Tag

art

Mar 19
Love22

John Zaller

By Art, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, Gary welcomes back John Zaller, the brilliant executive producer of Exhibition Hub, who has brought some of the most breathtaking immersive experiences to life—including Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience and Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience.

John takes us deeper into his creative process, sharing stories from his most impactful projects. He explores how immersive environments can reshape our perceptions and reveals why art continues to serve as a sanctuary for so many. Tune in now!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

 (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How immersive exhibitions are designed to make audiences feel like they’re stepping into another world.
  • The fascinating story behind Dialogue in the Dark—an exhibition that turns the lights off and shifts perspectives on ability and disability.
  • How Claude Monet’s deteriorating eyesight influenced his most famous works.
  • Why art has the power to provide comfort, connection, and escape—even in the busiest, most chaotic times.

Quotations:

“Whenever I think about creating these experiences, I’ve always thought about them as a sort of 3D walkthrough novel, 3D walkthrough story that we created on paper first, and then it comes to life in this big dimensional structure, and then you’re wandering through it.” ~ John Zaller

“Photographs can show you what something looks like. Photography had just been invented around the time that he (Monet) was born. People said the painting was dead. But a photograph can’t let you know how it feels; a painting can.” ~ John Zaller

“It’s rare for artists from any era to see success when you think about the number of people that are doing creative work and the number of people that are recognized.” ~ John Zaller

“It’s always great to see a talented artist get some success in their life because it is so often the case that we get more interested in an artist after they’re gone because we start to reflect on that body of work. And that’s tragic.” ~ John Zaller

“It is tragic when you have talented artists who struggle their whole lives because they’re so dedicated to their craft that don’t really get that recognition.” ~ John Zaller

“We love artists so much that they show us another way of seeing. They show us another way of being. They show us they give us another avenue of thought. It’s these new gifts.” ~ John Zaller

“What makes people flock to these immersive experiences is that they have a chance to get away from the craziness in the world. To be completely surrounded in this theme and the beauty of the art, especially Claude Monet, whose work was so serene and so rich in terms of color, and give you a chance to just reflect and just be.” ~ John Zaller

“To take more time. And it really is that simple of stopping what you’re doing, looking around, and taking it in. And that’s what makes these artists so special is they give us that ability. But we can learn from them too in the sense that we have that same opportunity. We just have to give ourselves that time.” ~ John Zaller

“Trying to remain humble is the hardest part, I think, for a successful artist. And that really, the way you do that is by staying in the work because the work is what you approve upon, but it’s also what shows you what your limits are every time.”~ John Zaller

“We’re looking for that transcendent experience. We’re either looking to connect with the past to validate that spark within us or to nurture that spark within us through these transcendent experiences that other immersive experiences.” ~ John Zaller

Bio:

John Zaller is the executive producer of Exhibition Hub, a curator and distributor of world-renowned immersive exhibitions. He has honed his unique skills of production, visual art, and set design for more than 25 years while working in the museum, entertainment, retail, and attractions/theme parks industries through his own immersive design firm, KRE8 360, that specializes in creating story-driven, traveling immersion experiences. He has contributed to creating and overseeing multiple immersive experiential environments including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition; Jurassic World: The Exhibition; Bodies the Exhibition; Star Trek: The Exhibition; and the Themed Entertainment Association’s Thea award-winning experience at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Most recently, Zaller has been credited for his contributions and skillful expertise on Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which was named the 2021 best immersive experience by USA Today and among the 12 best immersive experiences in the world by CNN. He has been working with Exhibition Hub for more than a decade and is responsible for the implementation of all Exhibition Hub properties in the United States.

Guest Contact Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwzaller/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhibitionhub_eh/

Claude Monet The Immersive Experience: https://monetexpo.com/

Bubble Planet in Denver: https://bubble-planet.com/denver/

Aug 21
Love12

Barron Ryan

By Art, Author, Music, Podcast One Comment

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us as we sit down once again with the multi-talented pianist, composer, and author Barron Ryan. From discussing his early beginnings on the piano to exploring the intricacies of practice and performance, let’s discover insights into what makes music such a powerful form of expression. He also reveals the inspiring yet tragic story of his book, “Honey, If It Wasn’t For You.”

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

  • Discover how Barron’s musical journey began at age 4 under his father’s tutelage.
  • Learn about Barron’s approach to practicing, including tackling new pieces and managing extensive rehearsal hours.
  • Hear about the challenges that come with being a professional musician, including dealing with injuries like tenosynovitis.
  • Delve into the technical aspects of playing the piano, from separating hands during practice to maintaining stamina during long sessions without injury.
  • Uncover why musicians perform and how they connect with their audience through beauty and love expressed in art.
  • Gain insight into how he articulates his purpose as an artist: “to discover and present the beauty I’m uniquely positioned for.”
  • Discover the beautiful story behind his book “Honey, If It Wasn’t For You.”

Quotations:

“There’s always somebody better than you.” ~ Barron Ryan

“I think for everybody, you have to strive to be great, to improve all the time, but you also have to realize that you need to find your own way of presenting music so that you’re not being compared to everybody else all the time.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“I’m gonna find a way of presenting this in a way that you don’t compare me to somebody else. You just think, oh, well, this is its own unique experience.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“​​A lot of times as musicians, we don’t stop to consider why somebody wants to listen to us. We just think, well, it’s fun for me and other people seem to like it. And so I’ll keep doing it.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“I believe that they’re paying attention because they want to witness beauty. Beauty is an expression of love. That’s what they want. They want to hear this music that makes them feel something. And the only reason that somebody is creating it is so that they’ll feel something. That’s the expression of love. I’m doing this because I want you to feel good.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“I wanted to play music that people would enjoy, but I also wanted to play music that I would enjoy.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“Practice is problem-solving.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“Any pianist can practice multiple hours a day and should not be in danger of injury unless they’re doing something that is unusual, which they shouldn’t be doing.”  ~ Barron Ryan

“To discover and present the beauty I’m uniquely positioned for.”  ~ Barron Ryan

Bio:

Barron Ryan’s love for music has always been divided. The son of two musicians, he grew up in a house filled with the sounds of artists ranging from Mozart to Motown. So when it comes to his own work, he’s not content drawing on just one influence. He combines them all into a musical adventure that’s vintage yet fresh, historical yet hip, classic yet cool.

After beginning piano lessons at age four with his father, Barron seemed destined for a career in music. He excelled in performing throughout his middle and high school years in Tulsa, OK, then continued to impress his peers and instructors as a piano performance major at The University of Oklahoma.

Everything did not come up roses, however, as Barron was then rejected from all the music conservatories you might be impressed by. Disheartened and a little annoyed, he briefly gave up on the piano in pursuit of a satirical hip-hop career. But due to a favorable result in a piano competition that sent its winner to perform internationally, that project was graciously short-lived.

Thanks to that concert tour, Barron found his artistic voice. He discovered the joy of jazz- and ragtime-inspired concert music (found on his debut album, Classical with Attitude), and learned from great jazz pianists by transcribing and replaying their solos (found on his second album, The Masters’ Apprentice).

In 2019, Barron noticed a shocking lack of funk-, pop-, and country-inspired classical music. Realizing he could fill that void, he composed the “Magic City” Sonata and a dance suite called Suite Thing. Those works are now published and recorded on his third solo record, First of Its Kind. 

In 2021, Barron added ‘commissioned composer’ to his growing list of accolades. Commissioned by Chamber Music Tulsa to produce a work commemorating the 1921 massacre in Tulsa, OK, he wrote a piece for piano trio entitled My Soul Is Full of Troubles. Smithsonian Magazine even took note, and named Barron One of Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021.

As of 2023, Barron can add ‘published author’ to his uncommon set of accolades. He published Honey, If It Wasn’t for You, an illustrated storybook about a song he co-wrote with a man who died six years before Barron was born. It’s even more intriguing than it sounds.

Barron is following in his favorite composers’ footsteps by publishing his original works in the public domain. He offers his work as a gift to the world, and as a chance to collaborate with artists from around the globe.

What’s next? You’ll have to wait to find out, but rest assured that in all Barron Ryan’s music, Classic Meets Cool.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.barronryan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barronryanmusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barroncp/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BarronRyan

X: https://x.com/barroncp

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@barroncp

Aug 14
Love12

John Zaller

By Art, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for a fascinating conversation with John Zaller, Executive Director of the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. As a leading curator and distributor of renowned immersive exhibitions, John brings over 25 years of expertise in production, visual art, and set design to the table. Listen in as we dive deep into Vincent Van Gogh’s life and artistry, discussing his revolutionary impact on painting, his personal struggles, and his enduring legacy. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights into how Van Gogh’s work continues to captivate and influence the art world today. Tune in now!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

In this Episode:

  • John shares insights from his career in immersive experiences and exhibitions.
  • Discover John’s creative processes, and inspirations behind writing and designing immersive experiences.
  • Insightful commentary on cultural Americanization affecting name pronunciation (Van Gog vs. Van Go). – Explanation about Dutch pronunciation: [van Khokh].
  • Delve into Van Gogh’s mental health challenges and how they influenced his work
  • Find out alternative theories about Van Gogh’s death and pivotal moments in his later years.
  • Discussion on how Vincent Van Gogh revolutionized classical painting norms with his use of thick brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and depictions of everyday subjects.
  • A touching look at the relationship between Theo Van Gogh and Vincent—how family support often plays a critical part in nurturing creativity against odds.

Quotations:

“It’s a way that I can express myself, it’s first through the written word and then everything else that I’ve learned and I’ve taught myself has been how to turn those words on the page into the reality that people experience.” ~ John Zaller

“When I go to create something, I always start with the written word and what I find fascinating is that I have no idea where it comes from.” ~ John Zaller

“I’m channeling a creative spirit that I just hope I don’t lose. I just try to hang on to.” ~ John Zaller

“We’re all vulnerable, but a lot of us, the majority of us, have figured out how to just make it appear that we’re not.” ~ John Zaller

Bio:

John Zaller is the executive producer of Exhibition Hub, a curator and distributor of world-renowned immersive exhibitions. He has honed his unique skills of production, visual art, and set design for more than 25 years while working in the museum, entertainment, retail, and attractions/theme parks industries through his own immersive design firm, KRE8 360, that specializes in creating story-driven, traveling immersion experiences. He has contributed to creating and overseeing multiple immersive experiential environments including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition; Jurassic World: The Exhibition; Bodies the Exhibition; Star Trek: The Exhibition; and the Themed Entertainment Association’s Thea award-winning experience at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Most recently, Zaller has been credited for his contributions and skillful expertise on Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which was named the 2021 best immersive experience by USA Today and among the 12 best immersive experiences in the world by CNN. He has been working with Exhibition Hub for more than a decade and is responsible for the implementation of all Exhibition Hub properties in the United States.

Guest Contact Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwzaller/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhibitionhub_eh/

Van Gogh Immersive Experience Website: https://vangoghexpo.com/