Binder Podcast

In celebration of National Poetry Month, producer Drew sits down with writer-in-residence and podcast host Ray McManus to discuss his latest book, The Last Saturday in America. Set in a nation on the precipice of great change, this book of poetry is an examination of suburban neighbors, bullies, gun violence, and vasectomy appointments. McManus draws a portrait of American masculinity in the face of political division, pandemic, and cultural warfare.

For the third season of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series, Dr. Birgitta Johnson returns with musicologist and Miami University Distinguished Professor of Music Dr. Tammy Kernodle to talk about Kernodle's musical project “She Sang Freedom,” chronicling the journey of Black women as the producers of great music over the last four centuries. The two discuss the lasting relevance of freedom music, the importance of women as cultural workers, and the impact of contemporary female musicians like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Featuring excerpts from a live performance recorded at the Columbia Museum of Art in February 2024.

In celebration of Sergio Hudson: Focused on the Fit, CMA Director of Art and Learning Jackie Adams hosts the team behind the exhibition and the iconic fashion brand for a series of exclusive interviews.

Up first, community curator Megan Pinckney Rutherford stops by to talk about the origins of the exhibition and her love for South Carolina's hometown hero. Then Sergio Hudson co-owner Inga Beckham and co-creative director Charles Lynch join Jackie to talk about the Sergio Hudson Collections' humble beginnings and what it takes to operate one of the top up-and-coming luxury brands in the United States. After the break, Megan returns to talk with her friend and famed creative director and designer Sergio Hudson about the fashion industry, working with his muse Keke Palmer, the "Michelle Obama moment," and how it feels to have an exhibition of his art in his home state.

In today's episode, Director of Art and Learning Jackie Adams sits down with artist and photographer Ann Ray, whose work is featured in the current fashion and photography exhibition Rendez-Vous. For 13 years, she was the only photographer permitted to document the behind-the-scenes culture of Alexander McQueen's runway shows and atelier. Ann shares her memories of working with the iconic fashion designer along with insight into her artistic practice in this extended interview.

Lee Alexander Mcqueen and Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous is organized and produced by Barrett Barrera Projects.

Engagement Specialist Dana Witkoski takes over the Binder studio with her friend and longtime CMA collaborator Patti O'Furniture to talk about drag performance as an art form and as a civil service, plus what makes Columbia special. 

Cheers to volunteers! In today's Binder podcast, Ray takes some time to honor those who donate theirs in an episode dedicated to volunteerism. Deputy Director Joelle Ryan-Cook drops in to tell her CMA origin story and reflect on her time as a member of the museum's Docent Corps before docent and music instructor Emily Creedle stops by to chat about gallery tours, relating music to art, and what it's like to share art with others. After the break, Jennifer Bartell Boykin joins Ray to share her poem "Leaves Like Prayer" and talk about what it's like to be Columbia's new poet laureate and how giving back runs in her family.

"The American Songster" Dom Flemons joins series host Dr. Birgitta Johnson for the season finale of More Than Rhythm. The two talk about sourcing music from archives, the lasting influence of folk and roots music, and the importance of storytelling. Featuring excerpts from Flemons' live performance at the Columbia Museum of Art in June 2023. 

The new episode of Binder is going off script. Host Ray McManus and producer Drew have a casual conversation in the recording studio about fitting in at an art museum, living in the South, and free admission. Later in the episode, hear a reading of McManus' poem "Empty Church" inspired by CMA Collection piece Grey Conception #2 by Jerry Okimoto. 

CMA Deputy Director Joelle Ryan-Cook drops in to host a special edition of Binder Podcast all about chamber music. First, she chats with CMA Chamber Music on Main Artistic Director Andrew Armstrong about the concert series, how Chopin helped heal his heartbreak, and having a sense of humor. After the break, Armstrong returns with Grammy Award-winning violinist James Ehnes to talk about practice, passion, and how to tell a joke.

South Carolina Lowcountry soul musician Mahoganëë joins Dr. Birgitta Johnson to talk about her unique style of “Funky Organik Soul,” and her latest album Textures of a Southern Soul (a Gullah Geechee Soul) Vol. 1. Featuring excerpts of a performance by The Mahoganëë Xperience. 

Binder is back! On today's episode, producer Drew chats with CMA commissioner and docent Nancy Tolson about why she loves Black art, and Forward Together collector Patrick Diamond stops by to talk about the "magic carpet ride" of collecting it. Later, enjoy an excerpt from a conversation with art historian Dr. Frank Martin and acclaimed South Carolina artist Dr. Leo Twiggs.

Binder is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art.

Violinist-arranger-composer-conductor and Columbia native Nicole Neely joins series host Dr. Birgitta Johnson to talk classical music, the Black church, and arranging for artists such as Lauren Hill and Beyoncé. Featuring excerpts of a performance by Neely's string quartet, The Black Exchange.

Dr. Birgitta Johnson sits down with South Carolina native and globally recognized blues musician Adia Victoria to talk about the blues' past and present, representation within the art form and Adia's latest album A Southern Gothic. Featuring excerpts of an intimate performance by Adia Victoria and her creative partner Mason Hickman recorded at the Columbia Museum of Art in August of 2022. 

Producer Drew sits down with Vanesha Perrin, new board president of the Friends of African American Art and Culture, to learn more about her personal art experiences, Delores Logan, and the acquisition of Monotype IV by Oliver Lee Jackson.

Binder podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. www.columbiamuseum.org 

And just like that, Binder podcast turned one! On today's episode, Producer Drew brings Ray a few surprises to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the podcast before CMA Chief Preparator and Exhibition Designer Mike Dwyer stops in to illuminate Ray on the world of art preservation. Later, the museum's newest curator, Michael Neumeister, sheds some light on his first art installation at the CMA, Modern Rhythms.

Producer Drew interviews CMA's education and engagement coordinator, Jackie Palmieri.

Binder Podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art

Birgitta returns with consciousness-raising Lowcountry musician Benny Starr to dive into the influences and upbringing that inspire his unique brand of hip hop. Featuring excerpts of a recent performance by Starr and his band the Four20s live in concert at the Columbia Museum of Art. This episode contains some adult language.

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series is  presented by the Baker & Baker Foundation. This program has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. This program is supported by Richland County Government.

An extended interview with writer and naturalist John Lane.

Binder podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art.

Binder is en plein air this month as Ray catches up with Jackie Adams about the CMA's latest exhibitions and their relationship with the natural world, and artist Amanda McCavour stops by to talk about her  latest series of installation work, Bright Little Day Stars. After the break, Ray chats with writer and naturalist John Lane about rivers, roadkill, and the real outdoors.

Binder is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. Produced and edited by Drew Baron.

Enjoy this bonus conversation with host and ethnomusicologist Dr. Birgitta Johnson, guest musician Mimi Jones, and assistant professor of jazz at UofSC Dr. Colleen Clark. Recorded live during last April's More Than Rhythm concert.

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series is  presented by the Baker & Baker Foundation. This program has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. This program is supported by Richland County  Government.

Birgitta is back, and this time she is joined by jazz musician,  educator, and filmmaker Mimi Jones. They explore the history, present, and future of jazz music set to the soundtrack of Mimi Jones' Black Madonna Project live in concert.

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series is presented by the Baker & Baker Foundation. This program has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. This program is supported by Richland County Government.

The Binder Podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. Edited and recorded by Drew Baron.

Art for your ears. Hosted by CMA writer-in-residence Ray McManus and produced by the Columbia Museum of art, Binder brings you audio storytelling with writers, artists, scholars, curators, and more. 

Host Ray McManus returns to get a feel for the current exhibition, Rodin: Contemplation in Dreams, with CMA's Curator of Education Glenna Barlow before hitting the galleries to check out the new museum touch tours. After the break Ray is joined by poet Ann Chadwell-Humphries to talk about her process, inspiration, and senses as she navigates the world as a person with a visual disability. 

Binder is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. Produced and edited by Drew Baron. 

Host Ray McManus seeks out answers on how art makes it into the collection with help from CMA affinity groups and the museum's executive director, Della Watkins. Featuring interviews with Chase Heatherly of the Contemporaries, Adrienne Montare of the Columbia Design League, and Therese Griffin of the Friends of African American Art and Culture.

Host Ray McManus and producer Drew chat about being the new guy and the  CMA’s upcoming exhibition Anila Quayyum Agha: Let A Million Flowers  Bloom, before being joined by the artist herself to talk about identity,  religion, gender politics, and her massive, illuminated sculptures. In  the second half, Ray catches up with his good friend, poet, and Director  of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina, Dr.  Ed Madden.

Digital artist and martial artist Isaac Udogwu joins Producer Drew for an extended interview. They talk about his roots in Nigeria and South Carolina, digital art, NFTs, spirituality, and so much more. 22 South Carolinians is on view through May 22, 2022. 

The Binder podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art

The CMA's latest exhibition, 22 South Carolinians, is now on view.  Director of Art and Learning Jackie Adams drops by to tell Ray all about  it before she's joined by artist J. Renee. In the second half, Ray  chats with artist, chef, poet, and SC Arts Commission Artist Development  Director Ce Scott Fitts about her work and the state of art in South  Carolina.

The Binder Podcast is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. Produced and Edited by Drew Baron. Hosted by Ray McManus.

Ray dives into some oddities of the CMA Collection with help from museum staff. The strangeness continues when author and UofSC professor Julia Liz Elliott drops in to share her  thoughts on why weird is wonderful.

Binder is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art.

In today's episode, Ray sits down with community organizer and  photographer Héctor Vaca Cruz to talk about police aggression, the  immigrant story, and essential workers. After the break, poet power  couple Loli Molina Muñoz and Jesus Redondo Menendez stop by to premiere two  poems, "ALMA" and "Witness" ("Testigo"), and chat with Ray about  responding to Cruz's work and the challenges and opportunities of  writing poems in English versus Spanish. Hindsight 2020 is on view at the Columbia Museum of Art through November 21, 2021.

Today’s episode photographer and musician Catherine Hunsinger chats with  Ray about the big impact of small moments during the protests of 2020. Later, poet Michele Reese premieres her new poem “On the Complexity of  Symbols” and talks about taking time to process trauma and the role education can play in helping with that. Hindsight 2020 is on view at the Columbia Museum of Art through November 21, 2021. 

On today's episode we sharpen our focus onto the work of photojournalist Crush Rush. Host Ray McManus talks with Crush about video games, danger, and of course, 2020. On the second half of the show Poet Len Lawson premieres the new work "Hypotenuse" inspired by Crush's photography. Binder is a production of the Columbia Museum of Art. Recorded and edited by Drew Baron. 

In this pilot episode of the Columbia Museum of Art's brand new podcast Binder, host and CMA writer-in-residence Ray McManus speaks with deputy director Joelle Ryan-Cook, curator Catherine Walworth, and curator of art and learning Jackie Adams about an art museum's role in the modern day and current CMA exhibitions The Ironic Curtain and Hindsight 2020.