Best Michael Rolland Podcasts (2026)

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How LEAF Global Arts Turns Life Into a Year-Round Festival Experience 44:09

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3M ago44:09

44:09

Just a year ago, fall festivals were disappearing right and left from event calendars in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hurricane Helene may have thrown a wrench in Western North Carolina’s 2024 festival season, but 2025 is back and better than ever. This weekend marks the triumphant return of the LEAF Global Arts Festival for its 30th anniversary at La…

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‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Curators’ Panel: ‘Art is the Highest Form of Hope’ 1:09:05

4M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

In the wake of natural disasters, art can serve as a lifeline for communities in urgent need of healing. Today, we’re chatting with the curators behind A Tale of Two Cities, a cross-cultural exhibition commemorating the anniversaries of hurricanes Helene in Asheville and Katrina in New Orleans. Our guests include Kenn Kotara, an artist based in Ash…

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North Carolina Glass Center: Exploring the Studio Glass Movement With Executive Director Candace Reilly 35:09

6M ago35:09

35:09

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in April 2024. We’re revisiting our conversation with Candace Reilly, founder and executive director of the North Carolina Glass Center, as part of our July 2025 coverage themed around the Blue Ridge Craft Trails. This episode is also part of our partnership with the Blue Ridge National Heritage …

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Preserving a Picturesque America With Conservationist Scott ‘Doc’ Varn 44:23

6M ago44:23

44:23

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in June 2024. We’re revisiting our conversation with Scott “Doc” Varn, founder and executive director of Preserving a Picturesque America, as part of our outdoor art-themed coverage in June 2025. What’s more exciting than an epic treasure hunt, searching for America’s wild places? Today’s guest, …

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Community Through Clay: A Conversation With Sarah Wells Rolland of The Village Potters Clay Center 1:01:46

8M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in April 2022. We’re revisiting our conversation with Sarah Wells Rolland, owner, founder, and resident potter of The Village Potters Clay Center, as part of our clay-themed coverage in May 2025. In the face of adversity, creativity has a remarkable way of shining through. No one embodies this sp…

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The Healing Power of Art in Community Recovery 57:31

11M ago57:31

57:31

What do New Orleans and Western North Carolina have in common? Both regions were rocked by historic hurricanes, which left lasting impacts on their communities and environments. Today, host Louise Glickman explores the transformative role of art and creativity in community recovery, comparing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to the…

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Blue Ridge National Heritage Area: How Western North Carolina is Crafting a Comeback 44:53

12M ago44:53

44:53

Art and crafts are emerging as vital engines for recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation in Western North Carolina. Join host Louise Glickman as she chats with Angie Chandler, executive director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, and Robin Johnston, the Crafts Trails coordinator, to explore how small towns and artists are work…

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Year in Review: Triumphs, Trials, and Bouncing Back After Hurricane Helene 54:19

1y ago54:19

54:19

Excuse our language, but 2024 was a whirlwind—literally. Our final episode of the year explores the sweeping impact of Hurricane Helene on the Asheville arts community. NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power joins ArtsvilleUSA director Louise Glickman to discuss the challenges faced by local artists and art organizations, emphasizing the urge…

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A Tale of Two Cities: What Asheville Can Learn From New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina 54:40

1y ago54:40

54:40

In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation, Asheville can draw valuable lessons from New Orleans, a city that faced its own struggles after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In this month’s podcast episode, ArtsvilleUSA director Louise Glickman sits down with Michael Manes of Asheville’s Blue Spiral 1 and Arthur Roger of New Orleans’ Arthur Roger Galle…

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Photojournalist Michael Freas Documents Disaster, Destruction, and Hope in Asheville 1:12:31

1y ago1:12:31

1:12:31

When natural disasters strike, they don’t just destroy homes; they can devastate entire communities, livelihoods, and creative legacies. In this special edition of Art World Horror Stories, Asheville-based photographer Michael Freas shares the harrowing tale of Hurricane Helene’s destruction, which left hundreds of local artists without studios or …

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Jamie Karolich of Craft Your Commerce: Empowering Artists Through Business Education 44:08

1+ y ago44:08

44:08

Making a living from the arts can be a tough gig. Most art schools rightfully focus on studio skills and critical thinking but place very little emphasis on their real-world applications. Artists often double as their own marketers, using dated information that doesn't translate to tech advances in social media or the contemporary arts industry. In…

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Crafting a Career: Practical Insights From Watercolor Artist Sue Dolamore 41:55

1+ y ago41:55

41:55

When Sue Dolamore started painting, she joined a small group of Asheville-area plein-air artists. Under her leadership, the outdoor painting group ballooned from 12 members to nearly 400 over a five-year period. All the while, Sue learned to capture the breathtaking mountain vistas of Western North Carolina by working outdoors. These days, Sue also…

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Asheville Marketing Maven Sarah Benoit on Mastering Digital Strategies 40:06

1+ y ago40:06

40:06

Ask any artist what they need to succeed; nine times out of 10, they’ll say “marketing.” In today’s podcast episode, marketing wunderkind Sarah Benoit of JB Media Institute joins us to discuss the practical tools artists and creative entrepreneurs need to grow their businesses in the digital era. Key Points From This Episode: How Sarah got into the…

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The Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program with Amy Putansu and Brian Wurst 40:18

1+ y ago40:18

40:18

Both students and teachers in the Haywood Community College (HCC) Professional Crafts program form a prominent part of the vibrant creative community in Western North Carolina, an area with a rich history of traditional craftsmanship. Today, you’ll hear from textile artist Amy Putansu and woodworking instructor Brian Wurst about the accessible natu…

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The Intersection of Art and Healing with Wendy Neuman & Stephanie Munn 38:28

2y ago38:28

38:28

In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Neuman and Stephanie Munn to discuss the importance of art in building and strengthening communities based on their personal experiences. Stephanie is the Director of the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler, North Carolina, and Wendy is a photographer, fashion designer, volunteer, and marketing expert. In our con…

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An Artists' Journey through Artsville with Elizabeth Walton & Amy Massey 31:48

2y ago31:48

31:48

In this episode, we introduce two bright young artists, Elizabeth Walton and Amy Massey, who are making waves in Western North Carolina and beyond. Both Elizabeth and Amy recently graduated from Artsville’s First Virtual Gallery of Artists Cohort program, a digital and live marketing initiative designed to help artists succeed in the business of ar…

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A Guide to the Secondary Art Market with Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions 37:03

2y ago37:03

37:03

Artworks are regularly sold at auctions around the world for record sums of money, but today’s guest believes that auctions serve a greater purpose than just growing the highest bidder’s collection. Every object is an invitation to consider our personal and collective histories through the unique and often fascinating story it has to tell. Today, y…

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Symbiosis, Silkworms, and Ceramics with Andy Palmer and Vicki Essig 32:50

2y ago32:50

32:50

You wouldn’t think that a town of under 500 people could be home to a thriving art gallery, let alone two competing ones across the road from one another. But in Bakersville, North Carolina, that is exactly the case. Joining us today is Andy Palmer, who co-owns the In Tandem gallery with his wife Silvia Ferrari-Palmer on the main street, and Vicki …

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Exploring Asheville: Edgy, Artsy, and Inviting with Marla Tambellini 36:26

2y ago36:26

36:26

If you’re a regular listener of the Artsville Podcast, you are already familiar with the rich creative spirit of Asheville and the historical significance of arts and crafts in the region. We like to shout it from the rooftops! But did you know that Asheville is a world-class tourism destination for so many other reasons too? Today, we are joined b…

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Hilloween: A Mechanism for Unity with Gina Phillips 29:07

2y ago29:07

29:07

In today’s episode of Artsville, you’ll hear from Gina Phillips, a dear friend and someone who has played an integral part in the growth and development of Mitchell County, North Carolina. Gina’s commitments to the Penland School of Craft, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and rural education efforts in Mitchell County helped bir…

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Spreading the “Good News” for Artists in Artsville with Louise Glickman & Scott Power 34:55

2+ y ago34:55

34:55

How did Asheville become Artsville? The magic is in our partnerships! Together with our collaborators, we’re able to promote the work of emerging and established artists from our respective regions to an ever-growing audience. Today’s guest is one of those collaborators and someone who is deeply committed to helping artists build their brands and s…

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The Story of Curating Jim McDowell’s Red Tails Face Jug with Nasher’s Chief Curator Marshall N. Price Ph.D. 35:59

2+ y ago35:59

35:59

Today’s episode is many months in the making. We are very excited because this is the culmination of a series of features we have written about Jim McDowell and his Face Jug: A story about how it has traveled throughout our audience and how Susan and Michael Hershield made it possible to give it to the Nasher Collection. We heard from the collector…

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Where Creativity Comes From with Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle 42:11

2+ y ago42:11

42:11

In this episode of the Artsville Podcast, we introduce you to two of the remarkable painters taking part in the inaugural Biltmore Lake’s Imaginative Studio Stroll (BLISS), taking place on May 6th, 2023. Dynamic mother-daughter duo Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle are each incredible artists in their own right. From an early age, Bee encouraged Moll…

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Bridging the Gap Between Artists and Art Enthusiasts with Sherry Masters 37:21

2+ y ago37:21

37:21

If you’re listening to this podcast, you already know that art brings beauty and joy into our lives, but it can also bring us closer as we learn about it together and share experiences. This is the objective that Sherry Masters had in mind when she created Art Connections, an Asheville-based business designed to bring art enthusiasts and artists to…

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BLISS with Elaine Scherer and Louise Glickman 42:13

3y ago42:13

42:13

Art and culture are essential elements that keep communities healthy, vibrant, and connected. Artsville founder Louise Glickman even thinks of art as the glue that holds communities together. With this in mind, artists in Biltmore Lake, Candler, NC, have partnered with Artsville to produce a studio tour with a twist! Introducing BLISS, the first-ev…

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Rest as Resistance with Mary Farmer 55:19

3y ago55:19

55:19

If you’re listening to this podcast, you already know that there are so many reasons that art is important. It not only beautifies our surroundings, but it is a reflection of the world around us. For Mary Farmer, an artist with a long history as a women’s rights and social justice activist, art is liberation from the stresses of the world. Mary is …

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Fiber Activism with Judi Jetson 1:09:48

3y ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Textile-based products are often an underappreciated art form that does not receive the recognition it deserves and leaves many artists struggling to earn a living. What is needed is an organization that facilitates the demand for textile-based art forms and helps artists monetize their products. This is the perspective of today’s guest, Judi Jetso…

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“Don’t Touch the Art!” with Merrily Orsini 54:27

3y ago54:27

54:27

Art collector and entrepreneur Merrily Orsini moved to Asheville so she could be within walking distance of her four grandchildren. The fact that she and her husband have a glass art collection of over 200 pieces has necessitated some well-thought out house designing and strict enforcement of the “don’t touch the art!” rule (although, she sometimes…

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Helping Asheville Artists Thrive with Kate Pett 1:00:17

3+ y ago1:00:17

1:00:17

Rapid growth has its benefits, but it can also have major downfalls. Kate Pett, the Executive Director of Thrive Asheville, joins us today to explain how her organization is helping her beloved community confront the latter. The lack of high paying jobs, low levels of social mobility, and increasing gentrification in Asheville are causing a decline…

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Jim McDowell: The Need to Look Back in Order to Move Forward 47:21

3+ y ago47:21

47:21

Today, we welcome ceramic artist, Jim McDowell, to the Artsville Podcast! Jim, known to many as the Black Potter, is a ceramicist based in Weaverville, North Carolina, who specializes in stoneware face jugs, a type of vessel that bears the likeness of the human face. Through his work, he honors the origins of these culturally rich vessels and refle…

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Looking at the World Differently with Kenn Kotara 54:44

3+ y ago54:44

54:44

Today’s guest on the Artsville Podcast is the one and only Kenn Kotara, a contemporary mixed-media abstract artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. Kenn’s practice has been shaped by his lifelong fascination with architecture, philosophy, and literature, and he masterfully expresses himself on canvas, paper, and Mylar, as well as braille, Polaro…

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Robert Nicholas: Seeing Value in the Discarded 1:01:31

3+ y ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Creating spaces for art to thrive is becoming more and more important as the world goes digital. Marquee is one such space in Asheville that was borne of the vision of lighting designer, antique dealer, entrepreneur, and real estate developer, Robert Nicholas. In this episode, we find out all about how the grand exhibition space that is Marquee cam…

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Finding Your Calling with Viola Spells 57:09

3+ y ago57:09

57:09

Most artists know their calling from a young age and enter into the creative world in early adulthood with little to no savings. This was not the case with one of the legends of the art world, Viola Spells. Viola was working as a librarian and investing in properties when she attended her daughter's parent evening where she fell in love with the id…

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The Beauty of Surprise with Rhona Polonsky 51:25

3+ y ago51:25

51:25

Today’s guest lived and worked in many exotic parts of the world before finding her way to Artsville, where she is currently very happily residing and exhibiting her work. Whether in India, Indonesia, or Ghana, Rhona Polonsky has always sought out beauty and surprise, and therefore she has always been surrounded by inspiration for her art. Rhona de…

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Tails of Whimsy with Daryl Slaton 57:10

3+ y ago57:10

57:10

In this episode of Artsville, we welcome one of the driving forces behind this Asheville-based project, the inspiring and wonderful Daryl Slaton. Daryl is a lifelong artist, having worked in many different spheres, including periods as a commercial artist for some of the biggest names in corporate America! As is apparent throughout our conversation…

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From Egg to Art: Discovering the Tradition of Pysanky, Ukrainian Easter Eggs, With Andrea Kulish 51:55

3+ y ago51:55

51:55

Crack open the world of pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter Eggs, with today’s guest, Andrea Kulish. Andrea, a first-generation Ukrainian-American artist and designer, specializes in pysanky eggs, a traditional Ukrainian art form created with a wax-resist or batik technique. In this episode, Andrea reveals the deep cultural significance of pysanky, which …

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Center for Craft + Momentum Gallery: Making Asheville Artsville 1:01:08

4y ago1:01:08

1:01:08

Welcome back to another episode of Artsville, where we celebrate American contemporary arts and crafts from Asheville, North Carolina, and beyond! In today’s double-whammy episode, you’ll hear from two special guests: Stephanie Moore, Director of the Center for Craft, and Jordan Ahlers, Director and Owner of Momentum Gallery, both of which are loca…

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Blue Spiral 1: Elevating Artisans with Michael Manes 46:23

4y ago46:23

46:23

Today on the Artsville Podcast, we hear from Michael Manes, Gallery Director and Co-Owner at Blue Spiral 1, an art gallery in the heart of Downtown Asheville that represents up to 120 contemporary artists and the estate of turn-of-the-century modernist, Will Henry Stevens. Blue Spiral 1 exhibits the work of artists and makers in a light-filled 15,0…

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Black Mountain College: Birthplace of the American Avant-Garde with Kate Averett 59:44

4y ago59:44

59:44

Black Mountain College has long been acknowledged as the birthplace of the true American avant-garde. The experimental school was founded in 1933 on the principles of attaining a perfect balance between academics, arts, and crafts within a purely democratic society, where all members, students, and teachers were considered to be equal. Legendary ev…

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Grovewood Village + Gallery: A Handmade Legacy with Tom Anders 1:03:09

4y ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In today’s episode, we’re taking a dive into the history behind how Asheville became Artsville, with Tom Anders from Grovewood Gallery! Located in the historic Grovewood Village, which once housed the weaving and woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries, Grovewood Gallery is nationally recognized for its dedication to fine American art and cra…

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Penland School of Craft: Helping People Live Creative Lives with Mia Hall and Robin Dreyer 55:12

4y ago55:12

55:12

Welcome to the first-ever episode of the Artsville Podcast, where we celebrate American contemporary arts and crafts from Asheville, North Carolina, and beyond! Today, Crewest Studio's Scott "Sourdough" Power is joined by Louise Glickman and Daryl Slaton from the Sand Hill Artists Collective (SHAC) to introduce you to Mia Hall and Robin Dreyer, the…

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Artsville Original Theme Song 1:40

4y ago1:40

1:40

Our song says it all. Performed by Richard Donovan and the Owls “Artsville Theme Song” (Written by Dan Ubick) Produced by Dan Ubick for DanUbe Productions Richard Donovan : vocals Jordan Katz : banjo Adam Moss : fiddle Ben Peeler : mandolin Dan Ubick : guitars Dave Wilder : upright bassBy Crewest Studio + Sand Hill Artists Collective