Be-Spoke
Arts & Culture Podcasts
The unique object or experience has always had powerful appeal, and, as we learn to consume better, commissioning all kinds of things has become more accessible. Yet the process of commissioning is shrouded in mystery. Most makers agree they’re only as good as the brief, but what makes a good brief? The Be-Spoke podcast reveals the relationships behind the commissioning process through the stories of designers, makers, clients, curators and brokers. It delves into why people commission certain objects and experiences, how they engage with makers, and what to expect along this potentially rich and rewarding journey. This is Be-Spoke: Brought to you by Woven Voices, a multimedia project exploring the people, ideas and relationships that shape the world around us with meaning and purpose. Hosted by Adriana Paice Kent, founder of Woven Spaces, a hybrid of placemaking agency, creative lab and property developer.
Location:
United States
Description:
The unique object or experience has always had powerful appeal, and, as we learn to consume better, commissioning all kinds of things has become more accessible. Yet the process of commissioning is shrouded in mystery. Most makers agree they’re only as good as the brief, but what makes a good brief? The Be-Spoke podcast reveals the relationships behind the commissioning process through the stories of designers, makers, clients, curators and brokers. It delves into why people commission certain objects and experiences, how they engage with makers, and what to expect along this potentially rich and rewarding journey. This is Be-Spoke: Brought to you by Woven Voices, a multimedia project exploring the people, ideas and relationships that shape the world around us with meaning and purpose. Hosted by Adriana Paice Kent, founder of Woven Spaces, a hybrid of placemaking agency, creative lab and property developer.
Language:
English
Website:
https://wovenvoices.co.uk/
Episodes
Capturing the Ephemeral
7/25/2023
What does commissioning a piece of music, something with no tangible form, look like?
In this episode, Adriana is joined by leading composer Supriya Nagarajan to learn more about her creative process and the rich, dreamy soundscapes she creates…
Together they explore Supriya's cross-cultural commissions in a wide variety of contexts, from ekphrastic responses to the sculptural work of Barbara Hepworth, to bespoke performances for Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and collaborations in community-settings.
Duration:00:24:52
Contemporary Patronage
7/25/2023
What does art patronage look like today?
Brooke Benington is a contemporary art gallery based in Fitzrovia. The exhibition programme has a strong emphasis on supporting the creative development of emerging artists and aims to inspire visitors to invest more deeply in their work, following them throughout their careers.
In this episode, Adriana is welcomed by gallery co-director George Mingozzi-Marsh on the opening day of Midnight Oil, a solo installation by Victor Lim Seaward.
Together, they explore the crucial role contemporary patronage holds in fostering creativity within the visual arts.
Duration:00:21:54
Commemoration through Cloth
6/8/2023
Intrigued by the power of language, Rosalind Wyatt is a British artist who loves words. Her practice combines text and textile, abstract mark making, large brush calligraphy, and her own specialised technique of ‘writing with a needle.’
This episode explores Rosalind's stitch commissions: from a handstitched handkerchief celebrating a wedding anniversary, to an Edwardian bodice for heritage brand Fortnum & Mason.
Duration:00:27:08
Portrait of a Lady
6/8/2023
Emma Wesley is an award-winning portrait painter.
Her paintings are exhibited widely, and they feature in the permanent collections of The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Society and Lord’s Cricket Ground, amongst many others.
She has painted a diverse range of subjects from butchers to philosophers; as well as antique dealers, cricketers, soldiers, surgeons and even violinmakers…
Join Emma in conversation with Adriana as they discuss the artist-sitter relationship, her work with Wes Anderson and what makes a good portrait.
Duration:00:26:26
Shaping Art in Conversation: From Collecting to Commissioning
3/9/2023
Place and art go hand in hand; often, art is used as a catalyst to create new places and add value to existing spaces. It invites and inspires an ecosystem of collaboration where commissioner and artist alike bring new perspectives and ideas to transform an area, adding layers of meaning and opening new paths for exploration. What can we do to engage more people to commission with confidence, and come forward as storytellers and future patrons?
This episode, recorded Cromwell Place, explores these ideas and more in conversation with art consultant Kate Sweeney, alongside artist Francisca Prieto and placemaking expert Carlin Fier.
Cover Art:
Artist Credit: Longcross Park, Wolfgang Buttress.
Photo Credit: Mark Hadden.
Duration:00:30:05
The Fine Art of Commissioning
1/26/2023
How can you take the leap from collecting an artist's work to shaping a be-spoke piece in conversation with a maker?
This special episode for London Art Fair launches Be-Spoke's second programme. Adriana is joined by leading international gallerist Cynthia Corbett and Jane Adams, founder of luxury online interior studio AUTHOR. Together, they explore commissioning in a fine art context, looking at both the practical and human in the process, as well as the compelling stories that shape a work of art.
Duration:00:31:13
Frozen in Time
6/8/2022
Artist and Jeweller Sarah Warsop describes drawing and painting as a bridge between dance, jewellery, movement and metal. She met her client Nicky Gray at a yoga session, where they discovered a mutual interest in jewellery and design.
Using a fabulous aquamarine gem as a starting point, this episode explores how to shape a brief and provides insight into commissioning from the perspectives of the maker and the client.
Adriana joins Sarah and Nicky in conversation, discussing the creative and practical aspects of designing and making something unique. Together, they look at how to capture identity and movement in metal and outline the importance of embracing the unknown and the unexpected outcomes that follow.
Duration:00:27:09
Why go bespoke?
6/2/2022
Adriana joins architect and designer Shiro Muchiri in her Marylebone gallery. In this episode, they discuss the human side behind bespoke objects and experiences, Shiro’s role as a broker and the rich process of connecting cultures through contemporary design.
Adriana and Shiro also look at the wider impact of commissioning, including how to foster meaningful connections with younger audiences who want to consume better. Together, they trace the beautiful stories that live on beyond a piece and what they may lead to in the future.
Duration:00:22:55
Dream Home
5/25/2022
Why would a successful architect, intent on building their dream home, commission someone else to design it? In this episode, Adriana joins founders of award-winning architecture practice Bureau de Change Katerina Dionysopoulou and Billy Mavropoulos, alongside one of their clients Hui Xu of Cura Haus, a leading property developer. Katerina and Billy outline the bespoke journey- the rich process of building a narrative around space and creating something unique as a result. Together they discuss taking a clear brief, doing something unexpected with it and living the adventure that follows.
Duration:00:28:48
A Scent of Magic in the Air
5/18/2022
What does your favourite memory smell of? This episode delves into the world of bespoke perfume, combining word and scent to explore laughter, memory, imagination and fantasy.
Host Adriana Paice Kent is joined by Sarah McCartney, founder of bespoke perfumery 4160 Tuesdays. Everything is made by hand at 4160 Tuesdays- from the initial idea all the way through to folding up the boxes and writing the notes. Together, Adriana and Sarah share stories of time and place in scent.
Duration:00:27:38
The Vital Art of Commissioning
5/10/2022
This special episode for London Craft Week, recorded at Gallery SoShiro, is about the vital art of commissioning. Host Adriana Paice Kent is joined by Maria Cheung, Director, Interior Design, Squire & Partners; architectural glass artist Kate Maestri; and Shiro Muchiri, founder of Gallery SoShiro.
In a fascinating conversation, Adriana and guests explore commissions that weave craft quality of thinking into large-scale projects in the built environment, along with floor-to-ceiling 3-D stained glass windows, buildings made of mushrooms, and hundreds of sheep...
Duration:00:33:47
A Suit, Bespoke
5/4/2022
Daisy Knatchbull is founder of The Deck, a made-to-measure tailoring house exclusively for women.
The first in Be-Spoke's programme, this episode captures the creative and collaborative process between client and maker, tracing the beauty behind the making of a bespoke suit where classical elegance meets modern femininity.
Adriana joins Daisy in her Savile Row Studio, alongside one of her clients Catharine Denning, a leading cosmetic doctor. Together, they explore empowerment, sustainability and keeping traditions alive in the tailoring trade.
Duration:00:30:36