I Love Your Stories- Conversations with Artists and Creatives with Hava Gurevich

Episode #23 David Olson on Creative Process, Synchronicity and the Art of Seeing Differently

In this episode of I Love Your Stories, Hava Gurevich is joined by multidisciplinary artist, videographer, photographer and writer David Olson. The conversation explores David’s creative path, from growing up around poetry, drawing, music and photography, to his early experiences with travel, writing, radio, music promotion and video. David reflects on a life-changing rock-climbing experience in Sardinia, the way travel opened up his view of culture and creativity, and how his artistic process grew from observation into abstraction. Hava and David also discuss photography, videography, composition, synchronicity, the influence of music, and the importance of staying connected to the process of making art rather than focusing only on the final outcome. Show Notes David Olson joins Hava Gurevich for a conversation about creativity, perception and the process of making art. The episode begins with David reflecting on his early creative influences, including his mother, who wrote poetry, drew, sang, played guitar and used photography. David talks about his early involvement in music, including his time as a DJ on WCBN-FM Ann Arbor, a freeform station where putting together a show was treated as a creative act. The conversation moves into travel, writing and David’s experiences in France, including how living in different places helped him see cultural norms as constructs and opened up new ways of thinking. David shares the story of a dangerous rock-climbing experience in Sardinia, where he believed he was going to die. He describes how that moment encouraged him to dig deeper, move toward the things that interested him, and keep exploring in both art and life. Hava and David discuss his approach to video, including how he became interested in doing the things that video is not usually used for, and how he moved away from simply documenting toward creating abstract compositions. David explains how a moment in Aventine, one of the oldest quarters of Rome, changed the way he saw photography. He began noticing cracks, posters, colours and fragments on walls as small abstract compositions. The conversation explores the connection between photography and video, and how David’s visual aesthetic carries through both mediums. They discuss art that feels beautiful without being conventionally beautiful, and the excitement of looking at something without fully knowing what it is. David talks about his work with images of musicians, including Ornette Coleman, and how he uses video, stills, multimedia compositing and music as part of the creative process. Hava and David discuss synchronicity, the I Ching, Carl Jung, and the idea that each moment contains the essence of that moment. The episode closes with a discussion about success, the value of process, and the idea that making art can be a way of participating in the world. Hava also shares that she has a show coming up in Springfield, Illinois, featuring miniature paintings of betta fish in a micro gallery. Memorable Quotes “There wasn't really a plan. I didn’t really even realize I was pointed in that direction until pretty late in my life.” “As I went out into the world, I was already looking at it as sort of through this creative lens.” “The being a DJ was a creative act.” “If your horizons want to be opened, you start moving around.” “You realize right away they’re totally arbitrary. It’s just what everybody has agreed that they are.” “You didn’t really try to do anything.” “If you like something, do more of that.” “Move towards the things that attract you and that make you happy or just seem interesting.” “Don’t just stop. Don’t stop.” “What if it’s not just documenting something?” “The last thing I want to do is document something.” “I started. I saw the world in a different way.” “There’s all these compositions everywhere.” “Stop thinking about it narratively.”

Episode #22 Beginning Again: Art, Healing and Building a Creative Life with Tonya McGuire

In this episode of I Love Your Stories, Hava Gurevich speaks with visionary artist and art therapy coach Tonya McGuire about finding her way back to art after a major health scare forced her to stop, reassess, and reconnect with her creative voice. Tonya shares how art had always been part of her life, but years of work, responsibility, single parenting, business ownership, and corporate leadership pushed her creativity into the background. After experiencing symptoms that led to a diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia, she found herself returning to drawing and painting as a way to move through fear, uncertainty, and healing. The conversation explores visionary art, storytelling through portraits, trauma, mentorship, community, creative reinvention later in life, and what it means to build a meaningful art practice rooted in legacy, emotional connection, and resilience. Shownotes In this conversation, Hava and Tonya discuss: Finding art again after a health crisis Tonya talks about how heart-related health challenges forced her to pause, step away from the pace of work, and return to her brushes during a period of uncertainty. Growing up creative but choosing other responsibilities first Tonya reflects on how art was always in the background, but earning a living, supporting her family, raising her daughter, and working in sales leadership took priority for many years. The emotional power of art She shares the early experience of creating work that moved her father to tears, and how that moment showed her art could touch people on a deeply personal level. What it means to be a visionary artist Tonya explains how her work moved beyond simple portraiture into storytelling, symbolism, emotion, hummingbirds, lotus flowers, wildlife, sea life, and the feeling of becoming. Learning, mentorship and community The episode explores Tonya’s experience with the Milan Art Institute, the Society of Professional Artists, Art Storefronts, and the importance of being part of creative communities that support growth. Turning art into a professional path later in life Tonya shares how she began selling pet portraits, developed a body of work, and started building a professional art career within a short period of time. Art, trauma and healing The conversation touches on childhood trauma, EMDR therapy, post-traumatic stress, and Tonya’s work creating trauma workshops through art. Legacy, caregiving and end-of-life storytelling Tonya discusses the idea of legacy portraits and how art can help tell meaningful stories around life, ageing, caregiving, memory, and transition. Redefining success Tonya reflects on success as the ability to continue creating work that makes people feel something, while also learning how to manage life when it becomes loud. Advice for artists beginning again She encourages artists who have put their passion aside to make a plan, stay accountable, speak belief out loud, expect resistance, and find their voice.

Episode #21 Victor Sotomayor on Poetry, Healing, Performance and Finding Your Voice

In this episode of I Love Your Stories, Hava is joined by poet Victor Sotomayor, who performs under the name Italo. Based in Los Angeles and raised in Peru, Victor is also the co-founder of Theria Magazine and Theria Radio, platforms dedicated to supporting independent artists and creative voices outside the mainstream. The conversation explores poetry as a form of healing, emotional release, and self-discovery. Victor shares how performance allows him to fully embody his work, the story behind creating the persona of Italo, and why some poems are meant to be shared while others remain deeply personal. He also reads two of his poems during the episode, offering a glimpse into the emotional intensity and theatricality of his work. Hava and Victor discuss his two published books of poetry, including No Se Habla Español, an anthology centered around discrimination and identity, and The Oz Monologues, inspired by the characters of The Wizard of Oz. The latter went on to inspire an award-winning stage production. This is a conversation about art as transformation, creating space for authentic voices, and the ways poetry can help us process what is otherwise difficult to say. Website: https://www.theriaentertainment.com/    Theria Radio: google store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.TheriaRadio&hl=en_CA   apple store:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/theria-radio/id6468251515 Shownotes 01:00:07 — Introduction to Victor Sotomayor, also known as Italo  01:02:28 — Victor shares how he came to poetry  01:03:51 — Growing up in Peru and returning to Los Angeles  01:07:40 — Poetry as healing and a way to process trauma  01:12:14 — Victor performs “Dear Dorothy” from The Oz Monologues  01:17:17 — How The Oz Monologues led to a theatre production and Russia  01:20:53 — Theria Radio and supporting independent artists  01:21:38 — The beginning of Theria Magazine  01:24:15 — Inviting artists to submit music and poetry  01:33:37 — Victor’s definition of success  01:38:55 — Friday night poetry on Theria Radio Memorable Quotes “Poetry is healing.” “We’re all storytellers.” “I was a poet back when I didn’t know what poetry was.” “We wanted to have a platform that caters to independent artists only.” “Sometimes I write poetry for me that I will never share.” “Your poetry doesn’t have to rhyme.” “Many people don’t realize they’re poets too.” “We are all artists, we are born artists.” “The more personal it is, the more universal it becomes.”

Episode #20 Janavi Folmsbee: Where Art, Science, and Ocean Advocacy Meet

In this episode of I Love Your Stories, Hava Gurevich is joined by Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee, a multimedia artist and marine conservation advocate whose work exists at the intersection of art, science, and ocean storytelling. The conversation explores Janavi’s journey from growing up in Mumbai to studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and how her first scuba diving experience in the Lakshadweep islands in 2008 transformed both her life and artistic practice. Janavi shares how she integrates scientific research into her work, collaborating with marine scientists on projects ranging from public art installations to scientific publications, all aimed at deepening connection and awareness around ocean ecosystems. The episode also highlights her exhibition Magic Water at the Rockport Center for the Arts in Texas, featuring underwater photography, oil paintings, and porcelain sculptures inspired by marine life from around the world. A thoughtful conversation on purpose, interdisciplinary creativity, and redefining success through meaningful connection and impact. New Exhibition Magic Water at Rockport Art Center, April 18 - June 7, 2026 https://www.rockportartcenter.com/exhibitions/janavifolmsbee Website: www.janavimfolmsbee.com    IG:https://www.instagram.com/janavimahimturafolmsbee/ Shownotes  00:00 Introduction to Janavi Folmsbee  01:05 Janavi’s work at the intersection of art and science  02:10 Sponsor message: Art Storefronts  03:25 Janavi’s background and growing up in Mumbai by the Arabian Sea  05:10 Becoming an artist and first solo exhibition at 16  06:40 Studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago  08:15 Interdisciplinary art practice, pigment theory, and materials  10:20 First dive experience and connection to the ocean  13:00 Recreating calm, meditation, and emotional connection through art  15:10 Becoming a scuba diver and ocean advocate  16:45 Working with divers and marine scientists  18:30 Art for scientific papers and collaboration with marine labs  20:15 Art as advocacy and education  22:10 Ocean optimism and ocean abundance  24:20 Why hope matters when communicating environmental issues  26:00 Art vs science: translating data into emotion  28:10 Installation work and the Lockett series  30:00 Current research: coraline algae and reef systems  32:15 Bioabundance and ecosystem balance  34:10 Invasive species and anthropogenic change  36:30 Questioning science and pushing new ideas  38:10 Exhibition Magic Water overview 40:20 Exhibition structure: photography, paintings, sculptures 42:30 What viewers will feel and experience 44:10 Concept of one ocean and global connection 46:00 Definition of success 48:20 Art, connection, and human response 50:30 Where to find Janavi online 51:20 Closing remarks and sponsor message

Episode #19 Photographing Dreams and Memory with Susan Burnstine

Award-winning fine art photographer Susan Burnstine joins this episode to discuss her journey from Hollywood film production to becoming a full-time artist whose haunting dreamlike photographs are created with cameras she built herself. In this conversation, Susan shares how childhood night terrors and her mother’s artistic guidance shaped her creative process. She reflects on her years working in the film industry, the turning point that brought her back to photography, and the moment she first captured the aesthetic she had been searching for. The discussion explores her approach to symbolism, intuition, and dream imagery in photography, the experience of building her own cameras, and the importance of creating from the heart rather than technical perfection. Susan also talks about mentoring artists, teaching creativity, and how her definition of success has changed over time. Website: http://www.susanburnstine.com/ *Shownotes* Growing up in Chicago and studying photography in high school Being inspired by films shot at her school and developing an interest in visual storytelling Early experience working for a professional photographer Choosing filmmaking and moving to Hollywood A personal tragedy that shifted her perspective and led her back to photography Childhood night terrors and using art to cope with fear Recreating dreams through photography as a form of healing Discovering toy cameras like the Holga and learning to photograph intuitively The challenge from her father that led her to build her own cameras Developing a prototype camera and capturing the first successful image Using dream imagery, symbols, and metaphor in photography Creating photographs that allow viewers to form their own interpretation Teaching photography and helping artists discover their own creative voice Working with students online around the world Building a career as a full-time artist for over twenty years Publishing monographs and exhibiting work internationally Embracing imperfection as an essential part of creativity The influence of impressionism and pictorialism on her photography Defining success through self-expression and living life on her own terms *Memorable Quotes* “Toy cameras teach you to shoot differently — to shoot from your heart, not your head.” “When you’re looking through a view camera, you’re not seeing what you’re really shooting, so you have to go with your instinct.” “I wanted to recreate the dream world in a positive light rather than the negative night terrors.” “Imperfection is perfection to me.” “Life is so messy. Life is so imperfect.” “Once I put the image out in the world, it should be your own experience.” “Sometimes when I hit the shutter, I just know.” “I teach what you know. I help people discover what is unique about them.” “The essence of creativity just happened in front of me.” “Success is about achieving self-expression on my own terms.” “I’ll leave this life and say I lived the life I wanted to live.”