On Creativity with Paula Wallace

The Deafening Character Of Silence... The modern pantheon of theatre styles reflects how rapidly art and culture evolved in the 20th century. The era gave birth to some of the finest theatre artists we will ever know, including today's special guest, Robert Wilson. Wilson holds many titles; he's a director, designer, actor, sculpture, author, drawer, and more. He is, in the true sense, an artist. His creative abilities are as endless as the conversations spurred by his iconic productions. He is revered for his masterful interplay of light and shadow, movement and stillness, sound and silence. During SCAD deFINE ART 2020, Wilson enthralled the SCAD community with a performative lecture and rare insight into his creative process. Paula Wallace sat with Wilson after the performance to further discuss his aesthetic, his formative background, and methods for constructing powerful moments onstage.

Raw Beauty... Today on SCADcast, we'll hear from painter, photographer, and sociocultural activist, Marilyn Minter. For close to fifty years, her work has challenged and enlightened — exposed and heightened. Minter visited Savannah as SCAD's 2020 deFINE ART Honoree, and her retrospective exhibition, "Nasty Woman," is currently on view virtually at www.scadmoa.org/exhibitions. During her visit to SCAD, she encouraged students to consider techniques that are underutilized and to question the status quo. Minter's tenacious spirit echoed through her paintings and photographs that adorned the walls of the SCAD Museum of Art, and drew in audiences with their magnetic appeal. Paula Wallace sat with Minter during the deFINE ART festival, and the two looked back on the techniques and materials Minter has mastered over the years, her collaborations with top brands, and her continued advocacy for women's rights.

Passion Worth Sharing … Introducing On Creativity LIVE, presented as part of Guests and Gusto, a new Zoom series that connects SCAD students with the professional creative community during this time of virtual learning. On this episode, SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace is joined by all-star film and television producer, executive, and head of television at TED, Juliet Blake, whose zest for life and passion for storytelling brings forth voices from every corner of the globe. After decades of producing hard-hitting television, Blake launched her career onto the big screen alongside producing partners Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey with "The Hundred-Foot Journey," starring Helen Mirren. Blake recently announced a deal with Spielberg’s production company Amblin Partners to produce her second feature film, adapted from a memoir, titled "Stolen Time." Her mission to amplify stories never seems to cease, no matter the circumstances. President Wallace reunited with Blake virtually to share Blake’s pro tips for maintaining the creative process and fruitful collaborations during social isolation. Together they reflect on the keys to compelling storytelling and how emerging professionals can prioritize their efforts and abilities to succeed in their career paths. In June 2018, SCAD awarded Blake an honorary doctorate of humane letters for her work in film and television.

Kaleidoscopes Of Joy… “Be inquisitive, be curious and be more creative than ever before.” Through this positive call to action, Mary Katrantzou perfectly encapsulated our “On Creativity” mission statement. Her much admired eponymous label sparks positivity in the eye of the wearer and the beholder through dazzling prints and color palettes. In 2019, SCAD was honored to host an exhibition in honor of ten years of the Katrantzou brand at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. During the exhibition, Paula Wallace sat with Katrantzou to explore the vibrant world of Katrantzou’s design aesthetic, her business model, and how artists can best describe their work to clients, critics, and everyone in between.

The Pupil Becomes The Master... In this episode, Paula Wallace takes us to Paris and the halls of Jean-Paul Gaultier's revolutionary couturier. After fifty years in fashion, Gaultier recently stepped back from the helm of his eponymous fashion label. For many, Gaultier is the master of high fashion. Students everywhere study his designs and find endless inspiration in his expression, but for Gaultier, that honor belonged to his first mentor: Pierre Cardin. In the SCAD-produced animated short documentary, "Le Futur," Gaultier speaks of his beloved mentor, Cardin, as the highest ambassador for global fashion and as an artist whose every move is punctuated by boundless creativity. Gaultier did not fall far from the Cardin tree, and his bold expression amplifies looks unbound by time.

The Climb To Primetime... On this episode of “On Creativity,” Paula Wallace is joined by Emmy Award-winning actor, Eric McCormack. McCormack currently stars as the titular Will Truman in NBC’s juggernaut sitcom, “Will and Grace.” For eleven seasons and two-hundred and forty-six episodes, McCormack has brought charm, dignity, and humor to the airwaves along with his co-stars of television’s finest. His creative journey has brought him from classic American sitcoms to hard hitting dramas like "Travelers" and "Perception." In recognition of McCormack’s singular contribution to television, he was honored with the Impact Award at the 2020 SCAD aTVfest in February. There he sat with Paula Wallace and four SCAD School of Entertainment Arts students for this wonderful dive into his storied career.

You Can't Make This Up... Welcome back to "On Creativity with Paula Wallace" as we launch our second season! With SCAD and the global community committed to halting the spread of the Coronavirus and practicing life saving social distancing, we hope this podcast helps keep you connected with your creative genes and inspires you to continue to create during these unforeseen times. We need inventiveness, ingenuity, and creativity now more than ever as we reach out to the world around us primarily through virtual means. As today's "On Creativity" special guest so aptly observed, "these are uncharted and difficult times for everyone. But telling stories to one another––whether it's in person or on-line, whether we're in a crowd or sitting alone with a book or video monitor––has always been how human beings grapple with making sense of the world. It reminds us that we're all in this together. These are precisely the times when your creative energies are most helpful––and useful. Tap into them." That special guest is award-winning historian, documentarian, and author, Dayton Duncan. Through his thirty-year collaboration with Ken Burns and Florentine Films, Duncan brings the excitement, drama, and adventure of American history to the curious masses. His passion for uncovering forgotten histories and rediscovering the stories left behind is admirable and inspiring. He gives our past a perspective that helps us forge a stronger future. Duncan and Burn's most recent collaborative achievement was the 2019 eight-part series, "Country Music," and its companion book, "Country Music: An Illustrated History." As with all his work, Duncan's master storytelling abilities resonate alongside the tunes of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and more of country music's shining pantheon. Tune in to hear how Duncan and Burns became the team they are today, how Duncan recognizes value in the annals of history, and where the past borders on fiction.

Threads Of Time, Clothes That Define... On this final episode of our premiere season, Paula Wallace sits with award-winning costume designer Terry Dresbach. For fans of the flagship Starz series "Outlander," Dresbach weaves the visual tapestry of wardrobes that grace the characters of the historical time-traveling drama. She achieves couture-level artistry through in-depth historical research to best portray 18th and mid-20th century cultural trends. Dresbach's work on "Outlander" garnered her two Emmy nominations, and she won an Emmy for her designs on HBO's "Carnivàle." SCAD honored Dresbach and her art with an exhibition at the SCAD Museum of Art titled, "The New World: Season Four," a dramatic installation of costumes presented with cinematic and sculptural elements to evoke the early American landscape. Tune in to hear Dresbach and Paula Wallace dive into the histories behind "Outlander" designs, and how the popular series has become an individually significant series for women of all ages.

Framing The Conversation... In this episode, Paula Wallace sits with Toyin Ojih Odutola to reflect on her exhibition at the SCAD Museum of Art, "Testing the Name," and on the impact of art in popular culture. Toyin's masterful use of mediums and materials create novels out of a carefully curated collection of drawings as she challenges her audience to "read her pictures." Her work is deep and dynamic with an emphasis on texture that has become a signature of her artwork. Her exhibition was praised by SCAD students who found endless inspiration in her use of ink, pastels, charcoal, and pencil. Tune in and enjoy Toyin's passion for art's power in the twenty-first century.

A Lens Into The Personal... As SCAD prepares for deFINE ART, three days of celebrating the modern masters of visual art, we catch up with a previous deFINE ART guest: celebrated photographer and SCAD alumna, Melissa Spitz. Spitz hit the national stage with her eye opening photography series, "You Have Nothing to Worry About." The photo-scape tells the story of Spitz's mother as she navigates mental illness. Through her exhibitions and Instagram, Spitz touches thousands with similar life circumstances and develops the grounds for honest conversations. TIME Magazine honored Spitz as their 2017 Instagram Photographer of the Year in recognition of her brave artistic expression. In this episode, Paula Wallace celebrates Spitz's successes, delves into the vulnerable nature of her work, and reminds all SCAD alumni that they're never far from the hive.

Sewing Threads of Courage... A new decade brings ambitious plans and inspires creative evolution. For fashion designer Phillip Lim, this couldn't be more true. As his beloved brand, 3.1 Phillip Lim enters its 15th year, Lim is not resting on his laurels. This week at New York Fashion Week, 3.1 Phillip Lim will forgo their runway show in favor of a "house party" at their New York City retail location, using the shift as a springboard to reclaim spontaneity and focus on sustainability. He has always been concerned with the potential footprint of his company and wants to operate a business that is equally focused on the customers he serves as the world they live in. Lim speaks much about the need for spontaneity in his brand and creative process, and his independent spirit consistently portrays this. SCAD is proud to call Lim a friend and honored him with the Etoile Award in 2019. In this episode, Paula Wallace and Phillip Lim examine Lim's career though his upbringing and family life, and how that's affected his creative process through his life.

Built To Last... A defining trait among creative professionals, and certainly one shared by SCAD students, is determined entrepreneurialism. Translating bold creative ideas into concrete business strategies and effective client relationships requires artists with dedicated work ethic and communication skills. For many studying to achieve this success, they look to the same person for inspiration: Art Gensler. He is a star in the firmament of architecture and a model creative collaborator, professional, and leader. He made an ideal commencement speaker at SCAD's 2016 ceremony in Savannah and the lessons he imparted that day continue to live on in our alumni. We're proud to share this in depth conversation between Paula Wallace and Art Gensler so everyone can hear directly from the man whose work has affected millions throughout the globe.

Moving The Needle... In 2019, Olivia Wilde reintroduced herself to the world. We've known her as an actress and admired her artistry in performance after performance, but through "Booksmart" we got swept away by Wilde the director. Her feature film directorial debut has been called the Gen-Z anthem and heralded as a comedy with tremendous heart. Wilde brings perspective to the modern coming of age story with undaunted energy. The film and Wilde's post credits talkback certainly transfixed and inspired the masses at the 2019 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. In this episode, Paula Wallace and Olivia Wilde discuss how women are taking on more leadership roles in the film industry, Wilde's directing style, and where she sees the industry going as more young film students enter the profession.

A Story in Every Note... A film's score resonates with us long after the credits roll. Upon hearing them, we're transported to our favorite scenes and rejoined with characters we love. Alan Silvestri's outstanding compositions showcase this power with sophisticated energy. Just a few bars put us in the DeLorean with Marty and Doc. Three notes, and we're sharing chocolates on a park bench in Savannah with Forrest Gump. A couple chords, and we're battling Thanos alongside Iron Man. In honor of his decades of artistry, SCAD awarded Alan the Lifetime Achievement Award in Composing at the 2019 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Listen in as Paula Wallace and Alan discuss what goes into the creation of such iconic scores and how collaboration fuels the film industry.

Embracing Spontaneity... In this episode, Paula Wallace and Cynthia Rowley explore the adventurous nature of fashion designs, lifestyle brands, and mass media. The two are kindred spirits who believe in the eternal power of self-confidence and the willingness to step out where others have not. In recognition of her trailblazing work and entrepreneurial expressions, Rowley was awarded the 2019 SCAD Etoile award. Wallace and Rowley sat before the award ceremony to discuss what goes into the invention of a unique and successful brand. The two also discuss arts education, embracing adventure, and daring to design what exists only in your mind's eye.

The Envelope Please... Film and television awards season is officially here! On this episode, Paula Wallace sits with Jharrel Jerome, an actor who is no stranger to accolades since his historic Emmy win for 'When They See Us.' In January 19th, Jharrel is poised to make history again at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards. Should Jharrel win the SAG for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie, he will be the youngest person ever to win for the category. Jharrel may be young, but his robust passion for the arts and intelligence provide him the gravitas of a seasoned veteran. Paula and Jharrel sat at the most recent SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the two caught up on his life since the Emmys, his upcoming projects, and where he hopes to go in his career.

Hearing Double... Today, we celebrate the holiday release of The Bee and The Acorn audiobook. This moment is the ideal occasion with today's guest, voice actor and SCAD alumna Hannah Chiclana. Hannah has voiced Paula Wallace twice, once for SCADstory — the interactive, immersive-experience account of SCAD's founding — and now for Wallace's memoir, The Bee and The Acorn. In their discussion, Paula and Hannah examine the process of voice-over recording, the differences in narrating for various mediums, and the popularity of audio-centric entertainment. Check out the new Bee and the Acorn audiobook, now available on Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Bee-Acorn-Classics/dp/B081KSQ1WP

There's No "I" In Team... Animated films and series inspire joy in all of us, and those feelings originate in the scores of people who create animation at production companies large and small. In this episode, Paula Wallace sits with two animation artists: actor Lucas Grabeel and SCAD alumnus Jason Mayer, Head of FX for DreamWorks Animation. Jason and Lucas walk us through how magic is made from pre-production to post and where they contribute along the way.

Taffeta, Tulle, and Tales... In this week's episode, two old friends reunite. André Leon Talley and Paula Wallace have decades of shared memories and Talley has mentored scores of SCAD students over the years. In this episode, André further proves why he is the greatest living fashion historian and a walking encyclopedia of style, class, and dignity.

The first room you remember... In 2019, DesignIntelligence ranked SCAD's undergraduate and graduate interior design programs #1 in the country, which marks the seventh time both programs garnered the top ranking. And on December 5th, Paula Wallace will be inducted into Interior Design Magazine's Hall of Fame for her years of educational thought leadership and design accomplishments. To help celebrate these achievements, we present today's special guest, Carleton Varney. In this episode, Paula and Carleton bond over their shared love of interior design, decorating, and education. Listen in as Carleton reflects on his decades-spanning career and reveals where he believes everyone's design taste originates.

A Pioneer Grows in Brooklyn... In this episode, Paula Wallace delights in conversation with one of the foremost artists of our time: Dustin Yellin. His artistry and command of disciplines are widely lauded, and his non-profit, Pioneer Works, champions other artists while promoting engaged thinking, exploration, and innovative applications across the arts, sciences, and humanities. Wallace and Yellin reflect on arts education and how it elevates communities. They also explore Yellin's creative process and leadership, as well as his top film recommendations for young artists.

Shattering conventions... In this episode, Paula Wallace talks with cultural juggernaut Refinery29's Christene Barberich and Amy Emmerich. The three catch up on the evolving digital landscape, their revolutionary Shatterbox programming, and the role of media in shaping culture.

The clothes make the woman... In this episode, Paula Wallace talks with film and television costume designer Ane Crabtree. The two converse about Ane's design process, including her iconic work on "The Handmaid's Tale," how fashion informs costume design, and the art of collaboration.

Willkommen! And bienvenue... In this premiere episode, SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace catches up with actor Alan Cumming. The two discuss childhood memories, Alan's beginnings as an actor, his singing career, and much more.

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