The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast

Beaver County’s first and only podcast supporting local artists, celebrating art, and building community through creativity. The podcast is a bi-weekly show presenting local artist profiles, conversations about art, public art features, and news about art events and activities. 

Suggest Beaver County artists, artworks, events, and other art news to feature on the podcast.  Click Here.

Special Podcast Series

The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast produces special programs focusing on select topics. 

PUBLISHED EPISODES

Episode 21: Jennie Johnstone - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 21 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with local artist Jennie Johnstone about creative sensibilities, the business of art, and the allure of still life paintings. We also talk about the importance of art society here in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Jennie is the president of the fine arts association, Beaver Valley Artists.

Episode 20: Laurie Fillinger - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 20 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with New Brighton artist Laurie Fillinger, long-time member of the fine arts association, Beaver Valley Artists. By her own admission, Laurie is self taught: "I often tend to paint or draw depicting a story or I try to catch movement or a mood. I work in pencil, charcoal, pen/ink, watercolor, oil, and pastel."

Episode 19: James & Debra Tobin - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 19 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with local artists and musicians James and Debra Tobin about the Beaver Valley Artists fine arts association, their respective creative visions and processes, the value of art, and their long-standing art studio-creator space in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

Episode 18: The Merrick Art Gallery - Featured Artist & Event Series

On episode 18 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Director Michelle Long of the Merrick Art Gallery in New Brighton, Pennsylvania about its venerable collection, old world gallery space, creative programs, and much needed financial patronage to keep the space open and free to the public.

Episode 17: Graffiti as Art - Disruptive Art Series

On episode 17 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with a local graffiti artist about the method, aesthetics, legality, cultural authenticity, and artistic merit of graffiti in Beaver County and beyond.

Episode 16: Guy Ruff, III - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 16 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Beaver Falls artist Guy Ruff, III about his passion for art, street art techniques, and the nature of public art and art culture in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Episode 15: Marlon Gist - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 15 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with Aliquippa artist Marlon Gist about being a professional artist, art supplies, thoughts on Beaver County's arts culture, and his latest commission representing the Underground Railroad.

Episode 14: Melissa Rhines - Artist Conversation Series

On episode 14 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk with mosaic artist Melissa Rhines about the process of making art as therapy, her new Ambridge studio that includes a "smash" space and other accommodations for the public to gather, create art, and share in Beaver County's art culture.

Episode 13: The Genesis Collective Media Institute - Featured Artist & Event Series

On episode 13 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we talk about TGC’s Media Institute launching in the Fall of 2022. Our guests include the institute’s instructors: Erin Ninehouser (photography), Christopher Padgett (film making), Seth Whitted (podcasting and community interviewing), Jacob Swanson (graphic arts), Kevin Farkas (podcasting, oral histories, sound art), and TGC executive director Pamela Rossi Keen.

Episode 12: Shaunda McDill - Connecting Arts to Funding Series

Follow the money or your dreams as an artist? You might be surprised by what Shaunda has to say. On episode 12 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we continue our Featured Artist Series and talk with Shaunda McDill, Arts & Culture program officer with The Heinz Endowments Shaunda has been with the The Heinz Endowments since 2017 as the Creativity Strategic Area’s Arts & Culture program officer, after more than a decade of nonprofit executive and arts management experience. She has worked for theater companies across the country, including The Goodman Theatre of Chicago, Second Stage Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse and Cornerstone Theater Company. She also founded demaskus, a nonprofit, service-oriented collective of artists and administrators who produce theatrical projects sharing stories of the marginalized.

Episode 11: Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble - Featured Artist & Event Series

On episode 11 of The Genesis Collective Creatives Podcast, we continue our Featured Artist Series and talk with director/conductor Kevin E. Newton and flautist Denise Drabeck of the Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble. After our conversation, listen to a live recording of BCSWE’s recent humanitarian benefit concert, “Prayer for Ukraine.”

Episode 10: Hana Uman - Connecting Arts to Funding Series

On episode 10 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we Continue our Connecting Arts to Funding Series and talk with Hana Uman of the Duquesne Light Company. Hana coordinates DLC’s community impact grant program that supports projects and programs led by diverse grassroots community organizations who are working on the ground to directly support DLC’s customers and communities.

Episode 9: Jessii Marie - Black Creatives in Beaver County Series

On episode 9 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we feature artist Jessii Marie, recorded as part of TGC’s innovative Black Creatives in Beaver County Interview Series. We also talk to TGC executive director Pamela Rossi-Keen about the Being Black in Beaver County Art Exhibit to be held November 19th in Midland, Pennsylvania. Public art highlight: We feature public art preserving history in Homewood Junction in northern Beaver County.

Episode 8: Island Bradley - Black Creatives in Beaver County Series

On episode 8 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we feature Beaver Falls artist Island Bradley, recorded as part of TGC’s innovative Black Creatives in Beaver County Interview Series. Public art highlight: We talk about public art in support of public health efforts to raise breast cancer awareness, featuring the once flowing pink water fountain at George Washington Plaza in Monaca, Pennsylvania

Episode 7: The Pig Lady Festival - Featured Artist & Event Series

On episode 7 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we celebrate community storytelling as an art form; discuss the influence of history on our folktales, legends, and lore; and we listen to the tale of Barbara Davidson recorded live at The Pig Lady Festival. For our public art highlight, we recommend visiting the “Weeping Wall” at the future home of the Portobello Cultural Life & Arts Center on 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

Episode 6: Nadia Knecht - Black Creatives in Beaver County Series

On episode 6 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we feature Ambridge cartoonist Nadia Knecht, recorded as part of TGC’s innovative Black Creatives in Beaver County Interview Series. Public art highlight: We recommend visiting “Zuverman: The World’s Largest Bodybuilder” in Darlington, Pennsylvania, nationally listed in Roadside America, the premier guide to peculiar tourist attractions.

Episode 5: Seth Whitted - Black Creatives in Beaver County Series

On episode 5 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we feature Beaver Falls artist Seth Whitted, recorded as part of TGC’s innovative Black Creatives in Beaver County Interview Series. Public art highlight: We recommend visiting the Big Rock Park welcome mural in New Brighton, Pennsylvania – a reminder that public art can be functional and decorative.

Episode 4: Erin Ninehouser - Rustbelt Mayberry Photography - Featured Artist & Event Series

On episode 4 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, Beaver County photographer Erin Ninehouser talks about the art and artistry of capturing, preserving, and sharing the images of Beaver County that matter most. Our public art highlight is the Lion’s Head water fountain standing guard at the 8th St. playground in Ambridge, Pennsylvania–a reminder that public art can be fun and playful, especially for children.

Episode 3: East of Enon - Bluegrass Beaver County - Featured Artist & Event Series

On Episode 3 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, listen to Dave Foster and Judy Foster talk about their band East of Enon and bluegrass music in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. We also feature the Sahli Nature Park butterfly sculpture in Chippewa Township, Pennsylvania—a reminder of the importance of pollinators in our natural world.

Episode 2: R-ACT Theatre Company's Annual Holiday Radio Show - Featured Artist & Event Series

On Episode 2 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, listen to Larry Spinnenwebber, Shantih Bianco, Dave Holoweiko, Kevin McGuire, Eric J. MacAnallen, and Carey Lynn Hutch talk about R-ACT Theatre Production’s long-running Holiday Radio Show and nearly thirty years celebrating the performing arts in Beaver County. We also cover news from The Genesis Collective and our public art highlight features the mural, “A Vital and Connected Rochester” in Rochester, Pennsylvania.

Episode 1: Jesse Derflinger - Featured Artist & Event Series

On Episode 1 of The Genesis Collective Podcast, we visit with Beaver County artist Jesse Derflinger of Darlington, Pennsylvania and talk about the meaning and purpose of art. We also tour “Fallen Branches,” Jesse’s landscaped artistic collage of unusual found objects, industrial artifacts, and other fascinating curiosities surrounding his home. We also talk with executive director Pamela Rossi-Keen about the many new and exciting ways The Genesis Collective is supporting artists in Beaver County. And for our public art highlight, we recommend visiting “The Armistice Letter” mural located in the Beaver Falls post office.

Read the Artists' Stories

Podcast Promos & Trailers

The Social Voice Project is pleased to be an advisor and principle organizing member of The Genesis Collective, which exists “to create a thriving and supportive arts ecosystem in Beaver County. TGC connects regional artists to one another, to the community, and to those resources required for making art an indispensable feature of Beaver County’s identity.”

The Social Voice Project produces this podcast for The Genesis Collective as part of TSVP’s Community Podcasting Initiative.