Posts Tagged ‘SIF Conversations’

Throwback Thursday: Art as Cool

Thursday, April 25th, 2013
A visit to the studio Jack White, artist

A visit to the studio of Jack White, artist

Linchpin (continued)

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Here is the second part of the Michael Heagerty interview.

Linchpin

Friday, March 8th, 2013
Linchpin (n.)–an individual who can walk into chaos and create order, someone who can invent, connect, create, and make things happen…

Here’s the first part of our conversation with local entrepreneur and artist Michael Heagerty.  Heagerty founded a non-traditional tour/hospitality business called NoExcuses(SYR).

Community Ecology

Saturday, February 16th, 2013


SU Press recently published a book by environmental activist Dr. K. Animashaun Ducre titled A Place Called Home.

The book examines cycles of disruption and dislocation in Syracuse.  It began with a study Dr. Ducre conducted using a blended methodology of photo voice (visual story-telling) and mapping (geographic analysis). Dr. Ducre talks in this interview about the characters in the book (women from Syracuse’s South side) and her efforts to bear witness to social injustice.

Stage Conversation

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Here’s part two of the Tim Bond interview from last week.

Pivot Play

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013


Syracuse Stage Producing Artistic Director Timothy Bond talks about the impact of writer August Wilson, specifically Two Trains Running, which is playing this month at the theater.  Syracuse Stage has run seven of Wilson’s ten plays that chronicle African American life in each decade of the 20th Century.

Bond, who is the director for Two Trains, said Wilson’s plays are “poetic blues operas.”

Neighborhood in Transition (part 20)

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Here’s a brief conversation with illustrator/photographer/painter Anthony Washington, who installed a new mural outside the Spark Art Gallery on East Fayette Street on Monday afternoon.

  

The Gift of Laughter

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012


Comedian Dan Frigolette, who graduated from Baldwinsville High School, discusses his career in comedy, his influences, upcoming Holiday shows and the Hoboken Comedy Festival.

Book Talk

Thursday, November 29th, 2012
Jim Roberts, bookseller at Books End (Eastwood)

Jim Roberts, bookseller at Books End (Eastwood)

Books End owner Jim Roberts celebrates 25 years in business this year.  When we interviewed him in the late 90s (along with two other independent bookstore owners), he was facing the threat of superstores and online services.  Not only did Books End survive that era (the two other shops closed), but Roberts recently expanded the store (doubled the size).

Here are six questions he answered on Wednesday:

What does your collection include?

Used, rare and out of print books. From bestsellers to books from the 1700s.

What makes a good bookseller?

Listening to customers. They will tell you what they want. Also providing good service and having a wide range of interests.

Why do small neighborhood stores have such a loyal following?

Independent stores are not as homogeneous. Each store has its own personality. In addition, some people like to support local (small) businesses.

What are you reading now?

Homicide by David Simon and Wanted Man by Lee Child.

Is Syracuse a good town for books?
I don’t know if there’s a bad town for books. The academic institutions in [Syracuse] help with an appreciation of books and to also increase the quantity.

Does the physical book still matter?

The physical book is almost perfect in it’s design and function. Holding it in your hands…there’s a certain feel when you turn the pages.  Think of the large art books or children’s books with movable parts…And everyone has their own personal library. Some things are hard to duplicate on your Kindle or iPhone.

A little bit country

Monday, November 19th, 2012
Chris Taylor, singer

Chris Taylor, singer

We got the opportunity to interview country singer Chris Taylor at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que after his Syracuse Sandy Relief Concert set on Sunday. We saw his band perform previously at the Taste of Syracuse in Clinton Square. Taylor was born in Kentucky, has lived in Indiana, but says he found his love for country music while in Potsdam, New York.

See our brief conversation below.