Gutterblood Talk Show

The Gutterblood Talk Show is an experiment in seeding candid dialogue about the state of the Austin art scene. Held in Sono's private studio, it weaves people together across the art community to cross-pollinate and increase its influence as the city rapidly gentrifies. It all started when I asked a few of my favorite gallerists,“how do we get the money that's pouring into Austin to buy art?” It was a bit facetious given the cautionary tale of what tech wealth did to San Francisco, but still worth asking, because above all it was about the sustainability of the art ecosystem in Austin. Then I got the crazy idea to ask these people if they wanted to join me in a talk show, and to my surprise, they all said yes. The first Gutterblood Talk Show on August 12, 2022 included Kevin Ivester of Ivester Contemporary, Jamey Poole, Director of Operations/Artist Liaison at Lora Reynolds Gallery and Jill Schroeder of Gray Duck Gallery. The show was so fun and successful that I decided to keep going, giving each original guest their own shot at moderation, choosing a group and opener. The second talk showon March 7, 2023 was moderated by Jamey Poole. She invited Sean Gaulager of Co-Lab Projects, Emily Lee of All of a Sudden and Mai Snow of Shed Shows. Each spearhead an artist-run DIY space and have a unique curatorial model, approach to fostering community and method of independence, and that evening, prompted by Jamey’s superb preparation, it was all laid out on the table. The third talk show on June 27, 2023 was lead by Jill Schroeder. She invited seasoned Austin art collectors Shalini Ramanathan and Chris Tomlinson and art consultant Amy Sawtelle to gnaw on what it is to show up and bear witness, mixed with a little how to on putting your money where your mouth is. Committed collectors are indispensable stake holders in the art world and Austin needs more of them. Future shows are art and tech, art education and art in public places with more to come.