This episode comes to us LIVE from The Breath & the Clay creative arts gathering in Winston-Salem, NC. Stephen discusses the importance and responsibility of honesty in art-making with John Mark McMillan, Vesper Stamper, Josh Riebock and Mykell Wilson.
Read MoreVesper Stamper is an illustrator and author who was born in Nuremberg, Germany and raised in New York City. Her family was an eclectic mix of engineers, musicians and artists who didn't think Voltaire too tough for bedtime reading, Chopin Valses too loud for wake-up calls, or precision slide rules too fragile as playthings. She married filmmaker Ben Stamper right out of college, and together they have two wildly creative children. When Vesper earned her MFA in Illustration from School of Visual Arts, Ben gave her an orange tree. She illustrates and writes under its leaves and blossoms at her grandfather 's old drafting table, in the pine woods of the Northeast.
In this episode, Stephen talks with Vesper about her debut, young-adult historical novel, What The Night Sings. The two discuss Vesper’s creative process in writing and illustrating the book and how her interest in the Holocaust led her on a search for redemption in the midst of unimaginable circumstances.
Read MoreMykell Wilson is a California native working in the Entertainment Industry. He is a fire-starter of inspiration, a man of faith and a hard-working individual. Mykell is a gifted singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and choreographer; He is also a published author and motivational speaker on self-development. Mykell's dance has allowed him to work and/or tour with Prince, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and most recently Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour. Known to some as "Mighty Mykell" he aspires to be a living example of hope and authenticity. He is the only "Mykell Wilson."
In this episode, Stephen talks with Mykell about the importance of knowing who you are, the value of humility and what it takes to never give up on your dreams.
Read More
Joel McKerrow is one of Australia's leading internationally touring performance poets. He is the Artist Ambassador for 'TEAR Australia' and co-founder of community arts organization, 'The Centre for Poetics and Justice.'
Joel is a TEDx speaker and performer and frontman poet of 'Joel McKerrow & the Mysterious Few.'
This conversation was conducted in Joel's hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Stephen and Joel discuss his poetry, social justice and reframing the way we understand our lives through creativity and writing for others.
Read MoreIn October of 2017, Stephen Roach joined United Pursuit for their Reunion Retreat held on Johnny Cash's land in Nashville, Tennessee. As part of the event, Stephen shared two keynote talks on the interface between creativity and spirituality.
This episode features excerpts from Stephen's talk On The Relationship Between Faith and Art and encourages artists to pursue their creativity without tired, religious constrictions.
Tickets To The Breath & The Clay
Become A Patron of The Podcast
Read MoreEmily Freeman is an author, listener and creative director living in North Carolina. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of four books, including SImply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways. Emily is the host of The Next Right Thing Podcast and co-founder of a growing community for writers called hope*writers. She teaches an online course called Create + Complete where she helps people live as wholehearted creatives in their faith, work and relationships.
In this episode, Stephen Roach and his wife Sarah talk with Emily about keeping our creativity alive even amidst the demands of our everyday lives.
Read MoreTy Nathan Clark is a well-known abstract artist living and working in Waco, Texas. He is a devoted activist, writer, cinematographer, and philanthropist. His work is informed by an in-depth study of civil rights movements, literature, philosophy, and theology.
Ty’s art has been described as “parabolic” in nature, telling stories in visual representations of the human condition. He uses a variety of mediums and textures to create what has been termed a “dismantled imagery, representing the incomplete bits and pieces of personality and memories that make up each human being.”
Read More2017 year-end review featuring excerpts from Brian Zahnd, Josh Garrels, Anna McGahan and others.
Read MoreEveryone loves coffee, right? Especially the 3 a.m. writer and the late night musician. In this Bonus episode, Stephen introduces us to Chris Miller of North Carolina's own, Maker Coffee. Listen in for a special offer.
Become a Makers & Mystics patron and receive discounted tickets to The Breath & the Clay and a free canister of Maker coffee shipped to your home!
Get tickets to The Breath & the Clay. **Early Registration ends December 31st, 2017!
Listen to the Makers & Mystics Spotify playlist!
Featured Music in this episode is provided by Chris Miller's music group FYR FYTR
Follow Makers & Mystics on Instagram
Read MoreIn this episode, Actress Anna McGahan shares about the rigors of the acting world, her faith in Jesus and the challenges of being a Christ follower in the entertainment industry.
Read MoreJosh Riebock is the best-selling author of the memoir, Heroes and Monsters and My Generation. He is host of the popular podcast, The Marrow, and a sought-after storyteller and poet at venues around the country for his captivating artistry and honesty.
In this episode, Stephen talks with Josh about cultivating honesty within artistry and how beauty and terror sometimes appear inextricably linked.
Tom Waits, Nirvana, Charles Bukowski, William Shakespeare, Stranger Things and the love and violence within scripture are among the topics of their discussion.
Read MoreKen Helser is a visual artist, storyteller, musician and founder of the 52-acre retreat center, A Place For The Heart in Sophia, North Carolina. For the past 30 years, Ken has mentored students from across the world, teaching them to hear and journal the voice of God through writing. Currently, Ken partners with his son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan David and Melissa Helser at their 18 Inch Journey School.
In this episode, Ken talks with Stephen about the core motives of the heart and how to navigate the deeper concerns facing many artists today. Ken shares from his own journey through rejection, imitation and the discovery of how "the key to discipline is desire."
Featured Music by Cageless Birds
Read MoreChristine Valters Paintner is a spiritual director and Benedictine Oblate living in Galway, Ireland. She authored the book, "The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom." The book is a 12-week journey exploring the interplay between contemplation and creativity. In this episode, Stephen talks with Christine about her thoughts on humility, radical generosity and what it means to be an urban monk and a part-time hermit.
Featured Music by Latifah Alattas of Moda Spira.
Read MoreIn this episode, Stephen talks with singer/songwriter, Jason Upton about linear versus circular creative processes. This episode features previously unreleased material from the artist.
Read MoreIn this episode, Stephen talks with visual Paul Benney about his painting Speaking in Tongues, which is now on exhibit in Venice, Italy. Paul describes his secularist approach to the Pentecost story and tells how his exploration of the human spirit led him to a modern interpretation of the biblical narrative.
Read MoreThe Clang Quartet is an improvisational percussion/performance-art show, based metaphorically on the life of Jesus Christ. In this episode, Stephen talks with Clang Quartet founder, Scotty Irving about performance art as a vehicle of the gospel. The two discuss the need for resilience and tenacity in presenting uncommon or abstract forms of art. Scotty tells about his electrified crutch and the meaning behind the sound collages of his "harsh noise" genre of art.
Read MoreIn this keynote talk, Stephen Roach proposes that creativity is our birthright and essential to fulfilling God's original design for humanity. Stephen encourages that we are in the midst of a creative awakening and calls the church to break free from religious oppression into the creative liberty of sons and daughters.
Read More
Matt Tommey is a woven sculpture artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Matt has authored several books including "Unlocking The Heart of The Artist" and "Crafting Your Brand:
Simple Strategies for Cultivating a Successful Creative Career". In this episode, Matt and Stephen discuss Matt's process of utilizing natural materials for his sculptural works. The two talk through differentiations between process and product and how artists can move from concepts and ideas to a lifestyle of creative expression. *This episode features music by Zach Winters from the album "To Have You Around".
This episode is Part 2 of a conversation with Josh Garrels. In this episode, Stephen Roach discusses Josh's honest lyricism, how our families and cultural environments inform the art we make.
Read MoreJosh Garrels is a Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter who combines elements of hip-hop, world music and folk in his songwriting. His lyrics are characterized by a raw honesty in exploring themes of faith, hope and compassion.
In this episode, Josh discusses his background in music and the pathway which led him to a vocation as a professional, independent musician. Josh talks with Stephen Roach about balancing family life and touring as well as how the choices of our personal lives inform the art we create. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.
Read MoreIn this keynote, worship leader and founder of the Burn 24/7 prayer movement, Sean Feucht challenges artists to live and create from an "ethos of amazement." Drawing from his work among refugees in Iraq, Sean calls upon artists to have imaginations which will "challenge the dominant reality" and offer hope instead of despair. This keynote was given at the 2017 The Breath & The Clay Creative Arts gathering in Winston-Salem, NC.
Read More"Art is often viewed as being inherently spiritual. But what does it mean to describe an experience of art or beauty as "spiritual"? Is there a relationship between the spiritual experience a person has in the presence of a work of art and the Holy Spirit of Christian faith?"
In this episode, Stephen Roach explores these ideas with theologian, Dr. Steven Guthrie. Their discussion centers on elements from Dr. Guthrie's book, Creator Spirit: The Holy Spirit & The Art Of Becoming Human. In their discussion, Stephen and Dr. Guthrie reference ideas from Plato, Russian abstract artist Kandinsky and the composer, Arnold Schoenberg. Dr. Guthrie unpacks how each of these artist's and philosopher's views of spirituality compares to the bible's depiction of the Holy Spirit.
Read MoreIn the month of February 2017, Stephen Roach composed and posted a new poem each day of the month. These poems were written in response to the "artless and often contemptible mood" found within social media. Stephen set out to offer "choreography instead of industry", beauty instead of hostility and to place "a carnation in the barrels of loaded guns". In observance of National Poetry Month, Stephen shares several of his poems from this collection of writings featuring music by Timbre, Songs of Water, Loudharp and Brandon Willet. #poetryismyprotest
Joining Stephen in this episode is artist, Melina Daniels of Overflow Studios in Boone, NC. Melina shares a story of how she and her husband Jacob responded to the 2016 Charlotte protests surrounding the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by setting up an outdoor art studio in the midst of the uprising.
Poetry is a vehicle of transcendence and social change. It is both protest and praise, a means of lifting the spirit and calling for action. In this episode, Stephen turns to the “ancient and analog” art of poetry as a means of response to the current challenges of our day.
**Special thanks goes out to Timbre, Loudharp, Songs of Water, and Brandon Willet for providing musical landscapes accompanying the poetry of this episode. Also, a special thanks to Elisa Cox, Eloise Corlett, Catherine Mi-Sook Roemer and Sarah Roach for voiceover contributions.
You can purchase a copy of Stephen's February poems at: stephenroach.org
Read More
