Digging Through with Gessy Alvarez

Storyteller Series kicks off with a wondrous tale - Judge by Zuzanna Fiminska.
Zuzanna Fimińska is a writer filling the world with great conversations and many points of view. Her work was published in Mslexia, Other Stories, Coil Magazine, Cecile's Writers, Cadaverine and others. She's the creator Project Neighbours, a series of interviews with people from around the world about diversity and creating a world fit for purpose: www.projectneighbours.com/interviews.
Opening and Closing Music Credit:
Dusk Cathedral by Lee Rosevere
RELEASED: April 2nd, 2019
GENRES: Electronic, Ambient, Hip-Hop Beats, Instrumental
LENGTH: 00:17:44
LABEL: Happy Puppy Records
freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…Dusk_Cathedral
Interlude:
RELEASED: March 20th, 2019
GENRES: Electronic, Minimal Electronic, Instrumental
LENGTH: 00:41:43
LABEL: Happy Puppy Records
freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_6/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_6_-_15_Where_Was_I-

We're back from a long hiatus. Gessy talks about what has kept her away for so long, Portland, AWP Conference, and answers the question everyone was asking her...What does 'Cultural Omnivore' mean?
Opening and Closing Music Credit:
Dusk Cathedral by Lee Rosevere
RELEASED: April 2nd, 2019
GENRES: Electronic, Ambient, Hip-Hop Beats, Instrumental
LENGTH: 00:17:44
LABEL: Happy Puppy Records
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Blue_Dot_RMX/Dusk_Cathedral

I invited Paul Beckman for a drink and a chat at my favorite spot, Great Jones Cafe in NYC. We talked about his new stories and where he grew up. Paul reads his stories: "Bad Man" and "Honey, Darling."
Music Credits:
Opening and Closing - The Grind by Justin Mahar
Improvisata Persica 'Santur'. Composed and Performed by by Frank Zintl.
Don Perez Freire (Tango). Composer: Agustin Barrios Mangore. Performer:
Edson Lopes.
All music courtesy of MusOpen.org.

I had the pleasure of spending an evening with writer Bud Smith and artist Rae Buleri. We talk about their book Dust Bunny City, Bud's new book Double Bird, writing and art life, and all the fuzzy stuff in between.
Music Credit: The Grind by Justin Mahar courtesy of MusOpen.org

In this final episode of season one, Gessy has some fun reading a condensed version of her short story "Swinging from a Chandelier." She even attempts to carry a tune or two.

Gessy continues to obsess over formidable artists. This week she's living for Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector and artist Louise Bourgeois. Listen to an excerpt of Lispector's short story, The Dinner, from her New Directions' collection, Complete Stories. Learn about Louise Bourgeois' exhibit, An Unfolding Portrait, at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. As always, Flowers!
Also featured: an excerpt from David Salle's article in The New York Review of books: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2017/12/07/louise-bourgeois-outing-inside/
Music Credit: The Grind by Justin Mahar courtesy of MusOpen.org

Part two of our interview with poet Roberto Carlos Garcia about his collection, Melancolía. We chat about life in the suburbs, higher powers, Get Fresh Books, and the state of poetic education. This is part two of two.
Music: The Grind by Justin Mahar courtesy of MusOpen.org

In this episode I have the pleasure of interviewing poet, Roberto Carlos Garcia about his collection, Melancolía. We chat about life in the suburbs, family, our understanding of Duende and Melancolía as forces in our lives, and so much more. This is part one of two.
Music: The Grind by Justin Mahar courtesy of MusOpen.org

In this episode, Gessy shares her attraction to “outsider” female artists. She focuses on a retrospective at the New Museum in NYC entitled “Carol Rama: Antibodies.
Note from Gessy:
I’ve always been attracted to “outsider” female artists. These women who bravely defied conventions and civil decorum in order to create work they believe in. Having grown up in a conservative family with enormous pressure to not only conform but to also take care of my family before taking care of myself, I have looked up to these women as examples of how to exist beyond what you are told you need to be.
Title comes from the following quote:
"I didn’t have any painters as masters, the sense of sin is my master." Carol Rama
Music: The Grind by Justin Mahar courtesy of MusOpen.org

Gessy went on vacation to the magical land of Ptown this week. She reminisces about her first visit and expounds (ha!) on her love for the wondrous fishing village. Grace Paley, retired cops, free condoms, and drag queens, oh my!
Music: Opening -Sérénades, Op.96, Ferdinando Carulli, performed by Menecha Casano and Néstor Guestrin. Closing - Forgotten Dreams, Leroy Anderson, performed by Markus Staab.