Hi everyone. I hope you are doing well. I want to first say my heart goes out to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas community following the tragic shooting that occurred on December 6th. Through the podcast, I had the privilege of connecting with many at UNLV and my thoughts are with you all.

It's important to acknowledge that while prayers and sympathies are extended, they can only do so much in the face of the ongoing issues surrounding gun violence and the accessibility of firearms. This recent event is but one of the many somber reminders of the urgent need for meaningful change in gun control. How exactly to do this I myself am still figuring out in a country still glorifying guns.

This incident ties into some of the concerns I’ll be discussing with this week's guest, Ali Fathollahi, an Iranian artist currently residing in Las Vegas. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Ali's wife, Nanda, and you can listen to that conversation as well. Ali holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and went to the Azad University of Art and Architecture in Tehran, Iran for his Bachelor of Arts and his first Master of Fine Arts.

Ali works in a wide variety of mediums, such as sculpture, light, and performance. In recent years, his work has critically examined the contemporary obsession with "Survivalism," both as a lifestyle and an ideology, often driven by fear and nostalgia. During our conversation, we delve into topics such as the challenges of language, the use of humor as a coping mechanism, and how pop culture influences our fascination with survival kits. As always, stay safe and healthy and I hope you enjoy this.

Photo by Mikayla Whitmore.

Links Mentioned:

• Ali’s Instagram 
• Max Jobrani

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Hi everyone. I hope you are doing well. Winter is upon us. Classes are almost for me and I am looking forward to the holiday season. For this week, I had a wonderful chat with Eri King, an interdisciplinary artist working in various modes such as installation, sculpture, textiles, painting, drawing, video, sound, and performance. Born in Japan and growing up in Las Vegas, Eri fell into her art career while attending the University of Las Vegas, where she received a concentration in Studio Art and Art History, before completing her MFA at Hunter College in 2018. Eri and I had a ton of overlap within our art circles and it was great to learn more about her and her work. We discuss finding and creating art communities in affordable spaces, holding zen in Hot Cheetos, having Beyonce as Hunter College's neighbor, and secret paintings. As always, stay safe and healthy and I hope you enjoy this.

Links Mentioned:

• Eri’s Website
• Eri’s Instagram
• Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas
• Eri’s "Lined and Torn" Exhibition
• Eri’s "The Emotional Show" Exhibition

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Hey everyone. I hope you are ready for the long weekend with friends and family. Maybe catch up on sleep? I know I’m totally ready to sleep some more if I can. In the meantime, I’ve got you covered with this week’s episode as I talk with Ashley Hairston Doughty. Ashley, currently an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is a visual storyteller, explaining personal experiences through verbal and visual language. Ashley’s research on BIPOC design pedagogy was published in the award-winning Black, Brown + Latinx Graphic Design Educators by Princeton Architectural Press in 2021. She holds a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. We had a quick chat about how moving around the US has impacted Ashley’s work, what is visual communications, and how motherhood has affected and influenced her current project. As always, stay safe and healthy, and I hope you enjoy this.

Links Mentioned:

• Ashley’s Website
• Ashley’s Instagram
• Ashley’s Blog
• Women’s Studio Workshop

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• Seeing Color Website
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