BRAHM TO GO

Derrick Beasley is a multimedia artist and activist based in Durham, NC. He describes himself as a visual artist, creating at the intersection of community and imagination. He works in photography, graphic design, woodwork, installation, cultural space-making, and community organizing. It is through these mediums that he works to facilitate conversations between the individual and their own imagination. 

The following quote comes from Derrick's artist statement, "I take the familiar and abstract it enough to stretch our perception of what is possible. In doing this, I imagine new worlds where we are less concerned with validating our humanity than exploring its limitless potential within it. I want to show that the radical new world so many of us are fighting for is actually a basic human experience. My hope as an artist is for individuals experiencing my art to reflect on their existence and expand their conceptualization of what is possible."

View Derrick's website: http:www.derrickbeasley.art  

Image Credit: "To Be Changed..." Derrick Beasley. 2018. Acrylic Paint on Wood Relief Carving.

About the exhibit  Wood is one of the most versatile of materials. It can be malleable or rigid, light or dark, smooth or rough, young or old. Artists carve, cut, sand, sculpt, bend, bind, and burn it.  Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina features a diverse selection of work, ranging from wooden furniture to sculpture, as well as a variety of types of wood and techniques used to create these contemporary works. Exhibiting artists come from across the state of North Carolina and include Roger Atkins, Derrick Beasley, Kim & Paul Fuelling, Mark Gardner, Aspen Golann, Craig Kassan, Jim Oleson, Brent Skidmore, Bob Trotman, Anthony Ulinski, Joël Urruty, Zak Weinberg, and Erik Wolken. Works in the exhibition explore concepts of functionality, texture, color, form, space, humanity, belief, and technology. These artists “branch out” to create work out of wood in unique ways, expanding the possibilities within this familiar medium.  Special thanks to our supporters for making this exhibition possible:  Lee Rocamora & John Thompson  Carol Dabbs  Barbara Laughlin  Monkee's of Blowing Rock  Suzanne & Dayn McBee

On the final episode of season 1, we hear from the Way Watauga Works photographer Ashley Warren and project manager Willard Watson discuss what it was like to document their community. 

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. 

@naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Today we have an interview with Randy Henson. Randy recently retired from working for the state of North Carolina as a school bus inspector for the western third of the state. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Randy’s work history but we also learn about what goes into keeping kids safe as they ride the school bus to and from school. Randy is a character and a good friend of mine,  I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Carol Coulter and Dave Walker. Carol runs Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy and recently retired from being the director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. Dave Walker operates Daffodil Spring Farm and is the current co-director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Carol and Dave’s work history. Carl and Dave are immersed in the local food economy of the High Country of North Carolina so this conversation delves into larger themes about agriculture in the region. 

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Kinney Baughman. Kinney is better known around Boone as Bubbleman, a fixture at the High Country Beerfest who brings the joy of bubbles to attendees. Before he was bubbleman, Kinney was a national champion homebrewer, homebrewing entrepreneur, and head-brewer at Watauga County’s first brewpub. Kinney is a good friend of mine and quite a character. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Kinney’s work history but it also delves into the history of homebrewing and craft beer in America. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Hello this is Willard Watson and you are listening to BRAHM To Go. Your Go To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Jessica Maceda. Jessica is a professional photographer known as Wayfaring Wanderer. She is a winner of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, and primarily works as a wedding photographer. This interview was conducted by myself and project photographer Ashley Warren. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Jessica’s work history. Weddings are a large part of the High Country economy and Jessica is an expert at capturing moments and memories for newlyweds and their families. You can see Jessica’s work or book her for your wedding at wayfairingwanderer.com

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Diane Deal and Karen Goodman. At the time of this interview, Diane was the clerk of court for Watauga county and Karen was one of Diane’s assistant clerks. Karen and Diane are both natives of the high country and their interview goes into detail about the challenges of working in the court system in a small community. This is one of the longer interviews in the series but it was a captivating one to be a part of. We all cried at one point. Since the interview, Diane has retired from the court to be with her family and focus on their Christmas tree business. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the court system.

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Chris Capozzoli. Chris is a luthier and woodworker in Sugar Grove, North Carolina. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Chris’s work history. Chris is a master luthier and since the Way Watauga Works exhibit, Chris has also had an exhibition of his instruments at BRAHM, the exhibit Sound machines stringed instruments of the Capozzoli Guitar Company was on display from November 2019 to March 2020. You can see more of Chris’s work at capozzoliguitarcompany.com

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Kelly McCoy also known as the River Girl. Kelly McCoy is a marine biologist by training and a fly fishing guide by trade. She has made herself part of the landscape with her business River Girl Fishing Company located in Todd, NC. Kelly along with her wife Renata operate the business out of a historic train depot. They teach fly fishing, lead eco-tours, rent kayaks, innertubes, bikes, and canoes. Kelly is also an EMT and volunteer firefighter. She said she came and floated the river on vacation from Florida and fell in love, now Kelly is an integral part of the community. This interview was conducted in the River Girl Fishing Company in Todd, NC in January 2018, we were next to a wood stove with two of her dogs so you may hear them barking or snoring during the interview. The interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Kelly’s work history and her journey to becoming the River Girl. Kelly is a character and I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Welcome to BRAHM To Go. Your Go-To Source for arts and history. Today we have an interview with Jacob Crigler and Kara Dodson. Jacob and Kara own and operate Full Moon Farm in Triplett, NC. They are transplants to the High Country but have put down roots as first-generation farmers, and even though they are young they use the timeless agricultural technology of working with draft horses. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on working as a farmer. Jacob and Kara were good friends of mine before the project and I regularly purchase their produce. Our discussion covers their work history, how they got involved with farming, their philosophy of working with the land, and the technical aspects of working with draft horses. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

Learn more about Jacob and Kara on their website www.Fullmoonfarmnc.com

Produced by Willard Watson with support from Maako Shiratori.

Photography by Ashley Warren, 2018. @naturalcraftphotography

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks

Presenting BRAHM TO GO, the podcast that brings art and history to you through artist interviews, oral histories, and scholarly lectures.

Our first season will focus on the exhibit, The Way Watauga Works, where we profiled people who work or recently retired from working in Watauga County, North Carolina. This exhibit delves deeper into the meaning behind work and community.

Today we have an interview with Glenn Bolick. Glenn is a master potter, 5th generation saw miller, musician, storyteller, North Carolina Folk Life Heritage Award Winner and national hollering champion multiple times over.  This interview was conducted by myself and project photographer Ashley Warren, sat down with Glenn in a 19h century log cabin schoolhouse on his property in Caldwell County in February 2018. Glenn is co-owner with his wife Lula Belle of Bolick & Traditions Pottery located on Main Street in Blowing Rock. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Glenn’s work history. Glenn is a living treasure and I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.

BRAHM To Go is produced by Willard Watson, with support from Maako Shiratori. Music by Melissa Edd. Glenn Bolick's portrait was made by Ashley Warren. The Way Watauga Works was made possible with support by the Smithsonian Institute’s Traveling Exhibition Service, Museum on Main Street, and NC Humanities.

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts and make BRAHM TO GO your go-to arts and history.

Today we have an interview with Noelle Austin. Noelle is a Watauga County native and yoga instructor. This interview was part of the exhibit the Way Watauga Works and the questions and responses focus on Noelle’s work history and also yoga philosophy. Noelle is a wonderful person and I hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I did.

Photograph by Ashley Warren, 2018.

Music by Melissa Edd, 2021.

See the full exhibit the Way Watauga Works at https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/see/wataugaworks