The Center's Studio Podcast

Music Listening Party: A Preview of Art Lab

Take a listen to the innovative, forthcoming Art Lab by the Center for Latter Day Saint Arts. It focuses on how art enhances family and group and experiences through interaction. Join four volunteers--Lauren and Nick Bazzarone and Emily and Jamie Erekson--as we preview a lesson from Art Lab about music, and jump into the experience with us. Music performed by Scott Holden, The Unknown Galaxy: A Century of Classical Mormon Music, part of the Center's Art Festival. Send us a text about the podcast. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/163981/fan_mail/new]

How Do You Choreograph a Life? Vanessa Cook and Her Ballet Premiere

Choreographer Vanessa Cook discusses her newest work, A Brief Collection of Moments, premiering at the Utah Metropolitan Ballet. Cook explores how dance combines with music, text, and visual art into this ambitious new piece, winner of the 2025 Ariel Bybee Endowment Prize. The conversation ranges from philosophy and choreography to the power of a single voice, echoing Bybee's own, growing into something much larger. What begins with a single voice becomes a duet, then a group, then something larger than any one artist. In this episode, choreographer Vanessa Cook takes us inside the making of a new work blending dance, with LDS collaborators in music, text, and visual art. Along the way, she reflects on curiosity, creative processes, and why movement can sometimes say what words cannot. Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission. Send us a text about the podcast. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/163981/fan_mail/new]

Painting Big: Tessa Jorgensen's Scenic Art Career on Broadway, Opera, Ballet, and in the Movies

Explore the fascinating profession of scenic art with Tessa Jorgensen, a professional artist working on Broadway, opera, ballet, tv, film, advertising, and immersive experiences. Learn about her unique skills painting 50-foot murals, backdrops, cycloramas, and theatrical set pieces for some of the country's biggest theatrical productions. Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission. Send us a text about the podcast. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/163981/fan_mail/new]

Mauli Bonner: Everything’s Going to Be Okay

In this episode of The Center's Studio Podcast, Glen Nelson interviews Mauli Bonner, a multifaceted artist and filmmaker. They discuss Bonner's diverse career, including his work on the Elijah Abel project, which combines dramatization and documentary to explore sensitive aspects of Black history within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bonner reflects on his previous film, His Name Is Green Flake, and shares insights on navigating difficult questions about race and faith. He emphasizes the importance of mental health, finding joy in challenges, and empowering the next generation through his nonprofit, Lift Up Voices Foundation. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling in bridging communities and addressing real questions with honesty and hope. Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission. Send us a text about the podcast. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/163981/fan_mail/new]

Artists and Affordability

In this episode, Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner specializing in assisting artists, discusses their unique financial challenges. Artists face unpredictable income, healthcare access, and the societal pressures that often devalue their work. She also points out that many artists have advantages regarding tax deductions, for example, of which they are unaware. The episode touches on the broader implications of the arts on society, the need for government support, and the potential threats posed by economic changes and technological advancements like AI. Sylvie concludes with empowering advice for artists, encouraging them to take control of their financial futures while remaining resilient in the face of a fast-changing professional landscape. Sylvie Scowcroft can be contacted at https://www.financialgrove.com/ [https://www.financialgrove.com/] Music: "Please Only Tell Me Good News” by Stephen Anderson; used with permission. Send us a text about the podcast. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/163981/fan_mail/new]