Welcome, Roger Kizik, to In-Focus Podcast Number 159. Painter Roger Kizik was born in Boston, and raised in Medford, Massachusetts. He was in the US Navy between 1964 and 1968. He “transitioned joyfully” to MassArt where he attended from 1968 to 1972. Roger has exhibited widely in New England, New York marginally, and elsewhere around the US. He was also the preparator at the Rose Art Museum at  Brandeis for 25 years. He says the job was, “tailored to suit my painting life” He has also been the recipient of  Multiple Fellowships from Mass Cultural Council and through NEA grants. Roger has also rebuilt a “couple of sailboats” in Winthrop, Massachusetts, which he says was “part of my education, but glad to be rid of them”. He has also traveled fairly extensively to Europe to broaden his horizon, which also includes tennis, hockey, and biking. Roger Kizik also says he’s, “Lucky in health and network of phenomenal friends”. The Artist Index co-founder and host, Ron Fortier, talks to Roger Kizik about his background, passion for art, and rise as an established artist. The Artists Index continues using Zoom and occasionally at our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Taylor Hickey, to In-Focus Podcast Number 158. Taylor is an interdisciplinary visual artist. She is primarily a printmaker, bookmaker, and sculptor. She was born and raised in Southeast Texas and received a BA in Drawing/Printmaking from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and earned an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass) in 2021. Taylor now lives and works in New Bedford, Massachusetts after relocating in 2018. Taylor Hickey continues developing a body of installation work about the human endeavor to understand the universe at large. In addition to being an artist, she was, the Assistant Curator at the New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks. According to Taylor, “Despite not being from the South Coast, I call it my home and I’m interested in the unique creative culture of the area.” The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Mark Furtado who was born and raised in New Bedford and, “surrounded by art”. Mark went to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School GNBVT) for Business Technology and is currently a student at Bristol Community College (BCC) in Fall River, Massachusetts for Office Administration. He is an artrenpreneur and started his artisanal brand, The Artisan NB, in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic*. Mark started his business as a pilot program to test the marketplace. He believed his creativity needed to be showcased. It was at this point that the idea of THE ARTISAN revealed itself. Mark Furtado wasn’t aware if New Bedford had its own signature clothing brand. Based on that alone, he dove into the fledgling business completely and it quickly ignited. He says that he is not a trained artist. However, based on his educational experience with digital art at GNBVT and his ongoing marketing education, he believes he has the tools and continues to learn along the way. The Artist Index co-founder and host, Ron Fortier talks with Mark Furtado about his background and his passion for his branded line of casual clothing. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. https://theartistsindex.com/

Welcome, Stephen D. Rogers, to In-Focus Podcast Number 156. Stephen is our first published mystery writer! His current book is Shot to Death. His new book is available on Amazon along with several of his others. Stephen is also the author of the Three-Minute Mysteries, Books 1-3, available as ebooks on Amazon, and more than 900 shorter pieces. The Artist Index co-founder and host, Ron Fortier talks to Stephen D. Rogers about his background and his passion for writing. The Artists Index continues using Zoom and occasionally at our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford.   The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, William Collin Kenedy, to In-Focus Podcast Number 155. We first spoke with him on In-Focus Podcast Number 119.  Since then, William has been very busy in his first year as an emerging painter. He is a contemporary artist and graphic designer. He has developed an impressive portfolio with his many years in the design industry. William Collin Kennedy was born in Washington, DC, where his creativity started at a young age. He simply began drawing any and everything around him. As a self-taught artist, he has been a freelance designer and illustrator for the past 10 years. Most recently, William, in a little over 1 year to be exact, included contemporary painting to his long list of artistic talents and achievements. Painting is now his main focus. His work focuses on urban culture, with each piece having its specific and personal meaning. He has worked with various artists, including those in fashion and music, all over the world. William has exhibited in London, with solo exhibits in Massachusetts, and will have his first solo exhibit at the Blackbird Gallery in July of 2023.  The Artist Index co-founder and host, Ron Fortier talks to William Kennedy about his background, his passion for art, and his continual rise as an emerging artist.  The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Mr. David Domingo Reis, AKA – Dave Reis who, among other his accomplishments, spent nearly 26 years as a Jazz radio show host. That’s right, an original DJ who worked at the former WUSM which became WUMD radio station, 89.3 FM, on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus. Reis just wanted to promote Jazz musicians. WUMD signed off around noontime on a Monday in June of 2017 after 42 years of broadcasting. According to a Fall River Herald article, on “May 1, the Federal Communications Commission approved the sale of UMass Dartmouth’s 9,800-watt WUMD (89.3 FM) radio license to Rhode Island Public Radio. The sale was to be completed Monday, UMass Dartmouth announced in a press release, resulting in $1.5 million from RIPR to endow need-based financial aid and community engagement programs.” WUMD continues as an online entity. Dave Reis has lived in New Bedford most of his life except for his two years in the military. When he returned to civilian life, he sold Wonder Bread and Hostess Cakes for thirty-six years until his retirement. Dave had a Jazz radio program for twenty-six years. Jazz was and continues to be his passion. He grew up in a house with Jazz musicians and taught a class with former Southcoast Learning Network. The Artist Index co-founder and host, Ron Fortier talks to David Reis about his background, passion for Jazz, a fabled campus radio station, and lots more. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Kayla Conner, AKA Kayla Conchinha Conner (the Little Seer Shell). She is a watercolor artist, tarot reader, and lifelong resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts. "Conchinha" is Portuguese for "little shell." In 2012, Kayla obtained her Bachelor’s in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, had her first child, and received her first deck of tarot cards.  Little Seer Shell was started in September 2020. After a hip replacement at 30 years of age fixed a longstanding disability, she began writing, painting, and tarot reading for others as a way to spread her joy for life. Kayla is inspired by the natural world, mythology, cosmology, and conchology. In this episode, Kayla talks with The Artist Index’s Co-Founder/Host – Ron Fortier – who delves more into her life, work, and passion. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Kyle DeCicco-Carey to In-Focus Podcast Number 152! Kyle is the Library Director at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and will speak with us for the fourth time about Charles Henry Gifford. In our last conversation with Kyle on In-Focus Podcast Number 146, he spoke about Robert Swain Gifford, also known as R. Swain Gifford. Kyle’s first visit was Episode 132 about William Bradford. His second was Episode 133 about Lemuel Eldred. This is a five-part series on celebrated Fairhaven artists from days gone by. This series is supported in part by a grant from the Fairhaven Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. “Kyle DeCicco-Carey has nearly 20 years of professional library experience. He comes to the Millicent Library from Harvard University, where he was a senior reference archivist in the property information resource center. He has experience as an interim library director at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, and is president of the Board of Directors of the Mattapoisett Historical Society.” [Fairhaven Neighborhood News] The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Wendy Ann Hall, AKA Wendy Hall, the Executive Producer for New Bedford Festival Theatre and who has also produced The Best of Times, The Last Five Years, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and last December’s (2022) highly acclaimed Irving Berlin’s White Christmas as well as several online performances and interviews. She also had the privilege of presenting Evita Loca, starring John Michael Dias, as the first live performance back at the Z - Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in June 2020. Wendy’s director/choreographer credits include NYC, Boston, and Florida. As a choreographer, she has won an IRNE award for Best Choreography for Crazy for You (2008), as well as nominations for Fiddler on the Roof (2008) and Showboat (2016). Showboat won the Elliot Norton Award for Best Large Musical at the Shubert Theatre in Boston. As a director, her 2008 production of Romeo and Juliet was named “One of the 20 Best Productions in New England.” Wendy is a graduate of New Bedford High School and The Boston Conservatory With a BFA in Musical Theatre with a concentration in Directing. Wendy talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about her background, music, travels, and lots more. The next production of the New Bedford Festival Theatre is Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on July 21 through July 30, 2023 The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Lindsay Compton, Supervisory Park Ranger and Visitor Experience & Community Engagement Volunteer Coordinator at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Lindsay has a background in studio art, public land management, and education. She has worked toward bridging the gap between public art and national parks for the last 13 years. Lindsay Compton created Artist in Residence programs at Congaree National Park in South Carolina and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas. In 2017 and 2018, she served on the curatorial committee for Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival in San Antonio, Texas. Lindsay has also facilitated Artist in Residence selections for Weir Farm National Historical Site and mentoring other budding residency programs within the National Park Service. She has also served as the Arts and Youth Coordinator at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park since August 2019,  The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, talks to Lindsay Compton about her background, passion for dance, school, and lots more. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Neenah Cruz, AKA Miss Neenah. She is a dancer, choreographer, and the founder/director of the New Bedford Performing Arts Center. Miss Neenah has been dancing since the age of two when she soon discovered her love for the performing arts. Throughout that time she has received influential training from several local dance schools, but The most impactful in her career was her time at Hope Spechts School of Dance. Neenah has worked and trained with numerous choreographers throughout the East Coast winning multiple awards and titles nationwide. One in particular that stands out is her recognition from the United States Tournament of Dance where she received the “Judges Award of Excellence”. Neenah was privileged to be a part of two U.S. dance teams. One allowed her to perform at such places including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, Fox News, the WNBA, and two NBA teams. The World U.S. Dance Team led her to perform at the “World Dance Show” in Riesa, Germany competing against 30 other countries. It was there that Neenah became the silver world medalist for her solo. Miss Neenah talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about her background, passion for dance, school, and lots more. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Mercedes Bell, a queer Filipino American folk singer-songwriter better known as Mercy Bell. Her writing and experience span multiple genres, including country, pop, rock, and musical theatre. She has independently released 3 albums: “All Good Cowboys”, “Mercy Bell”, and “Golden Child”. Her music has been featured on NPR, in Paste Magazine, American Songwriter, Rolling Stone Country, and more. She’s been an official showcase artist at Americanafest, SXSW, Nashville Pride, and Mission Creek Music Festival. Originally hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California with some time spent in New York City and Arkansas, she currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her cat Gonzo. Mercy talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about her background, music, travels, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Scott’s recording studio in 2022. The Artists Index continues using Zoom and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. We accommodate our guests’ schedules and record location/resources preference due to Covid's continuing presence to allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes or because they don't live in the South Coast of Massachusetts. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Kate Frazer Rego, an artist, and educator living in the South Coast of Massachusetts. She attended the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Art, where she earned a BFA in Sculpture. Kate went on to earn her MFA from Boston University’s College of Fine Art. She has shown her work nationally and is currently in several private collections. Kate Frazer Rego was included in the group show, “Beyond Binary” (February 2 - April 6, 2023) at Bristol Community College’s Grimshaw-Gudewicz Gallery. Her work spans multiple media including sculpture, installation, mixed media, painting, performance, and puppetry. Kate has been an art educator in public charter schools and art organizations across the South Coast for the past ten years. Her pedagogy focuses on process, building strong studio habits within her scholars, and art history through a lens of inclusion and social justice. When she’s not teaching for the Commonwealth, she’s holed up in her studio with a cup of coffee. The Artists Index Podcast Host and co-founder, Ron Fortier, talks with Kate Frazer Rego about her life, background, the LGBTQ+ creative community, life, and lots more. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Kyle DeCicco-Carey to In-Focus Podcast Number 146! Kyle is the Library Director at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and will be speaking with us for the third time about Robert Swain Gifford, also known as R. Swain Gifford. Kyle’s first visit was Episode 132 about William Bradford. His second was Episode 133 about Lemuel Eldred. This is a five-part series on celebrated Fairhaven artists from days gone by. It is supported in part by a grant from the Fairhaven Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. “Kyle DeCicco-Carey has nearly 20 years of professional library experience. He comes to the Millicent Library from Harvard University, where he was a senior reference archivist in the property information resource center. He has experience as an interim library director at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, and is president of the Board of Directors of the Mattapoisett Historical Society.” [Fairhaven Neighborhood News] Kyle holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Simmons University and, a digital archives specialist certification from the Society of American Archivists. He also holds certifications from the Academy of Certified Archivists and the Harvard Extension School in nonprofit management. He has over twenty years of library, archive, and museum experience. ROBERT SWAIN GIFFORD American Landscape Painter December 23, 1840 – January 15, 1905 Kyle tells us that, “at age two, Robert Swain Gifford came to Fairhaven with his family from Nonamesset Island where he was born in 1840. He had developed a love of art by the time he met Albertus Van Beest as a teen. He would study with Van Beest and William Bradford before opening his own studio in New Bedford, Boston, and later New York.” “His artwork consisted of etchings, oil paintings, and watercolors. His landscapes were influenced by the Barbizon School of Painting. Gifford traveled to the western US and overseas to England, France, Spain, and Egypt creating landscapes of the places he visited. He would later take part in the Harriman Expedition of Alaska and the Bering Straight along with George Bird Grinnell, John Muir, Edward S. Curtis, and others.” Gifford served on the National Academy of Design Council and taught at the Cooper Union School. He died in 1905 in New York and is buried at Rural Cemetery in New Bedford. Several works by Gifford are on display at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven. His work may be seen in Fairhaven Town Hall, The Millicent Library, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the Kendall Whaling Museum. Listen in on this conversation as The Artist Index’s Co-Founder/Host – Ron Fortier – delves more into Robert Swain Gifford’s life, work, and legacy with Kyle DeCicci-Cary. The whole concept of The Artists Index and our journey is still in the making and very organic. If you would like to be a guest or, have a suggestion, please let us know! The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

https://theartistsindex.com/podcast-episode-145-chloe-costa/ Welcome, Chloe Costa, a South Coast Massachusetts 13-year-old artist who just recently displayed her work for the very first time in public at  The New Bedford Light Fine Arts Club event in March 2023. She says she’s, “been doing art practically all my life, and I really enjoy it. Thanks to the Covid pandemic, I was able to get myself back into art, which I had stopped doing only a few years prior.” Chloe, an outgoing, focused, and budding artist continued, “Throughout that time, I was able to improve in many different ways like finally devolving art styles. Since then, I have had the opportunity to illustrate an upcoming children’s book titled “Butterfly Adventure”, start an art Instagram with over 70 followers, and even attend my first New Bedford Light Fine Arts Club meeting. It is truly an honor to be a part of the art community!” The Artists Index co-founder and Visual Arts Podcast Host, Ron Fortier, talks with Chloe Costa about her passion for Art and a bright future. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.   Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Dr. Naomi Slipp, the Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator and Director of Museum Learning at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Dr. Slipp oversees collections, curatorial, and museum learning across the museum, and manages 14 staff and about 100 volunteers. Prior to her arrival at the Museum, she was the Associate Professor of Art History at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama where she taught art history from the Renaissance to Modern Art. Naomi also managed the University’s Cason McDermott Art Gallery and directed the Museum Studies Program. She holds a Ph.D. in art history from Boston University from the University of Chicago, and a BA from Hampshire College. Naomi served as the Executive Editor of Panorama: the Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art and worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Harvard Art Museums, Terra Foundation for American Art, and Boston University Art Gallery. She has presented her research widely, including across the United States and in Canada, Belgium, and the UK. as well as publishing extensively. The Artists Index co-founder and Visual Arts Podcast Host, Ron Fortier, talks with Dr. Naomi Slipp about her career, beginnings, and passion for Art. This episode was recorded with Zoom in 2023. We continue using Zoom, our podcast host’s studios, and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, artist Carl Simmons to In-Focus Podcast Number 143. He finds inspiration in local history, folklore, and preservation.  Carl spoke with The Artists Index co-founder and podcast host, Ron Fortier on Podcast Episode 106. Carl is a New Bedford, Massachusetts musician, visual artist, performance artist, and the South Coast’s default local historian! Don Wilkinson, Art Beat columnist wrote in Southcoast Today, that Carl is “… a local historian much concerned with preserving the past but in his artwork, he is clearly not beholden to it. His imagery, be they drawings, watercolors, digital photographs, or short digital animations, instead celebrate the mythology and folklore of the city of New Bedford and its surrounding communities." This time, Carl talks with The Artist Index's performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about his background and reveals more of his life, art, and lots more. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Sam Babineau a songwriter and fiddle player. She hails from the South Coast of Massachusetts. Sam enjoys engaging with personal narratives that echo the storytelling found in traditional folk music, blended with a modern zest. Sam's introduction to playing Irish music began with her involvement in Irish step dancing at the age of 10. Since then, Sam Babineau has adapted her background in fiddle music to support her songwriting. The Artists Index Music Podcast Host, Jeff Angeley, talks with Sam Babineau about her music, background, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Jeff's studio in 2023. The Artists Index also continues using Zoom and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.  

Welcome, Jason Smith, AKA Jazzbo Smitty. He's a drummer, songwriter, and guitarist. Jason lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He says he was self-taught for, " the first twenty or so years of playing music. About 15 years ago, I started taking formal guitar lessons." Jason Smith started playing music in front of audiences during college in Ohio; first as a drummer. He was a songwriter for the punk band, The Johnny Depps, then with the classic rock band Maxwell’s Demon, then acoustic guitar and vocals in the acoustic duo Lido. In 1994, he moved to New Bedford and joined the just-formed group Pumpkin Head Ted, and continues to be a member to this day. Six years ago, Jason founded the group The Hot Club Cheese Roll focusing on the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephen Grappelli. The Artists Index Music Podcast Host, Jeff Angeley, talks with Jason Smith about his music, background, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Jeff's studio in 2023. The Artists Index also continues using Zoom and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford.   The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Brian Cass, a guitarist, producer, and professor. Brian spends most of his time teaching Electronic Production and Music Technology at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is a resident of Fairhaven on the South Coast of Massachusetts. Brian performs regularly with his rock and roll group – Brian & The Cassettes. He also records and performs with The Overclock Orchestra, exploring more electronic and experimental trajectories. Having spent many years away from New Bedford, Brian was drawn back to the area by the artistic diversity and incredible local talent. He enjoys performing and producing music with all varieties of local artists. The Artists Index Traditional Music Podcast Host, Jeff Angeley, talks with Brian Cass about his background, passion, and music journey as a guitarist, producer, and professor. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.   Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Dana Smith, a national and international-level photographer/illustrator! Dana lives in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. His photos have appeared in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Time, Bloomberg, Stern, MIT Technology Review, Nature, Boston Globe, and Yankee. Dana was born in nearby New Bedford, Massachusetts. He has accrued a vast editorial background with an additional 10 years of newspaper photojournalism experience behind him. He was also affiliated with the legendary Black Star agency for 15 years. Dana Smith was an instructor at the New England School of Photography in Boston for 20 years. Smith's illustration work is represented by Mendola Artists in New York - portfolio. The Artists Index co-founder and Visual Arts Podcast Host, Ron Fortier, talks with Dana Smith about his background, passion, and photographic journey. This episode was recorded with Zoom in 2023. We continue using Zoom, our podcast host's studios, and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.   Music courtesy of www.bensound.com

Welcome, Chris Donovan, a shoe designer! Chris lives in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and has had a passion for shoe design since high school. Chris says, that he never thought, "it was a feasible career for me." So, Chris Donovan did the "sensible thing" and got a job at the phone company. He worked there as a repairman for 25 years. However, he says that "all those years I never stopped sketching shoes." At 50 Chris was diagnosed with cancer but it was caught early and cured. He says, "It changed my priorities." He left his job and went to Italy to pursue a Masters's Degree in Footwear from the Polimoda Fashion Institute in Florence, Italy, "one of the best fashion schools in the world. After graduating he started his own shoe line because he wanted the world to see his designs.  Chris Donovan has shown at Dutch Design Week, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. He has also been on Project Runway and met Tim Gunn. The Artists Index co-founder and Visual Arts Podcast Host, Ron Fortier, talks with Chris Donovan about his background, passion, and path to his dream. This episode was recorded with Zoom in 2023. We continue using Zoom, our podcast host's studios, and our studio at the Spectrum Marketing Group in Howland Place in New Bedford. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.     music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Dana Morris, a Jack of many visual art trades and disciplines! Dnan Lives on Buzzard’s Bay. A great deal of his current photography is based on images of the bay and Vineyard Sound. “Light is a critical element in all of my paintings and photographs, and I return to the same locations, so have created decades of views from the same point, in different weather, seasons, and times of the day,” Dana says. He attended Framingham State College for Fine Arts. Dana studied with Fosco Picchi, Arthur Mazmanian, and Steven Durkee. Dana Morris has been a glass cutter and engraver working for Pairpoint Crystal, America’s oldest glass company which moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1870 and became synonymous with the city. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond.     Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Robert "Bob" Williamson, the owner of the South Coast's legendary, The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth, Massachusetts to In-Focus Podcast Number 136. Bob is a professional musical instrument repairperson and has been since 1982. Bob is also a freelance trumpeter and the leader of The SouthCoast Jazz Orchestra. He talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Jeff Angeley, about his background, music, travels, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Jeff's recording studio in 2023. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome composer; indie rock, folk, and 20th-century minimalism-inspired, Christian Camarao, to In-Focus Podcast Number 135. A New Bedford native, Chris also works as an elementary school teacher. His works largely focus on specific geographic regions. Christian talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Jeff Angeley, about his background, music, travels, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Jeff’s recording studio in 2023. The In-Focus Podcasts are up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of the remarkable creative community of South Coast Massachusetts including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, and beyond. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com

Welcome performing artist; ambient folk-blues, indie rock, ambient, folk, blues indie rock singer/songwriter guitarist, John Fernandes, to In-Focus Podcast Number 134. A New Bedford native, John performs solo throughout the south coast area. He is also the guitarist for Molly O’Leary (Podcast Episode 124)and the J. Kelley Band. He also teaches guitar in the area at Double Bar Music in nearby Westport, Massachusetts. John talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about his background, music, travels, and lots more. Each week, we feature a Visual, Performing, or Literary Artist who lives, works, or is somehow connected to the South Coast of Massachusetts. We discuss their backgrounds, passions, and dreams. Please join us! Learn more at https://theartistsindex.com/

Welcome, Kyle DeCiccio-Carey to In-Focus Podcast Number 132! Kyle is the Library Director at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and speaks with us about celebrated Fairhaven resident and painter Lemuel D. Eldred. This is the second of five, Fairhaven Cultural Council grant-supported podcasts with Kyle who will be telling us about some of the town’s artists from days gone by. Lemuel Eldred is a great artist to begin this mini-series of podcasts! William Bradford was born in Fairhaven in 1823. He developed an interest in painting as a young man and taught himself to draw by copying drawings from a book of illustrations repeatedly. In the early 1850s, he started his own clothing retail store in New Bedford. However, his art distracted him from his business which eventually failed. He took lessons with Albertus van Beest, a Dutch painter living in New Bedford, and set up a studio on Union Street in Fairhaven. After a small success in selling paintings of boats, he opened a studio in Boston. Bradford had been inspired to visit the Arctic and after he found success in Boston he was able to finance several trips to Labrador in the 1860s. In 1869, he went further north along Greenland taking photographers with him. In 1873, he published an account of the voyage using photographs to illustrate the volume. He would use the photographs of the seascapes taken in the Arctic as a guide to creating paintings. He noted that despite the power of the camera to photograph the terrain, the “glorious phases of color remain unexpressed” until he painted what the camera had captured. His work may be seen at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, and Harvard University’s Art Museum. The Artists Index podcasts are part of the continuing history of the area’s art and culture. The podcasts are a record of this creative community’s artists. They are an excellent resource for everyone; artists, art educators, art industry professionals, scholars, genealogists, and, non-artists as well. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Kyle DeCiccio-Carey to In-Focus Podcast Number 132! Kyle is the Library Director at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and will be speaking with us about celebrated Fairhaven resident and painter Lemuel D. Eldred. This is the first of five, Fairhaven Cultural Council grant-supported podcasts with Kyle who will be telling us about some of the town’s artists from days gone by. Lemuel Eldred is a great artist to begin this mini-series of podcasts! Lemuel was born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The town shares the harbor with New Bedford. He was a marine painter and etcher and had studied with another outstanding Fairhaven painter, William Bradford, and for a short time, at the Academie Julian in Paris (1880). Eldred’s work is typical of the late Hudson River School. He moved to Boston in 1876 to establish a studio. Lemuel Eldred was a sought-after and quite popular marine painter. He much enjoyed Bradford’s Quaker beliefs and manner but did not join Bradford in his exploratory polar expeditions. His work may be seen in Fairhaven Town Hall, The Millicent Library, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the Kendall Whaling Museum. The Artists Index Website Project features the In-Focus Podcasts – up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of this remarkable creative community. Each week, we feature a Visual, Performing, or Literary Artist who lives, works or is somehow connected to the South Coast of Massachusetts. We discuss their backgrounds, passions, and dreams. Please join us!     Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome painter/muralist/art instructor, and production artist on Loving Vincent, Katherine “Kat” Knutsen to In-Focus Podcast Number 131! Kat was our guest on In-Focus Podcast Number 73. This time, she’s speaking with our intrepid Indie Music Host – Scott Bishop about her musical side! Since childhood, Kat has always loved working with her hands. Kat Knutsen survived asthma and brain cancer growing up, which initially led to her nursing studies. She quickly learned it wasn’t for her during the clinical portion of her education. While leaving the nursing field, she was serendipitously introduced to the Fine Arts by a friend in sociology class. Kat says, “What drew me to this field was the impact of seeing my soon-to-be painting professor turn magic into a rational process. Something in me lit up!” Kat decided to learn about art and to teach others ways to engage with the art-making process. Her art is now about, “reflecting and interpreting events around me.” Listen in on this conversation as The Artist Index’s Indie Music Host – Scott Bishop delves more into Kat’s musical life, work, and future ambitions.  The In-Focus Podcasts offer you up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of this remarkable creative community. Join us as we speak with and listen to the creative community’s living visual, performing, and literary artists. Music courtesy of Scott Bishop

Welcome performing artist; award-winning composer, producer, musician, sound engineer, and visual artist/designer, Ryan Rooney, to In-Focus Podcast Number 130. Ryan has lived in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts since 2022. He was born in Germany and has lived in Austin, Texas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Lockhart, Texas, and Marfa, Texas. Ryan talks with The Artist Index performing artists host, Scott Bishop, about his background, hometown, music, travels, and lots more. This episode was recorded in Scott’s recording studio in 2022. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com  The Artists Index Website Project features the In-Focus Podcasts – up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of this remarkable creative community. Each week, we feature a Visual, Performing, or Literary Artist who lives, works, or is somehow connected to the South Coast of Massachusetts. We discuss their backgrounds, passions, and dreams. Please join us!

Welcome performing artist; vocalist, songwriter, and music and culture educator, Candida Rose, to In-Focus Podcast Number 129. Candida is also a budding author. She was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is a second-generation, American-born Cabo Verdiana, whose parents were from the Cape Verdean Islands (Cape Verde). She is a mother and grandmother. Candida Rose Baptista’s professional stage name is Candida Rose. Her 10-song debut CD is entitled KabuMerikana: The Sum of Me. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music specializing in African-American/World music performance, with a minor in African-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Candida also has a Master’s degree from UMass Boston in Transnational, Cultural, and Community Studies. For more info go to www.candidarose.net. The Artists Index Website Project features the In-Focus Podcasts – up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of this remarkable creative community. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com  Each week, we feature a Visual, Performing, or Literary Artist who lives, works, or is somehow connected to the South Coast of Massachusetts. We discuss their backgrounds, passions, and dreams. Please join us!

Welcome artist and designer, Keith Francis, to In-Focus Podcast Number 128. Keith is an educator, graphic designer, mixed media fine artist, and sculptor. He earned a B.A. (1990) in Photography and Visual Communications at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and his M.F.A. (2018) in Fine Arts from Mass Art (Massachusetts College of Art and Design), Boston, Massachusetts. Keith also studied Fine Art Photography at Maine Media Workshops & College, Rockport, Maine. His work examines contemporary, social, political, and environmental issues. Keith talks with The Artist Index’s Co-Founder and Host, Ron Fortier, about his background and lots more. This episode was recorded with Zoom “post-pandemic” in 2022. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com  The Artists Index Website Project features the In-Focus Podcasts – up close and personal conversations with the makers, performers, supporters, and cultural impresarios of this remarkable creative community. Each week, we feature a Visual, Performing, or Literary Artist who lives, works, or is somehow connected to the South Coast of Massachusetts. We discuss their backgrounds, passions, and dreams. Please join us!     Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome luthier and musician, Matt Shimala, to In-Focus Podcast Number 127, another podcast by our Indie/Rock Music Host, Scott Bishop. Scott was our podcast guest on Podcast Episode 113. Matt is a luthier. A luthier is a maker of stringed instruments ranging from violins to guitars. He is an interesting combination of art, craft, and skills for sure! Matt’s focus and his art are focused on the guitars he builds as well as the instruments he repairs. Matt Shimala also has a love for camping, hiking, running, foraging, astronomy, and mycology, the study of fungi – mushrooms! Matt talks with The Artist Index’s Music Host, Scott Bishop, about his background and lots more.  This episode was recorded with Zoom “post-pandemic” in 2022. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome painter, Ricky Gagnon, to In-Focus Podcast Number 126. Ricky is a self-described native Rhode Islander who has created art in many forms since childhood. He is a graduate of Tollgate High School in Warwick and also holds two degrees from CCRI (Community College of Rhode Island) with studies in Mechanical Drawing/Architecture and Computer Science. While creating art was always part of his life, he didn’t begin painting until I was about 50. Ricky says, “My paintings are colorful and vibrant. They vary in style and theme from abstract, landscape, and figurative. I usually work in a series until I have expressed my thoughts and vision about each subject.” Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Molly O’Leary (they/them) is a singer-songwriter from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Molly’s style has been described as indie, folk, Americana, and rock. She performs solo, duo, and with a full band nationally at restaurants, music venues, and popular events/festivals. Holding Space, was their first album recorded in a studio with a full band thanks to their Kickstarter backers. The album is out now on all streaming platforms. Molly loves using songwriting as a form of activism to raise awareness about mental health and social justice. Molly also integrates music into her elementary school counselor and yoga teacher job. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome musician, Adam Gomes, to In-Focus Podcast Number 124. Adam speaks with our Indie/Rock Music Host, Scott Bishop. Scott was our podcast guest on Podcast Episode 113 Adam’s band, Immuter is an American Indie band from Southcoast Massachusetts. The group fuses elements of classic rock with the sound of influential modern acts such as Muse, The Strokes, and Radiohead. The band produces an imaginative and innovative blend of music. Adam talks with The Artist Index’s Indie/Rock Music Host, Scott Bishop, about his background and lots more. This episode was recorded with Zoom “post-pandemic” in 2022. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome musician, Sarah Donner, to In-Focus Podcast Number 123. This is the first podcast by our new Music Host, Scott Bishop. Scott was our podcast guest on Podcast Episode 113. Sarah Donner is an alt-pop singer/songwriter who has embraced her inner cat lady. Her songs teeter back and forth between playful, nerdcore, and ballads. It’s all tied together with bright melodies and driving, energetic instrumentals. Sarah Donner’s music has been featured on Conan O’Brien’s blog, NPR, Buzzfeed, i09, Showtime, and CBS. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome musician, Jeff Angeley, to In-Focus Podcast Number 122. Jeff is a South Coast multi-instrumentalist performer and music educator. His musical tastes are experiences are eclectic and cross-genre. Jeff started his journey in a concert band and moved on to rock bands. He played lots of jazz and bluegrass in college, and along the way fell deeply in love with traditional music. His most recent musical work and infatuations lie in the neighborhood of traditional music, acoustic (Indie) songwriter-related genres, Americana, and “classical” minimalism. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Kathi Chase, to In-Focus Podcast Number 121. Kathi is a Fairhaven-based, self-taught artist working primarily in acrylic paints. She has an associate’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. Kathi Chase has worked in the medical field for over 20 years. At a young age, Kathi started drawing cartoon characters by copying movie covers. Over the years it evolved as she picked up new skills in school art classes. As a young adult, she took an evening oil painting class at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. She was hooked. Over the years Kathi switched to acrylic paints due to the quick drying time. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome musician and physician, Michael Rocha to In-Focus Podcast Number 120. Michael grew up in New Bedford and graduated from New Bedford High School in 1993. He performed in the school’s jazz band all four years. Dr. Rocha, a practicing cardiologist, started playing trombone in the 4th grade at the Jireh Swift elementary school. He played in several local bands, which at that time, were led by Eddie Rodrigues. Mike played in concert bands, marching bands, and big bands. He attended UMass-Dartmouth and continued playing in small jazz ensembles, concert bands, and big bands. After relocating to the area in 2008 to practice cardiology, he says he was, “fortunate to play in the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra led by Bob Williamson and in 2017, the Southcoast Brass Band to share the sounds of New Orleans.” Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, William Kenedy, to In-Focus Podcast Number 119. William is a contemporary artist and graphic designer. With his many years in the design industry, he has developed an impressive portfolio. William has been designing, both fashion and multi-media art forms, for over 10 years. He has been a part of design and development projects with other talented artists and brands. William Kennedy was born in Washington DC. His journey of creativity started at a young age. Going back to his roots, the streets of DC later became a focus of his art. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome musician, bandleader, and photographer, Tom Short to In-Focus Podcast Number 118. Tom grew up in Flint Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan, Flint with a degree in classical performance. While in Flint, he was also a bandleader. Tom moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts around 30 years ago. Since on the South Coast, Tom has been a music teacher and performer. Tom is the leader of two well-known local bands; Pumpkin Head Ted and The Dancing Dogs. Both bands have been performing and recording for over 20 years and have five CDs to their credit. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome singer, songwriter, and music business writer Sean Robert McCarthy, to In-Focus Podcast Number 117. Sean has spent the last 35 years in journalism. His self-professed forte is writing about music and the people who perform it. Sean has interviewed and written about a wide spectrum of artists from rock stars to local musicians for local and international publications. He is currently the publisher and writer for the local music blog, Sonic South Coast, and is also a singer/songwriter. Listen in as Sean talks with The Artist Index’s host, Ron Fortier, and reveals more of his background. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, The Jethros, to In-Focus Podcast Number 116. They are the amalgam of: Homer Jethro – AKA, Tom Allen, of New Bedford – guitar, vocals Rufus Jethro – AKA, Rick Smith of New Bedford – horns, ukulele, vocals Boney Jethro – AKA, Jonathan Danforth of New Bedford – fiddle, percussion, vocals Gaston Jethro – AKA, Matthew Ryckebusch of New Bedford – bass, vocals Skillet Jethro – AKA, Greg Motta of Westport – drums, vocals According to their publicity package, “The Jethros realized their common destiny while collaborating in a backup band for mutual friends. Over the years they’ve become something of a fixture in the folk music scene of New Bedford and nearby places.” Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Lean (lee-ann) Camara, to In-Focus Podcast Number 115. Lean is the Director of Strategic Projects at The New Bedford Light, a free digital news outlet providing public service journalism. Although Lean is not an artist, she may now add 'art industry professional' to her resume. She was tasked with organizing the New Bedford Fine Arts Club - an art marketplace for local artists to share and sell their work to an engaged group of collectors and art enthusiasts. The new club's first Zoom meeting launches on April 20, 2022, and is sponsored by The New Bedford Light. Lean has worked with mission-based organizations for 20 years, holding various leadership roles at nonprofit organizations. She has launched multifaceted initiatives, directed senior executive planning, and built consensus among diverse stakeholders. All skills that she will apply to the launch of the New Bedford Fine Arts Club which is set to launch on April 20, 2022. Lean has degrees from Ithaca College and the University of Pennsylvania. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Todd Salpietro, to In-Focus Podcast Number 114. Todd is a musician and the Director at the Fall River Arts Academy. The Academy is the largest independently owned music school in the area. They have won more awards than any other music school on the Southcoast. The school offers private, in-person, and online music lessons in piano, guitar, voice, violin, drums, woodwinds & brasswinds & ukulele all under one roof. Todd says that he, “searches the area for the best music teachers so you don’t have to.” He’s proud of their proven track record for success based on offering the most goal-oriented music lesson program available. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Scott Bishop, to In-Focus Podcast Number 113. Scott is a New Bedford-based singer, songwriter, and sound sculptor. He’s been creating music under the name Scapeghost since 2016. He says he’s been, “dipping pops songs in a variety of interesting sounds, from crunchy to dreamy and everything in between.” Scott’s most recent and ongoing project, supported by the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, is NBWaves, which brings the sonic DNA of New Bedford into the music. NBWaves was made by making field recordings around the city, running them through a sampler, and writing and recording new songs with them. The initial EP, Electronic (First Wave), features sounds recorded at Play Arcade and Buttonwood Park Zoo. Music courtesy of www.bensound.com 

Welcome, Peter Andrade, to In-Focus Podcast Number 112. Peter is about as art-adjacent as anyone can be!  Though he says he has no artistic talent, he does appreciate art and the artists that surround him! He interacts with painters, writers, musicians, and, well, lots of artists as the property manager for the Kilburn Mill on Clarks Point in the south end of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Peter started working at the mill when he was a very young man. Listen in as Peter related the history of the mill from its spinning days during the height of New Bedford's cotton textile era, to the now fabled Furniture City, and on to its transformation into a much-needed south end destination featuring artist studios, the city's newest entertainment venue, and so much more!    Music courtesy of www.bensound.com