Ep. #23- What Is Art? A Conversation With Henry Sanchez & Heather L. Johnson

The Inn Between Podcast

Artists Henry Sanchez and Heather Johnson are joining us on today’s episode of The Inn Between. Leah and Henry went to grad school together and are having a mini reunion. Today’s episode challenges views on art and will force you to think about art in a whole new way.

Henry’s art focuses on social justice and environmental conerns blended together and based in the East End of Houston. He also has a studio on the Bayou that dovetails off of a nonprofit that is building biking trails through the Bayou. Beyond only bike trails, Henry is pushing stewardship of the Bayou through art and natural sciences. Utilizing art in activism is a balance of the artist meeting activists where they are while also having the activists meet the artist where they are.Heather is best known for art project involving traveling alone on her motorcycle and creating an art project about wearing vulnerability on her sleeve. She took all the experiences she felt and allowed herself space to express that through multiple medias. Through all her trips, she gave away 47 pieces of artwork away. After COVID dampened travel plans, Heather has turned to the contrast of human comfort and land conservation and points out the contraditctions in humanity vs. nature.

www.heatherljohnson.com www.bioartbayoutorium.org

[0:00:00] Show intro

[0:00:47] Welcome to Henry and Heather

[0:02:03] Who is Henry?

[0:10:33] What is social practice?

[0:15:53] Who is Heather and what is her work?

[0:28:05] The surprise and delight of finding or gifting art

[0:33:31] Creating a connection between art and artist

[0:37:14] What art means to the artist

[0:53:41] How does Heather see her work?

[0:56:43] Does the label “social practice” really matter?

[1:00:26] Closing comments

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