration for Alexander's own artistic pursuits. The Wendls emphasize the therapeutic nature of creation and the importance of engaging with art for personal fulfillment and relaxation.

Alexander and Vanessa's story serves as an inspiring example of how passion, preservation, and creativity can come together to create a rich and fulfilling journey in the world of art and design.

In this episode, Aubrey Catrone explains the importance of provenance, defining it as the history of ownership of an art object from its creation to the present day. She highlights the necessity of distinguishing between stated and verified provenance, emphasizing the need for supporting documentation.

Aubrey discusses challenges such as the rapid pace of art transactions and the importance of trusting sources in the art market. She advises collectors to proactively ask for documentation, conduct risk assessments, and digitize their records. New technologies like blockchain and AI are explored, with Aubrey noting their potential and limitations. She outlines the three-pronged process of verifying authenticity through scientific testing, provenance, and connoisseurship.

And the part we love most: Aubrey highlights the emotional and historical connection that provenance provides, enriching the collector's experience and deepening their connection to the artwork.

Aubrey Catrone is an international art historian, appraiser, and provenance researcher. Aubrey earned an MA in the History of Art from University College London, specializing in the documented histories of art objects. With an art gallery and academic research background, Catrone founded Proper Provenance, LLC to provide her clients with the tools, not only to historically contextualize art, but also to shed light on attribution and legal title within the international art market. She is an Accredited Member of the Appraisers Association of America with a specialization in Impressionist & Modern Art.

Catrone has researched artworks including paintings, artefacts, works on paper, prints, and sculptures spanning the fourth century B.C.E. to the twenty-first century C.E. She has appeared as a guest expert on the History Channel and published her scholarship in a variety of publications including RICS Journals and the Journal of Art Crime.

In this episode, Brooke Kuhnhusen shares her evolving understanding of creativity, initially seeing herself as a psychologist engaging in art, but now embracing her identity as a creative person.

She discusses the therapeutic connection of creativity, highlighting its role in connecting with the deepest self through compassion, curiosity, connectedness, and creativity. Brooke emphasizes the importance of joy in the creative process, describing it as a vital, fun energy that has the ability to transform those who engage. She recounts her personal experience with land art, overcoming self-doubt, and finding satisfaction in the creative process itself.

Brooke also explores cultural perspectives on creativity, particularly in ceremony and ritual, and the significance of giving oneself permission to be creative. She highlights the power of co-creation and community in amplifying joy and connection, viewing creativity as a collaborative and exponential force.

Lastly, she underscores the natural world's role in inspiring and holding our joy and courage in creative endeavors.

About the speaker:

Dr. Brooke Kuhnhausen is a deeply creative soul who embraces explorations of connection and healing across varied landscapes ranging from academic classrooms to treeside in a forest. Dr. Kuhnhausen values creativity and collaboration as portals of transformation and imagination so vitally needed for new ways of being together and caring for the Earth in our time of climate change. She is a psychologist who practices depth and relational therapy in her private practice and also trains and consults with other therapists, teaching in various graduate programs and therapy institutes.

Dr. Kuhnhausen's climate justice advocacy includes her participation in ecofeminist art exhibitions, including her absolutely stunning land art installation last summer at the Verdancy Project in Oregon. Her passionate centering of beauty and connection as north stars for inspiring positive change has personally shifted co-host Sarah Reeder's thinking away from climate despair many times. It is such an honor to be able to share her unique gift of perspective on the podcast as we talk about creativity as a force for healing.

Dr. Kuhnhausen can be reached at B.kuhnhausen@gmail.com for inquiries regarding workshops, speaking engagements, creative collaborations, and other opportunities.