You’ve probably admired one of Ky Vassor’s murals without even knowing it—now she’s back to pull back the curtain on how those vibrant public artworks, pop-up workshops, and neighborhood installations all began with a passion for community and a sprinkle of hustle.

In this episode, Baltimore’s interdisciplinary artist and Galerie Myrtis Assistant Director walks us through the unlikely lessons she learned bartending, volunteering, and designing street-team campaigns before deciding to earn an MFA in Community Arts—and how every step shaped her mission to make creativity part of daily life.

• From bartending and street‐team hustle to graduate studies: the unconventional path that led her to an MFA in Community Arts
• Community‐first curation: activating public murals, mixed-media installations, and pop-up workshops in everyday spaces
• Mentorship in action: building support networks for emerging artists through hands-on teaching and one-on-one studio visits
• Wearing multiple hats: balancing roles as artist, educator, and museum administrator for sustainable impact
• Honoring untold stories: creating works that uplift underrepresented voices and spark neighborhood pride
• What’s next: upcoming public art commissions and expanded educational programs designed to broaden Baltimore’s creative ecosystem

Catch Ky Vassor’s first appearance on the podcast here:

Whether you’re an artist, educator, or simply curious about the power of public art, this chat will leave you inspired to look at your own neighborhood in a whole new light.

📸 Photo: Phillip Muriel

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Baltimore’s own DJ and producer James Nasty returns to share how stepping away from substances sparked new clarity, how he built Ecstatic Dance Baltimore into an inclusive, sober dance movement, and why guiding crowds through music remains his driving passion—from late-night club sets to substance-free floors.

• Finding clarity through sobriety: how stepping away from alcohol renewed his love for DJing and sharpened his creative vision
• Ecstatic Dance Baltimore: creating safe, substance-free gatherings that put self-expression and community first
• Mastering crowd movement: balancing familiar anthems, deep cuts, and pure instrumental energy to shape the dance journey
• Money gigs vs. passion projects: why mixing high-paying wedding bookings with creatively fulfilling residencies keeps his fire alive
• Lessons from 15+ years: professional standards, spotting red flags, and evolving past early pitfalls with venues
• Underground resurgence: how a new generation of DJs is reclaiming Baltimore’s club music and house scene

Catch James Nasty’s first appearance on the podcast — the very first episode ever — here: The Truth In This Art - Episode #1 | James Nasty.

This episode was recorded during a season dedicated to creative growth, transformation, and honoring the foundations that helped build Baltimore’s culture.

Photo: Emily Kulp

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Abstract neurographic artist Ayiana Viviana shares how reconnecting with Puerto Rico, battling inner struggles, and choosing self-trust transformed her art—and her life—with new courage, clarity, and creative depth.

• How a return to Puerto Rico—and a visit to an Indigenous site—recharged her spirit and creativity
• Neurographic art as emotional release: painting through pain, grief, and unseen feelings
• Listening to the second voice: surviving a mental health crisis and finding a new path through painting
• Dreams, risk, and reward: the story behind a $5,000 mural project and stepping into full creative worth
• Philly’s evolving arts scene: fighting for funding access and empowering artists at the grassroots level
• On building a slower, fuller life: why downtime, reading, and reflection now fuel her best work

Want to hear more about Ayiana’s early creative journey? Listen to her first conversation from 2023 here: Art and Emotion | Ayiana Viviana's Porter's Creative Exploration.

This episode was recorded during a season celebrating growth, resilience, and the artists who show us what it means to turn life into art.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Contemporary figurative painter Xenia Gray unpacks how post-Soviet Siberia, spiritual retreats, and life in D.C. converge in canvases that pulse with raw feeling.

• Growing up in 1990s Siberia—creating a protective “shell” and turning to art for what words couldn’t say
• Finding her visual voice later in life: mixed media, unseen faces, and the recent pivot to vivid greens
• Camino de Santiago, Vipassana silence, and yoga—how physical and spiritual practice cracked creative blocks
• Showing vulnerability without losing humor: balancing motherhood, UX day-work, and a fast-rising studio career
• Why D.C.’s tight-knit arts scene lets her thrive—and how she avoids the ego traps of trends and metrics

Curious about the journey behind her latest series The Great Silence? Hit play, then browse her work at xeniagray.art.

This episode was recorded at my creative home away from home, a hotel that's also a vibrant cultural center. Check out Eaton DC here.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Founder and director Tony Gittens returns with the inside story of steering the Washington DC International Film Festival—now in its 39th year—through last-minute venue shake-ups, budget poker with distributors, and a mission that never changes: bring global cinema to everyone in the nation’s capital.

• Losing a flagship theater six weeks out—and the scramble to secure a new home without busting the budget
• Balancing buzz titles, “one-for-me” risk picks, and community favorites (yes, even punk docs)
• Negotiating film rights like a rug merchant—sticker prices are just an opening offer
• Expanding access—busing seniors, screening in prisons, signing films for deaf patrons
• Year 40’s wish list: a stable venue and the joy to keep going

Curious how his perspective has evolved? Catch Tony’s 2024 interview here → https://share.transistor.fm/s/25813f0d

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Visual artist Alexi Abi returns to talk new work, new influences, and what it takes to stay visible in Washington’s competitive arts scene.

• How her Lebanese heritage and years in the Caribbean shape today’s bold color fields
• Building momentum since her last visit—grants, gallery shows, and a pivot toward larger canvases
• Balancing three lanes: studio practice, teaching, and arts advocacy
• Tips for navigating D.C. galleries and finding the right creative community

Missed Alexi’s first appearance? Start here →

Recorded on‑site at Eaton DC, part hotel, part cultural hub—worth a look if you’re in town.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Designer Jerrill Sankey (formerly “Creative King”) returns to talk evolution—name change, sharper focus, and bigger ambitions.

• 90s music videos and Vogue tear‑outs that still shape his color and form
• Turning a one‑man label into Jerrill Sankey Headwear—process, pricing, perseverance
• Artistry × craft: why materials and fit matter as much as concept
• Reading today’s fashion scene—trends to skip, moves that last

Missed his first visit? Listen here →

If you track style culture or just like hearing how a brand is built stitch by stitch, press play.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble

Co‑Executive Director Ariel Shelton returns to map out how CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia functions as a co‑op for creatives—and why that matters right now.

• From co‑founding Arts Administrators of Color Network to leading CultureWorks
• Turning fiscal sponsorship, shared services, and workspace into real‑world leverage for artists
• Lessons Philly can steal (and avoid) from Detroit and D.C. cultural scenes
• Honest talk on navigating social dynamics, equity goals, and burnout in nonprofit arts

Looking for a clear view of community building and sustainable support systems in the arts? Hit play.

📸 Margo Reed

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

Support the podcast

• The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.social
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=en
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/
• The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble