Joanna Kramer Launches WARE Ceramics Studio in West Evanston (and takes over the Ceramics World)

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Joanna Kramer is a bit of a legend in the ceramics arena and has several exciting projects on the horizon. She's a legend because Chelsea Clinton was recently gifted one of Joanna's "Never the less She Persisted" mugs at an ETHS event (not the F word mug), which her 7 yo daughter helped make happen, so the legendary status doesn't fall far from the tree. And this month she's opening up WARE, her very own ceramics studio in West Evanston where she'll collaborate and share space with artists like Julia Finlayson and Ben Blount.

Listen to a candid conversation with Joanna in her new space on Wesley Ave. as we discuss how each organic step of leveling up has led Joanna to where she is today.

R-Rated warning....Below is one of her best selling mugs, the F word mug, which you can purchase May 5 & 6 at 1100 Florence Ave. in Evanston.

About Joanna Kramer, joannakramer.com

Joanna Kramer makes functional ceramics...pieces to be integrated into everyday life...a bowl for your cereal, a vase for your favorite flowers...She  encourages people to interact with her work and not let them sit on a shelf.  Get to know the intricacies of something handmade  by finding fingerprints, brushstrokes, and other markings. Joanna has developed some deep relationships with a couple of mugs.

Joanna's background is in Social Work and Art Therapy, but is currently focusing on ceramics. She teaches ceramics at an elementary school, sells work locally, and spends as much time as she can in the studio.  Joanna also teacher clay workshops called Wine, Women, and Mud.  To sign up, go to winewomenandmud.com.

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute,  unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on  purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com 

Beth Adler on her new series of Monoprints inspired by Ikebana

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We visit Beth in her art studio on Florence Ave in West Evanston that she shares with artist Alice George, to talk about her upcoming show at Firecat Projects, where she finds time to make new work and being openness to the randomness in printmaking. Visit bethadler.net for more information.

Show Info: April 20, Opening Reception, “What I've Learned From Flower Arranging,” a show of monoprints by Beth Adler and ceramics by Nancy Gardner, inspired by the artists’ explorations of flowers and plants.

Though she’s worked with natural forms for years, Beth Adler found a new opportunity to explore colors, patterns, and geometry when she happened on an illustrated book about Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. By modifying the book--painting on and adding to the pages--she discovered an intimate visual language that became the basis for her new series of monoprints.

Additional Events:
• Flower arranging workshop by Larkspur Flowers & Design, free and open to the public, with vases by Nancy Gardner available for purchase. Tuesday April 24, 6-9 PM.
• Designer showcase, open to design professionals. Thursday May 3, 2-7 PM.
• Artists talk, Saturday May 19, 1 PM  Exhibition is open during regular gallery hours, M-Sat 10-4.
Firecat Projects is located at 2124 N Damen Ave, Chicago.       

The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute,  unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on  purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

James Deeb on his Upcoming Art Show, The Midnight Broadcast

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James Deeb talks about his upcoming painting and drawing show, The Midnight Broadcast, at 1100 Florence in Evanston, April 13-15.

The Midnight Broadcast, featuring paintings and drawings from his on-going series, Mythic City. The work is made up of tronies (composite faces) pieced together from the artist’s memory, creating a personal and sometimes fantastical record of Deeb’s observations. Infused with pathos and mystery, James Deeb’s art adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

Deeb’s work “shines light into dark places”, which is the risk he is willing to take as an artist.

The Midnight Broadcast Art Show at 1100 Florence, Evanston
Friday, April 13, 6-9p, Opening Party
Saturday, April 14, 12-1p, Slow Art Day Discussion w Joanna Pinsky of Art Encounter
Sunday, April 15, 3-4p, Artist talk/mirror drawing demonstration

Learn more at jamesdeeb.com

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

Christie Russert's Golden State of Mind and Design

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Christie Russert has long been fascinated by the look and feel of skateboarding culture, leading her into a life of skateboarding, snowboarding and graphic design.

Our discussion follows her career from 13yo on, starting it the DIY screen printing studio in her parent’s basement to exhibiting skate decks on the walls of Brothers K, which is where I was introduced to Russert. Russert’s skate decks are available for purchase at Brothers K (500 Main St.), at Board Pusher (boardpusher.com) and at the Evanston Made Pop Up Shop (evanstonmade.com).

Recently Russert’s day job offered the opportunity for “Leapers” to work on a passion project, with the help of Chicago’s Experience Institute. The Leaps program was the catalyst for her most recent endeavor (using a Leap Kit), launching her online store “Sunshine Canteen” where she sells her graphic designs to shoppers wanting to live among objects that offer a California, Golden State of Mind. Visit sunshinecanteen.com to see her products and learn more about Christine.

What Christine’s reading: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Advice from the book: You have to set a date with your creativity!

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

John Dalton Brings Adventures in Cardboard to Evanston!

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John Dalton has a love for imaginative play (from D&D to building empires out of thin air) and knows the value of it for kids living in today's technology rich culture. 

Having visit Adventures in Cardboard in St. Paul, MN, and learning from the camp founder Julian McFaul, Dalton is excited to bring this camp to the Evanston community. 

Learn how kids can enter a screen-free imaginative world of weapons, castle building and imaginative play this Spring Break at Ridgeville Park and again this summer. More info is available at adventuresincardboard.com.

The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

Sara Jane Abbott Believes we all have an Inner Starlett!

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Sara Jane Abbott is the Founder, Designer & Stylist at See Jane Sparkle, where she brings out the inner starlett in all of us. In today’s conversation we go way back to Sara Jane’s New Trier high school days where she was a bit of a Molly Ringwald (“Pretty in Pink”) fashion rebel and outsider, dressed in her own upcycled vintage pieces found at places like Lost Eras on Howard.

Fast forward several decades later, post a corporate career designing for others, Sara Jane landed in a hip in-home studio (that features a waterfall fountain), where she’s transitioned successfully from a brick and mortar store on Chicago Ave.

Clients now visit Sara Jane in her at-home studio, with personal styling sessions that marry vintage with new to design new styles. She also hosts Beads & Bubbly Design Parties periodically, Learn more at facebook.com/seejanesparkle/

This Friday, March 23rd 5-8pm at March Art & Wine Night at Creative Coworking, meet Sara Jane and learn about how vintage pieces can be incorporated into your look to make a style all your own.

Sara Jane Abbott's Bio: Experienced Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the apparel and fashion industry. Skilled in Trend Analysis, Fashion Illustration, Jewelry, Textiles, and Draping. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a BS focused in Fashion Design from Syracuse University.

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

Kristin Mariani at the Evanston Art Center for SHAPE OF NOW

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Kristin Mariani is the third artist to participate in the Shape of Now Fashion Residency hosted by the Evanston Art Center. THE FAIR brings together independent fashion designers artisans and collectives to present their current spring/summer collections in a unique sales event benefiting the Evanston Art Center.

In this podcast we talk about making art in a public setting during her residency and working in a home studio connected to her life. Mariani is a prolific artist, with an interesting take on fashion, fiber and art. 

Mariani is an Adjunct Assistant Professor Fashion Design and working artist, known for her collection of wearable art pieces made from upcycled leathers and numerous installations.

Kristin Mariani is a Chicago based dressmaker, designer and artist. In her art and design practice she investigates hidden layers of labor discovered inside found cloth and garments, incorporating physical responses to material that emphasize process, chance, and patience. In 2000 she founded her label RedShift; a line of contemporary couture created from salvaged materials and found garments. She is faculty at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and maintains an interdisciplinary practice creating works for dance, performance, and installation.
Contact - info@redshiftcouture.com

 Visit her website to shop for couture wears and see Kristin's body of work: www.redshiftcouture.com

The Evanston Art Center is hosting a week of events:

SHAPE OF NOW: The Fair, a unique art-meets-fashion pop-up

March 14–18, 2018

OPENING RECEPTION: Wed March 14 5-8pm THE FAIR HOURS: Thu-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: Sat March 17 1pm

THE FAIR brings together independent fashion designers artisans and collectives to present their current spring/summer collections in a unique sales event benefiting the Evanston Art Center. As a part of the ongoing SHAPE OF NOW fashion residency series curated by Katrin Schnabl, the public will have the opportunity to shop a curated selection of fashion, accessories and objects created by the participating designers and guest artists at THE FAIR, a unique art-meets-fashion pop-up showroom at the Evanston Art Center.

Featured designers include Abigail Glaum-Lathbury of the Rational Dress Society, Alex Ulichny, Ayrun Dismuke with Misanthrope, Kristin Mariani/RedShift, Sky Cubacub, Jake Vogds & Compton Quashie as Radical Visibility Collective, Katrin Schnabl and invited guest designers Anna Brown, Andrea Reynders and Gillion Carrara who also make up the collective We Are Material; Jamie Hayes with Production Mode, Gerry Quinton with Morua, both also together as Department of Curiosities, as well as Jack Cave and Anke Loh.

THE FAIR is presented as part of the yearlong Fashion Residency SHAPE OF NOW, a multi-disciplinary project focused on illuminating the creative process behind the work of fashion designers, artists and artisans curated by Katrin Schnabl.

Each collection offers a unique and refined point-of-view, with garments and items that are carefully crafted in small series. Whether the focus is on accessibility and collaboration through fashion as championed by the bright and playful, yet serious work of Radical Visibility Collective, sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices via ‘slow fashion’ as in Jamie Hayes’ Production Mode, technological innovation seen in Anke Loh’s knitwear, or on elevating the sensual materiality of garments and objects through artisanal attention, such as Gillion Carrara’s jewelry as well as Andrea Reynders’ and Anna Brown’s collections, new design forms are articulated through these careful considerations. By doing so, designers open up new ways of collaboration and collective engagement, and create fashion as an opportunity to participate and express our identity by connection to what is important to us.

A panel discussion during THE FAIR offers a window into the creative practices of our designers, who will be on hand to introduce their work and to share insights into their processes and stories.


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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

Jenni Rook on the Creative Methods of Art Therapy

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Institute for Therapy Through the Arts in Evanston has plenty to celebrate, to include new offices on Green Bay Road, an Open House and more than 40 years making an impact.

In this interview I talk with Jenni Rook, ITA’s Executive Director, who works as Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist. Our conversation focuses on how art therapy works with patients who are open to alternatives to talk therapy, the therapeutic benefits of music and the origins of art therapy.
This Thursday, 2-6:30 p.m. the public is welcome to tour ITA’s new offices at 2130 Green Bay Road, to include a 3p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony that will be attended by the Mayor of Evanston, Stephen H. Hagerty.

 From the ITA website: These therapies include art, drama, dance/movement, and music therapy, each addressing social, emotional, cognitive, and/or physical issues through the uniqueness of their art form. At ITA, the theoretical philosophy is “client centered.” We approach our clients by focusing on their strengths and design treatment goals to help them develop, improve, and change.

In the news: Click here for NBC's story on the benefits of art therapy, especially for teen patients

Learn more at itachicago.org/

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

John Kim is Building a Community within a Community at Backlot Coffee in Evanston

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Backlot Coffee founder John Kim is more than a coffee shop owner, he's a community builder, making room for organic engagements in beautiful environments. Our conversation takes place at Backlot Coffee on Central Street, in Evanston, where the walls are activated with art*, every seat is taken and the interior space is friendly, bright and modern. 

John worked with Isaac Bloom, the other Founder, to create a coffee shop based around community, like the infamous shared secret playground in North Evanston called The Backlot.

Today's conversation focuses on why John is making the visual arts such an important part of the experience for customers. We talk extensively about Jay Ryan's mural, photo below, which celebrates the whimsical nature of Jay's work and the joy of finding community in your community.

Backlot also does a tremendous job curating community on social media! Tag photos with #backlot and your photos will appear in their stream and might even show up on their walls!

What's on the horizon? Coffee education....Listen in to learn more.

Learn about Backlot Coffee on their website at backlotcoffee.com

*Recently I started curating the walls at Backlot with Evanston Made artists, a tremendous opportunity for artists to gain exposure and income (Backlot allows artists to sell the work and keep 100% of sales. Reach out to evanstonmade[at]gmail.com for information on showing.)


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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

LP Lundy Photographs Lake Michigan's Many Moods

LP Lundy wears many hats and in this podcast we focus on his work as a photographer. Lundy has been taking photos of Lake Michigan from the same location for a few years, at the waterfront facing East from the Northwestern Campus, capturing the moods, beauty and awesomeness of our lake neighbor.

This February Lundy’s Lake Michigan horizon portraits are on display at Backlot Coffee, 2006 Central Street. In this interview we talk about photography as a method to build relationships with your community and natural world.

Lake Michigan is blocks from Lundy’s house, a quick bike ride and an entity he is addicted (in a good way) to photographing it at the same day, every day...a source of inspiration.

Below is an example of the work on display at Backlot, all for sale with 100% going to the artist. Reach Lundy direct at lundy813[at]gmail.com. Lundy's work is on display this March at Creative Coworking, 922 Davis Street in Evanston.

LP Lundy Bio                                 

LP (Larry) Lundy has been a production designer for 35 years. Born in Queens, New York, he graduated from the State University College at Buffalo with a BFA in painting and sculpture. Lundy was a founding member of Hallwalls Art Center, along with Cindy Sherman and Robert Longo and other artists in Buffalo in 1975, where he curated DADADAY (1976) and DADADAY 100 (2016), and the Buffalo Film Festival. Lundy produced a multi-media installation Urban Animal at ArtPark (1978). He developed Writeratio, to give writers an opportunity to read from their works. His art has been shown at The New Museum (NYC), A Space (Toronto), Art Institute of Chicago, Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo), and 33 Contemporary in Chicago among other venues.

Was a member of Randolph Street Gallery and curated the Loop Show (1981) at the historic Fisher Building in Chicago. Designed murals for the Mother’s of Perry Children’s Center in Buffalo through the CETA Program (1978). His art writing has appeared in The New Art Examiner, the Chicago Reader, the Journal of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Lundy's set design work has been seen in film and TV productions such as High Fidelity, ER, The Babe, Flatliners, Chicago Hope, R Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet, Grand Piano, Shameless, Sense8 and Jupiter Ascending. He has twice won the Best of the Midwest Film Festival Best Art Direction Award, in 2002 and 2005.

He has taught production design at Columbia College from 2007 through 2012 and at Northwestern in 2011. He will be teaching at DePaul University beginning in March of 2018.

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The Lisa D Show is a podcast celebrating creatives, featuring 20-minute, unedited conversations that mimic the live-radio vibe, low tech on purpose. Reach out to host Lisa Degliantoni at thelisadshow[at]gmail.com

1100 Florence in West Evanston started as a Polish Meat Shop, then became Greenleaf Cabinets and now houses art and events, and sometimes podcast interviews. Learn more at 1100florence.com. Photograph of 1100 Florence taken by Joerg Metzner at the I Love Evanston Pop Up on February 9, 2018, after a magnificent snow storm