Art and Labor

This week we’re joined by artist, writer, and joke band member Alex Bienstock (@personality_sculptor). He performs his meta-manifesto “We, the Post-Artists“ then we discuss violence, the internet, and society’s relationship to the concept of cringe. Upsetting both the normies and the hipsters is the goal, it’s beautiful. If you like the podcast and want more, … Continue reading "Episode 51 – Notes on Cringe with Alex Bienstock"

We’re joined by the incredible Ana Fabrega and Julio Torres! We talk about the fragile “Jenga tower” brains of art world people, the labyrinth of horror that is our immigration system, and exploitative gig economy bulllshit that inspired their HBO show Los Espookys. It’s a delightful reprieve from a particularly dire news cycle. We forgot … Continue reading "Episode 50 – Los Espookys with Ana Fabrega and Julio Torres"

Hey folks! Ding dong Kanders is dead (if only), we catch up on the news we missed, and finally dig into Red Bloom Collective’s Art Workers’ Inquiry. It’s a super robust survey, we encourage everyone to take it themselves here. We didn’t end up having time to complete the second part of the inquiry, but … Continue reading "Episode 49 – Art Workers’ Inquiry"

So beautiful to see artworkers on the cover of the paper of record! Too bad NYT whiffs it so hard—for an article about worker struggle they sure showcase a lot of bosses. We discuss how the media frames systemic issues in defeatist or individualist terms, we push against the scarcity mindset, encourage more decentralized actions, … Continue reading "Episode 48 – Unions Rule, New York Times Drools"

Hey folks here’s an episode about how abusive scumbags, but the first 20 mins or so is lovely fan mail from your beautiful souls!! We discuss Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to the art world as well as his ridiculous compound(s). Fuck every billionaire forever, let’s fight for a world free of these fucking sociopaths. If you … Continue reading "Episode 47 – Epstein and the Art World"

Hello! We aren’t going to build a winning leftist coalition by defending white supremacy. The Paglia poisoned ladies of Vice 2 are at it again, this time in an asinine interview in a magazine that explicitly exists to undermine leftist politics. We’ve previously covered nihilism and insidious individualism on the left (Paglia ep, Vice 2 … Continue reading "Episode 46 – Greeting the Anti-Woke Left"

Now that’s what I call pracksezz!!! Performers could learn something from the museum workers. A year ago we did an episode the MoMA worker’s gala protest, back then we were hopeful their protests would encourage more artworkers to unionize. It’s happening!! In addition to interviewing folks from The New Museum about the specific demands and … Continue reading "DISPATCH – Podcast Wars and New Museum Action"

We finally got Colleen Tighe (@colleentie) in the studio! We have a super fun and extensive discussion on the particulars making art for a living. Colleen is both an accomplished commercial illustrator and prolific creator of socialist art. This is a great episode for anyone grappling with their participation in capitalism and what to envision … Continue reading "Episode 45 – Design and Illustration with Colleen Tighe"

Hey fuck the Bushwick Collective and their shit murals. Anyways, I’m hungover ’cause it was Lucia’s birthday!!! This episode is joyous! We sing a song, and talk about stuff we like, and also talk about how architecture is cursed and murals are propaganda for trendy real estate companies. We discuss the insidious ways developers use … Continue reading "Episode 44 – Bushwick is Cursed"

A tide is turning in the art and cultural world! We’re sick of the same tired, unproductive conversations, and are finding strength in solidarity with our peers. We discuss the bizarre Artforum panel about “accountability” and are later joined by Michelle Millar Fisher from the new group Art + Museum Transparency (@AMTransparency). She helped create … Continue reading "Episode 43 – Art and Transparency"

Hey friends! Sorry for the delay, OK has been sick! We have a discussion about the on-going protests at The Whitney—it’s effectiveness and possible strategies. Lucia went to the Biennial and has insights; OK attended the museum solidarity day of the protests and spoke with a memember of (D)IRT, The (De)Institutional Research Team, who calls … Continue reading "Episode 42 – (De)Institutional Research Team and The Crisis at The Whitney"

NYC went to Toronto then Toronto came to NYC!! We’re thrilled to be joined by Eric Kostiuk Williams (@kostiukwilliams) to discuss TCAF, Queers and Comics, pop star labor rights, gentrification, community, and Cher’s QANON tweet. Eric’s newest book “Our Wretched Town Hall” is available from Retrofit. If you like the podcast and want more, please … Continue reading "Episode 41 – #FreeBritney with Eric Kostiuk Williams"

Hello everyone! Y’all ready to dive into the simulacrum void? We discuss press releases, how publicity influences art economies, the concepts of nothingness/realities, and synthesize the convo with an essay from the original media theorist weirdo Jean Baudrillard. Zine folks: catch OK at TCAF this weekend! Thank you Peter (@deadtreesanddye) for sending us the Hito … Continue reading "Episode 40 – The Conspiracy of Art"

We read the entirety of the William Morris essay this podcast is named after! If you have already read Capital vol. 1 you may want to skip to the middle were Morris’ speech really takes off, but it’s a good refresher, plus we do commentary throughout. If you like the podcast and want more, please … Continue reading "READING – William Morris “Art and Labour”"

Hop in our hot air balloon we’re touring the world baby! This episode we’re joined by curator and PhD student Emilie M. Reed (@netgal_emi) to discuss the new Hito Steyerl show at Serpentine S***ler Gallery in London. We also do a little recap of Žižek vs Peterson spectacle. Finally, we head to Paris to discuss … Continue reading "Episode 39 – Paris Burns, Hito Returns"