Artifice

Receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees from The Julliard School of Music, David Taylor started his playing career as a member of Leopold Stowkowski's American Symphony Orchestra, and with appearances with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez. Simultaneously, he was a member of the Thad Jones Mel Lewis jazz band, and recorded with groups ranging from Duke Ellington to The Rolling Stones. He has also recorded numerous solo CDs on the following labels: Koch, New World, ENJA, DMP, Tzadik, CIMP, PAU, and TLB. Mr. Taylor performs recitals and concerti around the world: from Lincoln Center in NY to the Musikverein in Vienna and Suntory Hall in Japan. In addition to his own compositions, he has been involved in well over a hundred commissioning projects for solo bass trombone collaborating with composers including Alan Hovhaness, Charles Wuorinen, George Perle, Frederic Rzewski, Lucia Dlugoszchewski, Eric Ewazen, Dave Liebman, and Daniel Schnyder. He has appeared and recorded chamber music with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Pe

Chad's artwork embodies beautiful woods from around the world. What began as retirement gifts for his fellow active duty servicemen has turned into amazing creations exhibiting the Pacific Northwest, wildlife, instruments, pop culture, ancient culture and mythology. Chad understands how to use the unique characteristics of the wood to enhance his work into a one of a kind piece of art. He won Best of Show and the People's Choice award at the PNW Art School juried art competition for his amazing octopus sculpture in 2024. He was recently accepted into the Anacortes Arts Festival and Kent Summer Art juried art competitions. https://www.instagram.com/chadpilk72/

My name is Hanna. I’m an artist, art therapist, and special education teacher. I’m Ukrainian and have been living in Estonia for three years now because of the war in Ukraine — it’s dangerous in my hometown, Kyiv. I draw inspiration from the majesty of nature and from people whose words align with their actions. My hobbies include collecting stones, playing the guitar, working with clay, and photography. I love gazing at the sky for a long time and feeling present in the moment. https://spacewoodengifts.etsy.com https://www.instagram.com/__weanduniverse/

Stu Beavers is a metal artist from Durham, NC. Stu’s mother was a welder, and though she tried to teach him, he always preferred painting and drawing. It wasn’t util he took a formal welding class at Durham Tech that those lessons with his mom clicked and he understood her love of metal—he’s been obsessed ever since. He is heavily inspired by wildlife, recreating the flora and fauna of his favorite tropical landscapes. As a handyman and hobbyist auto mechanic, his materials are always close by and he sees the potential in the everyday objects around him. Instagram @into_the_rust

Andrea Durfee is an artist and NYS licensed creative arts therapist based in Rochester, NY. Her paintings, sculpture and animation celebrates women, nature and sacred connection through vibrant landscapes and intimate portraits fusing the figure with flora and fauna. She is the creator of the oracle deck, Gaia: Lessons from the Earth and has a forthcoming book of poetry and goddesses being released February 2025. Her creations are an offering of space in which one can take a quiet walk, find light, and connect. website: www.andreadurfee.com and www.aracreativewellness.com instagram: @andreadurfee and @ara.creativewellness

Katharine Hooper is a Sommelier and artistic multi-hyphenate living in New York City. Raised by a celebrated painter father and an executive-career mother, she developed an early affinity for the intersection of art, science, and mysticism. After happily stumbling into a career in wine, she became engrossed in examining the overlap between the philosophical and the sensory, reflecting her balanced approach and dedication to truth. Her artistic curiosities include filmmaking, literature, anthropology, formal logic, drawing (in conte and charcoal), and both creative and critical writing.

Olivia Book, is a professional ballet dancer in Ballet West’s second company in Salt Lake City, Utah. Olivia grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada and was born with a right arm limb deficiency. She has always been a natural performer and began ballet classes at a local dance studio at the young age of four, she later became a member of a competitive dance team from the age of nine until fifteen, competing in many different styles of dance. Olivia attended The Royal Danish Ballet summer school in 2018 and 2021. In 2019 at the age of 15, she attended the Youth American Grand Prix, placed in the top 12 in both the classical ballet and contemporary categories, and was awarded two of the most prestigious awards, Outstanding Performance and Special Commendation from the Jury at the Youth America Grand Prix and was also personally invited to the Ballet West summer intensive by Adam Sklute, BW Director. During that summer she was selected to join Ballet West Academy’s Professional Training Division at the youn

Amber Dunford is a former mental health clinician turned interior designer and one of only a handful of “design psychologists” with expertise in the connection between space design and mental health. She spent years in private practice as a therapist before merging her passions for design and psychology by developing a college course on the relationship between the two. She believes there is a powerful, and often underrated, correlation between our mental wellbeing and the spaces we inhabit. Today, Amber is a co-founder and interior designer at B&A Creative, a Salt Lake City based design firm. She also offers design psychology sessions to anyone looking for ways to enhance their emotional wellbeing through design. https://www.amberdunforddesigns.com/

Robert Monroe graduated with a B.A. in Theater Arts from the State University of New York/Oswego. For twelve years, he worked as a New York casting director and talent executive. His credits include projects with the Walt Disney Company, the John Houseman Theater, the Annual MDA Telethon, and the now-defunct United Paramount Network. At the beginning of the millennium, he moved to Portland, Maine, to pursue a career as a photographer. His exhibitions include the Biennial at the Portland Museum of Art, Photographing Maine: Ten Years Later at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and Return to Peyton Place: Photographs by Robert Monroe at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. He is a founding member of the Bakery Photographic Collective.

Pat Partridge writes across genres. He is the author of the mystery Fragile Memories, the sequel Buried at Bears Ears, and the humorous road-trip novel Fast on Fifty. His book of political humor, now in its third edition, has sold over 70,000 copies. Partridge’s short stories span a wide range of styles, characters, ages, and themes. All were written in the past 3+ years. Two humorous ones—The Buddy Saga and The Porch Thief—and several ones with more serious themes—If You Could Forget One Thing, Visiting Helen, The New Dress, and The Break Out—have been published in Remington Review, The Haven, Ariel Chart, Fabula Argentea, and Litro, as well as anthologies. Over the past three years, Partridge has won eleven awards in the League of Utah Writers annual contests—seven awards for short fiction and four for novel first chapters, with four stories included in the League’s “Best Of” anthologies. In 2024 his short story The New Dress won the Emerald Award for best short work across all formats. Partridge stil

Callie Crofts is the founder, songwriter and front-human for SLC’s edgy electropop phenom Die Shiny. A small-town Idaho native, Crofts has spent the last decade making ripples in Utah’s underground music scene - becoming established in recent years as a local ex-mormon, queer and feminist icon. Known for unwavering authenticity and lyrical activism, the experienced artist boasts a diverse songwriting career - complete with top-ten billboard charting tracks, film festival wins, and a huge catalog spanning multiple genres. Links: https://dieshiny.com https://youtube.com/dieshiny https://instagram.com/dieshiny https://facebook.com/dieshiny Streaming: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/067vD9pRfJHbjnlwSSwexw?si=FX4vvPflSGioj55ennJOdg Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/die-shiny/1476018766

Callie Crofts is the founder, songwriter and front-human for SLC’s edgy electropop phenom Die Shiny. A small-town Idaho native, Crofts has spent the last decade making ripples in Utah’s underground music scene - becoming established in recent years as a local ex-mormon, queer and feminist icon. Known for unwavering authenticity and lyrical activism, the experienced artist boasts a diverse songwriting career - complete with top-ten billboard charting tracks, film festival wins, and a huge catalog spanning multiple genres. Links: https://dieshiny.com https://youtube.com/dieshiny https://instagram.com/dieshiny https://facebook.com/dieshiny Streaming: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/067vD9pRfJHbjnlwSSwexw?si=FX4vvPflSGioj55ennJOdg Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/die-shiny/1476018766

As a multi-generational artist, Sara was immersed in the culture of fine art since her birth in West Jordan, Utah. Sara is a dedicated and tireless mother to seven children, six boys and one girl. While studying for her MFA at the Academy of Art University Sara gave birth to four children. Sara’s approach to art is best described in her own words: STOP … and Smell the Flowers Living life to the fullest is really about enjoying each moment and it is the simple things that make life wonderful. We live in such a fast-paced, technological world and our days are so filled with endless busy-ness, that it is hard to really stop what we are doing and have meaningful experiences. One thing that I have loved, is being able to take time out of my hectic life to create art. I have also found a great personal connection to the idea of stopping. We have to stop to see or smell a flower, to look at the clouds, to pray, and think about a higher power, to be in tune with the desires of our hearts and the inspiration we

William D. Higginson: A Canadian Surrealist Visionary William D. Higginson is a Canadian surrealist painter whose evocative works have captivated audiences worldwide. A professional artist since 2007, Higginson explores a vast array of mediums and genres, creating pieces that resonate on both emotional and intellectual levels. His art is held in private collections across the globe and has been featured in numerous prestigious solo exhibitions. Notable showcases include sellout shows at The Space An Art Gallery (2023 and 2017), The Chali Rosso Art Gallery (2019, alongside works by Salvador Dalí), and The Vancouver Club (2016). Higginson’s accolades highlight his exceptional talent: he claimed 1st place in the Surrealize International Art Competition (2022), two consecutive Golden Brush First Place awards (2011 and 2012), and an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Federation of Artists (2011). These accomplishments are a testament to his skill, vision, and dedication to his craft. His life story is as com

The final little treat in this celebration week! It's a walk down the Artifice memory lane with "love notes" from a bunch of my fabulous guests, and some present-day reflection (plus a mild helping of tears) from me.

Another little bonus track during our CELEBRATE 200 week! This time, it's one of my Deep Dive Essays (featuring wisdom from January's guests), read aloud. Listen friends, joy is a serious subject...

Bestie and chosen sister Olivia Custodio helps me **CELEBRATE 200** in the second of three special episodes this week. After you finish this, check out Episode 15 to hear me interviewing Olivia (the first time we met)! Enjoy!

One-true-fan Jaron Davis helps me **CELEBRATE 200** in the first of three special episodes coming this week. Enjoy!

Hello, I am Anna and I love Pottery I always loved being creative and enjoy trying out various styles and craft making, yet over the years I developed a special relationship to clay. My love of pottery emerged from producing sculptures and about four years ago I also started with ceramics. I just love working and experimenting with this material with seemingly endless applications. In short I don't mind to get my hands dirty sometimes! As a trained architect and architectural historian, I understand structure and materials influencing my creations and inspiring an exploration of new forms with a special fondness for decorations. Originally from Germany I grew up on a small island in the baltic sea close to Denmark but I always felt the call of the big city and so I moved to London in 2015. Even so, a love for the beauty of nature is deep within me, and can be seen within my practice. https://annalovespottery.com/ @annalovespottery

Michael Staum was born in New Jersey in the early sixties. He has been a creator for most of his life. On Michael’s 5th birthday he received art supplies in abundance. Oils, canvases, watercolors and paper, different grades of graphite and pen & ink sets…everything an inquisitive creator needed to start a journey into the world of artistry. At the age of 19 Michael joined The United States Navy and was shipped out to the Pacific Northwest. The state of Washington blew his mind! The sheer beauty and the chill vibe kept him there. Not much goes hand in hand better than the Navy and Tattoos. Michael’s art turned to the tattoo industry. He tattooed his custom artwork for nearly 4 decades. A wonderful career of loyal customers, some famous, most not, filling his days and keeping him smiling. That life was abruptly cut short by the Covid pandemic and a neck surgery that left him with a severe loss of dexterity. Once a creator always a creator. Michael now works in creative one-off leather pieces, hand-sculpted