by Edward Farnham Long recognized as emblematic of the primal creative force, sound embodies the essence of vibration, the back and forth pendulum swing of yin and yang, male and female, the dual universe. It travels through air and informs our minds, but water is an...
by Wendy Warnimont/Shanti LILA OF ANANDA KIRTANA features Kirtan played on the accordion with more movement and healing focus. Although the melodies and rhythms have roots in traditional Kirtan or Middle Eastern patterns, the arrangements are more organic and push the...
by Anna Applegate How comfortable are you in describing yourself as a creator? Do you identify as one? Why or why not? Is that term solely reserved for artists? Or parents? Or the holders of patents? Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re breathing new worlds into...
At a very young age, Vivian Gutierrez found herself fascinated with poetry, and different art expressions. Her inclination toward the subject of spirituality and respect for women’s strength has always been her main subject and theme. Her preference for this subject...
by Liz Baudler When Tatiana Chaika was a child in Southwestern Sibera, her parents thought she should learn piano. In two years, she had eight teachers, and a ton of frustration. So when she came to American many years later and someone suggested she attend a Native...
by Karlene Mostek The incredible story of the universe and its evolutionary process through billions of years in galaxies, solar systems and earth is a fundamental interest in my art. We know now that earth itself and all beings on it evolved from the dying supernovas...
by Kat Kidwell A photo shows four-year-old me in pink overalls staring out through the bars of a puppy pen, my fingers pawing at the wires with a big grin. Everyone thought it was cute. I’d just known I’d love the feel of getting trapped in a tiny cage with other...
by Liz Baudler and Hannah Nelson Having two writers in a room may or may not lead to a brilliant conversation. But when said two writers describe themselves respectively as an “eco-anarcha-feminst” and a “bipolar ecstatic”, you know you’re in for a memorable evening....
by Liz Baudler You have to wonder what two extraordinarily multitalented people like Kat Kidwell and Jason Gremley are doing making music. It’s not that their sound isn’t inspiring—both Kat and Jason have performed at Life Force Arts Center before. It’s just that they...
Judy Demchuk is a Chicago area artist who has helped organize art exhibits at Life Force. Her usual medium is silk painting. This interview was conducted both in person and over email. Liz Baudler: I’m going to start off with an obvious question: how did you get into...
