Deb Polich

The U.S. should be awash in the art and culture of its Native Americans, immigrants, and the rest of the world.  Yet, it is dominated by Eurocentric influences.  Knowing that and how art is able to build cultural understanding, the U-M Center for World Performance Studies (CWPS) started 20 years ago to provide an arts and cultural worldview to students, faculty, and local residents.  Ingrid Racine, a CWPS alum and now its program coordinator, takes Deb Polich and David Fair on a global "creative:impact" journey.  Listen here.

Internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of more than 90 novels Loren Estleman is a master of mysteries, histories, and series.  He has written almost every word on a manual typewriter in Washtenaw County, where he has lived since birth.  Our local literary legend joins Deb Polich and David Fair for this "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Using creativity to keep usable waste from the landfill is the mission of SCRAP Creative Reuse and the subject of "creative:impact," when Claire Tyra, the director of SCRAP, joins Deb Polich of The Arts Alliance and WEMU's David Fair.  Listen here.  

Sean Ahlquist is an accomplished architect in the area of design and fabrication of pre-stressed lightweight structures and innovations in textile-reinforced composite materials.  It was his love for his daughter Ara that inspired his innovation: a social sensory playscape for children on the Autism spectrum.  Sean tells Deb Polich and David Fair how a dad wanting to connect with his daughter led to a breakthrough on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here. 

Before and after COVID-19.  It is how we mark time now.  Mia Risberg joins "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to talk about her visual artist practice before and after COVID hit, how she revitalized her work, and found reward through the unlimited boundaries of the Internet.  Hear her story here.

Jamall Bufford is a musician, rapper, and DJ, and his energy impacts a number of young men through his work as project specialist at Washtenaw County My Brother's Keeper (WMBK).  He joined "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to discuss the importance of infusing art and creativity into youth development projects.  The efforts have resulted in an album featuring a number of talented young people from Washtenaw County and a documentary film highlighting how the project offers a path forward. 

In 1971, a group of Michigan arts activists put art on a train to deliver it to people in small towns.  They believed everyone should have access to arts and cultural programs.  Artrain board member Damian Farrell recounts the Artrain legacy and vision that remains vital 50 years later.  He joins Deb Polich and David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

For residents of retirement communities, being vigilant about following COVID-19 protocols is critical.  The United Methodist Retirement Community (UMRC) in Chelsea knew that sheltering in place could lead to a sense of isolation and disconnection.  Melissa Goodson, major gifts officer at UMRC, joins Deb Polich and David Fair to discuss the impact hand-curated streamed performances have on the well-being of the UMRC residents.  Listen here. 

Music critics of all stripes had plenty to say about Lady Gaga’s national anthem performance at President Biden’s inauguration.  Deb Polich and David Fair asked Mark Clague, widely recognized as the expert on "The Star Spangled Banner," to share his thoughts on her interpretation.  Mark takes a deep-dive into this storied anthem on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

The roller-coaster ride for the arts + creative industries continues.  The deployment of vaccines is underway, and containment of the virus is a plausible reality for the not-too-distant future.  Deb Polich and David Fair discuss how COVID-19 caused the "Save Our Stages" movement to ignite changes and the eventual recovery, reopening, and possible reinvention of the arts + creative business model on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

From romance to politics, Dr. Debotri Dhar has studied the culture of love across the world.  Her book "Love is Not a Word: The Culture and Politics of Desire," published this summer, explores the emotion of love and the centuries of cultural habits and influence it carries.  Does she herself believe in romance and love?  Find out when she joins Deb Polich of The Arts Alliance and WEMU's David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Father Christmas takes time out of his busy holiday schedule to talk with Deb and David about Christmas in the time of COVID-19.  Can it stop Ole’ Saint Nick and his sleigh full of toys from visiting the homes of all the little girls and boys?  Or is Christmas 2020 proceeding on schedule?  Find out on this very special addition of "creative:impact."  Listen here. 

Willis Patterson and his talent were gifted to Ann Arbor 90 years ago.  It took a village to guide him through a twisting route before he found his voice, but find it, he did.  Join Deb Polich and David Fair to hear the inspiring story of Dr. Patterson’s work as a performer, advocate for young artists of color, teacher, publisher, and administrator on "creative:impact."

Deb Polich takes David Fair on a personal journey leading to a discovery that changes what she know about herself as an American.  In a surprising way, it helps her manage the upheaval of change that 2020 has wielded and, as always in Deb’s case, winds back to creativity.  Hear it here on "creative:impact."

Touring musicians turned to streaming as soon as COVID-19 shut the doors of the performance halls.  Will the trend continue, or will artists get back on the road again?  Deb Polich and David Fair talk with Mike Green of Mike Green & Associates about the changing business of booking tours for performing artists in the time of COVID-19.  

An inspiring teacher ignites their students’ interest in learning, and Emmy-nominated composer and keyboardist Levi Taylor is such a piano instructor.  He joins Deb Polich and David Fair to talk about his love for teaching and how he has adapted distance learning methods to enhance his thriving piano instruction business in this time of COVID-19.  Be prepared to be inspired as you listen here to this edition of "creative:impact."

Seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of the arts and creative industries in Washtenaw County and throughout the country is as uncertain as when it began.  Deb Polich updates David Fair on what that means for creative workers, businesses, and audiences, even as the green light has been given to reopen cultural venues.  Hear their conversation on "creative:impact" here.

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority thinks our streetscapes can be much more fun and have asked artists to help us reimagine our downtown spaces.  Deb and David talk with Natsume Ono, a member of the Studio Kaleidoscape team, who recently pained a streetscape at South State Street and North University as part of the ReVIVE All Zones project.  Hear their conversation on "creative:impact" here.

After a summer hiatus, David Fair and Deb Polich reunite on the air for this edition of "creative: impact."  They catch up on the state of the arts six months into the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of gaining the attention of and funding from local decision makers right here in Washtenaw County.  Listen here to the conversation on this edition of "creative:impact."

Bev Willis grew up in Washington, D.C., literally in the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement because of her parents and grandparents.  Deb Polich and David Fair talk with Bev about how those experiences led to her becoming a graphic designer, active in her community, and encouraging everyone to use their talents to document defining historical moments.  Hear the conversation on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Having waited weeks for an all-clear, even it is cautionary, the rules governing the reopening for arts and creative businesses are not exactly clear.  It might not even be their most important concern as national attention is directed toward equity and justice amid protests of the police brutality and the law enforcement killings of black people.  The music industry declared June 2 “Blackout Tuesday” to urge artists and venues to shut down all programming and content.  Hear Deb Polich and David Fair discuss these topics on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Fulbright Scholar Susan Badger-Booth, EMU professor of Arts Management & Entertainment, felt well-prepared for her teaching assignment that would take her to the Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea for the winter semester.  She and her husband Bill considered all the contingencies....or so they had thought.  No sooner did they arrive when the COVID-19 virus struck.  Deb Polich and David Fair connect with Susan in Seoul to find out what happened next on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

After 23 years of performing, producing concerts, renting studio space, and volunteering at the Kerrytown Concert House, Monica Swartout-Bebow was prepared and excited to take on a new role as executive director last summer.  Still, she expected a slight learning curve.  What she got instead was the full onslaught of COVID-19.  Monica gets on the line with "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to talk about how, instead of you going to the Kerrytown Concert House, it’s coming to your house.  Listen here.

Today is #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.  Join Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair as they consider the model of scarcity: when society under-invests in services and programs needed, and valued, by its people.  Already high, COVID-19 has increased demands for certain services and programs while depleting the banks of shuttered nonprofits.  #GivingTuesdayNow brings awareness to the plight of all nonprofits, including WEMU and The Arts Alliance’s Creative Washtenaw Aid.  Hear it all on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Replacing lost revenues is critical to the survival of artists and the sustainability of creative businesses lost due to the COVID-19 shutdown.  The Arts Alliance is soon to launch the Creative Washtenaw Marketplace, an online sales site for local artisans, creatives, performers, cultural organizations, and businesses to sell products, performances, programs, and services.  Join The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair to hear more about it on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Theaters may still be closed, but the movie world is still open to you!  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair talks with Michigan Theater director Russ Collins about the newest films and special screenings offered through the magic of your very own televisions and computers. 

Hospital art programs are known to offer healing benefits to patients, such as shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication.  Elaine Sims, director of Gifts of Art Program at Michigan Medicine, tells "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair how hospital art programs here and across the nation are helping medical staff on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic find respite, comfort, and diversion.  Listen here.

Alan S. Brown, a former director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, is now a leading researcher and expert on the nonprofit arts. He is also a trusted advisor to many of the nation’s leading arts and cultural funders. Alan tells "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair the course of action he has recommended philanthropists take to ensure the arts have a future post-COVID-19. Listen here.

Never someone to sit idly when a call to action is raised, John Gutoskey, local artist, printmaker, and costume designer, has redirected his talents to making much-needed face masks for our local medical facilities.  On this week’s edition of "creative:impact," he joins co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair how local medical teams are responding to polka-dot, ladybug, and other whimsical masks that can literally save their lives while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 58 years, the Ann Arbor Film Festival has traditionally invited people to pack into Ann Arbor film houses to watch and discuss films made by filmmakers from all over the world.  The 2020 version of the festival was anything but traditional, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Leslie Raymond, director of the festival, joins Deb Polich and David Fair to give her first-person account of the 2020 festival experience on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."