Artists Interviews Initiative

Listening to and reading what artists have to say in their own works is a remarkable and an enjoyable way to learn about the artist, his/her work, and various cultures. They fit well into phICA’s overall educational mission and into our objective of providing opportunities for artists and members of our Community to interact through the cultural bridges offered through engagement offered by our various projects and activities.

Since 2009, interviews with artists have been a collaborative project with Ted Decker Catalyst Fund. The interviews took place in Brazil and in Phoenix. The ones recorded in Brazil were made with the technical and editing assistance of Rio de Janeiro-based visual artist Chico Fernandes who visited Phoenix in 2008 and 2010. There was a hiatus with this initiative until recently when phICA had the opportunity to work with visual storyteller and set designer Manali Garankar (b. India; lives, works in Detroit, Michigan) and Shachi Kale (b. India; lives, works in Chandler, Arizona). This most interview has rekindled our interest in continuing this project moving forward in both recordings and in written formats.

We also posted the earlier interviews with some in English and some in Portuguese so that viewers can at least hear artists’ voices speaking in their native languages about their work.