Articulate
Season 4
Articulate connects audiences to the human stories behind art, offering a trustworthy, visually stimulating, never ordinary take on classical, contemporary, and popular art forms. From acclaimed musicians and best-selling authors to designers changing the way we live, each episode explores what great creative thinkers and doers can tell us about who we are, who we’ve been, and who we might become.
Where to Watch Season 4
7 Episodes
- Changing Minds About Changing Climate, Gerald Busby's Lust for Life, First Time's the Charm
E1Changing Minds About Changing Climate, Gerald Busby's Lust for Life, First Time's the CharmTwo artists are helping start new conversations about climate change by presenting its truths more gracefully. Composer Gerald Busby could not have guessed that after surviving heartbreak, disease and drug addiction, he would experience an artistic rebirth in his twilight years. A showcase for those who were in the past often excluded from performing rock music is helping to create a new breed of band. - Roomful of Teeth, Artisanal Makers, Kandace Springs
E2Roomful of Teeth, Artisanal Makers, Kandace SpringsWith custom-composed pieces employing a staggering range of vocal styles, Roomful of Teeth makes music that's at times difficult to define. The popularity of the 21st century artisanal movement is a rejection of the sameness of mass production, rooted in our obsession with the authentic. And Kandace Springs struggled to find her voice, but when she did, it sounded effortless. - Mira Nakashima, Opera Philadelphia, Jose Gonzalez
E3Mira Nakashima, Opera Philadelphia, Jose GonzalezAfter her father George Nakashima died, Mira Nakashima inherited his shop and set to work continuing his artistic legacy as a master craftsman in wood. Opera Philadelphia is emerging as the great disruptor of a centuries old art form, but their latest production may soon become part of opera's great canon. Jose Gonzalez's sweet songs tackle hard issues about the nature of existence. - The Evolution of Portraits, Bassist Joseph Conyers, Kevin Barnes of of Montreal
E4The Evolution of Portraits, Bassist Joseph Conyers, Kevin Barnes of of MontrealJoseph Conyers is well aware of the lowly reputation of his instrument- the double bass. Yet he's using his musical talents in the pursuit of some rather high aspirations. Long before selfies, portraits were a way for those who could afford to, to influence how the world saw them. Kevin Barnes is the leader and founder of the indie rock band Of Montreal. After 20 years and 14 albums, he's still an enigma to his fans and even to those close to him. - Performance Anxiety, Carsie Blanton, Renoir Sucks?
E5Performance Anxiety, Carsie Blanton, Renoir Sucks?Performance anxiety is common even among the most accomplished professionals. This fight or flight impulse is paralyzing, but it can be conquered. Carsie Blanton is using a vintage musical form - jazz - to help change contemporary perceptions of women. And It's easy to take for granted that what's on the walls of the world's finest museums represents the cream of art history. But today, some are questioning this received wisdom. - Xenia Rubinos, Worth, Don Liuzzi
E6Xenia Rubinos, Worth, Don LiuzziXenia Rubinos' complex music is infused with simple messages about big ideas. The factors that contribute to the price of a work of art go way beyond its aesthetic value. And principal timpani of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Don Liuzzi, believes that music is a spiritual pursuit. - George Watsky, the Sound of Philadelphia, Ian Brennan
E7George Watsky, the Sound of Philadelphia, Ian BrennanThe performance poet turned rapper Watsky pulls no punches in his first collection of essays. All of his writings are characterized by witty wordplay and disarming honesty. It's said that the City of Brotherly Love has had for years its own distinctive musical color. But is the sound of Philadelphia a myth, a memory, or magic? And Ian Brennan believes that the cultural colonization of the world by those of us who sing and speak in English needs redress.