Unbelievably, it’s been a year and a half since federal arts funding and humanities grants across the U.S. were abruptly canceled. In the wake of this decision, arts organizations and cultural institutions have scaled back or even halted their work altogether. Despite a general atmosphere of uncertainty, many are fighting back, determined to persevere.

Since its inception, Crewest Studio—the production house behind NOT REAL ART and its sister organization, ArtsvilleUSA—has pursued one core mission: to help artists tell their stories and promote their work. Led by Scott “Sourdough” Power, Crewest has produced podcasts, launched television projects, and published books, all self-funded and free from paywalls, subscriptions, or advertising.

Now, Crewest Studio is entering a new era with the launch of Arterial, a nonprofit grantmaking arm designed to keep artists’ stories alive and accessible to everyone. Today, Scott sits down with Morgan Laurens, editor-in-chief for both NOT REAL ART and ArtsvilleUSA, to talk about fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking, and the future of arts funding.

Episode Credits

Hosts: Scott “Sourdough” Power

Guest: Morgan Laurens, editor-in-chief, NOT REAL ART, ArtsvilleUSA

Production: Crewest Studio, Los Angeles

Fiscal Sponsorship: Arterial

Theme Music: Ricky Peugeot & Desi DeLauro of Parlor Social

Stay in the Loop: Subscribe to NOT REAL ART and follow on Instagram for coverage of the latest projects and exhibitions.

Joseph O’Connell launched Creative Machines from his garage over two decades ago with a mission: Create objects and environments that encourage creativity, support social interaction, and inspire confidence. Since then, the Tucson-based design and fabrication firm has ballooned in size and scope, creating and installing over 100 public artworks for clients on seven continents.

Today, Creative Machines is famed for its interactive exhibitions, kinetic sculptures, light installations, and a commitment to community engagement. They even test their projects by having everyone from schoolchildren to retired engineers “play with the art and call out the BS” before anything leaves the studio.

We sat down with Joseph O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Creative Machines, to talk about the economics of public art, his new nonprofit playground in Tucson, and his studio’s entry in our summer exhibition, 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.

Contacts & Socials

Website: https://www.creativemachines.com

Instagram: @creativemachines

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-machines

Episode Credits

Host: Scott “Sourdough” Power

Guest: Joseph O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Creative Machines, featured artist in 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.

Production: Crewest Studio, Los Angeles

Theme Music: Ricky Peugeot & Desi DeLauro of Parlor Social

Stay in the Loop: Subscribe to NOT REAL ART, and follow us on Instagram for more coverage of the 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Marcus Brown crafts objects—sometimes monumental, sometimes intimate—that blend history, technology, and ritual. His work urges viewers to confront the unseen: memory, sound, and the stories buried beneath everyday footpaths.

Marcus’ “Human Universal Musical Sculpture (HUMS)” was selected to represent Louisiana in 250: A Celebration of Public Art in America, our summer exhibition with CODAworx, the leading platform for the public art industry. Inspired by the electric hum of the human body, this interactive sound sculpture invites the public to trigger harmonic resonances through touch, a testament to Marcus’ ability to fuse old-world craftsmanship with the bleeding edge of innovation.

But Marcus doesn’t make monuments that merely commemorate. With his ongoing project Slavery Trails, he maps America’s suppressed histories using augmented reality, turning street corners and parks into digital memorials that demand attention from passersby. In conversation, Marcus sifts through the spiritual mechanics of making, the ghosts of New Orleans, and the responsibility of placing memory in plain sight.

Contacts & Socials

Website: https://artistmarcus.com

Instagram: @paintwithmusic

Facebook: @artistmarcusbrown

Episode Credits

Host: Scott ‘Sourdough’ Power

Guest: Marcus Brown, sculptor and educator, featured artist in 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.

Production: Crewest Studio, Los Angeles

Theme Music: Ricky Peugeot & Desi DeLauro of Parlor Social

Stay in the Loop: Subscribe to NOT REAL ART, and follow us on Instagram for more coverage of the 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.