On this episode, host Daniel Lendzian speaks with LeRoi Johnson, artist and lawyer, Kaitlyn Lowe, teaching artist from Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Arts Center, Robin Jordan, coordinator of the Just Buffalo Literary Center, Kevin Kline, digital arts and curriculum designer, for Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, and Jay Hawkins, aka Cashis Green, a teaching artist for Buffalo Public Schools Office of CLRI.
The interview with LeRoi includes:
- LeRoi’s early life and artistic family
- The importance of painting in one’s life
- The decision to become a lawyer
- How the energy and “aliveness” of the culture and music of the 1970’s inspired artistry
- The importance of color in the work
- The importance of active participants rather than passive viewers
- The intersections of practicing law and practicing art
- How Buffalo inspires work
- A vision for Buffalo’s future
The interview with the teaching artists includes:
- A discussion of artistic practice
- Inspirations from the LeRoi exhibit
- The application of LeRoi’s ideas into the classroom
- Student responses to the work
- How can seeing others’ artistic work inspire us, and help us connect with our own artistic practice
LeRoi’s work and legacy is on full display at the Burchfield Penney until March 26, but it will live on forever in the experience of the individual students and teaching artists who participated in this program.
Burchfield Penney Art Center
SUNY Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Avenue
716-878-6011
Burchfieldpenney.org