Open Studio: Conversations on Art w/Graves+Mallett Art Solutions

Episode #111 - GMAS sit down with Dr. Cledie Collins Taylor the pioneer artist, educator and galleriest at 93 years young, she shared her wisdom and generous spirit during our Conversations on Art this week at the Arts Extended Gallery in Detroit, MI. Dr. Taylor told us the history around the current location of the 60-year-old Arts Extended Gallery; how art makes us humane and how she can immediately tell if a person had an art class when they were in kindergarten!

GMAS sits down with artist Ifoma Stubbs to discuss his work as a painter, photographer, jewelry maker and custom shoe designer. In all his creations Ifoma has a way of uniquely expressing himself. In today’s conversation, Ifoma shares with us his love for art goes back to his younger years and how he appreciated the influencers that kept him on track and focused on moving forward. As well as how he thrives artistically in an environment of meditation.

Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art we sit down with Dr. George N’Namdi. George has been a giant in the Art Industry for nearly 4 decades. His visionary approach to gallery ownership and developing the concepts of “creative place making” and “community place keeping his giving him recognition all over the world. But what he is legendary for his having the ability to catapult artist from newcomer to national phenomenon!

Open Studio sets down with Eric Vaughn owner of Eric’s I’ve Been Framed in Detroit, MI to discuss how he got started in the business, his thoughts on the “dying art of custom framing” and some of his memorable moments he has had over the last 30 years in the business.

Rob Henderson is a sculpture that specializes in metals and an arborist for over three decades. In today’s interview Rob shares with us his love of gardening, why he works with metal and the love he has had since a young child with connecting the elements of the earth and his work. We also had the pleasure of getting his insight on art in Detroit and how there is nothing like “The soul of Detroit!”

GMAS had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Camille Brewer a respected and admired curator, archivist, artist and art educator (to name a few). During our Conversations on Art we tapped into some of her reflections on the work she’s done with the estate of Romare Bearden and her time at the University of Chicago.

Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, we sat down with Dr. Dexter Fields, the brilliant and enthusiastic art collector that has a breathtaking collection that filled every corner of his home! We learn more about this art influencer, some of his favorite works of art and why the "Red Room" in his home is so important to him.

GMAS sat down with Dr. Juliette Okotie-Eboh, author of “10 Things I Know”. During our Conversations on Art we learned 1 of the 10 things Juliette knows from her book, the connection she has with one of her favorite artist and the cultural foundation that was instrumental in shaping her today.

Episode 103: Open Studio sits down with Leland Calloway, Chair of Friends of African and African American Art for the Detroit Institute of Arts. He is an avid art collector. During our tour and visit at his home we had a delightful conversation with Leland to learn more about his favorite artist, his passion for engaging new and younger collectors and his mission to keep the FAAAA alive and thriving!

Episode 101-September 9, 2019: Today on Open Studio: Conversations on Art, GMAS visit the offices of Mr. Amani Olu located in the historic Fisher building in Detroit Michigan. Amani is a marketer, independent curator, artist and founder and CEO of Olu & Company. We had a fascinating discussion about year two of Detroit Art Week; how as a young boy he had a knack at seizing a business opportunity and the story behind the “name” that allows him to creatively express himself.