Welcome Peggy Call-Conley, a local artist who earned her BFA in Art Education from Southeastern Massachusetts University, today the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, in 1972. Her early exposure to the arts in Boston and her solace in nature in rural Middleborough (AKA Middleboro) Massachusetts, deeply influenced her artistic journey.

Peggy has spent 35 years teaching art in private and public schools while residing in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Her watercolor paintings are inspired by the natural beauty and coastal landscapes she encounters.

She aims to capture the energy and tranquility of these scenes, focusing on subtle color changes, contrasting light, and the unique shapes of shadows. Her work is characterized by its ability to evoke, as she relates, "a strong sense of place and momentary harmony with nature."

Peggy's artistic process involves painting on location, allowing her to authentically convey the essence of her subjects, whether it’s the serene coastal views or intricate architectural details.

On this podcast, Peggy Call-Conley speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about her continuing journey and mission to share her art and her love of teaching. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know! The Artists Index also uses Zoom to accommodate our guests’ schedules and to allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes, especially those who no longer live on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

Offering listeners up close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of our creative community.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those who work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered donating.

In Episode One, Gallery X Documentation Project podcast host, Sean FitzGerald, speaks with The Artists Index co-founder, Ron Fortier, about the new Gallery X Documentation Project. It is the first phase of a larger agenda to scan Gallery X‘s entire collection of documents including news clippings, posters, flyers, photographs, and more.

The scanned documents will be archived and later mined for information specific to the artists who have had their work exhibited or who have performed at New Bedford’s oldest continually operating cooperative art gallery. The gallery was founded in 1990 and is a contemporary, cooperative art gallery of visual, performing, and literary artist members and volunteers.

Gallery X has served as an incubator for emerging artists and it continues to be a venue for established artists. It is a platform for local artists, performers, and creatives of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to showcase their talents as an integral part of the South Coast‘s community.

The eight episode podcast series supports the overall project, provides historical and background information about the gallery and the progress made to date. The Gallery X Documentation Project will record the discoveries made and also reach out to listeners and anyone who seeks information about a historical or contemporary artist from the creative community of the South Coast who may or may not be found in the new community digital archive dedicated solely to Gallery X.

Offering listeners up close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of our creative community.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered making a donation.

Welcome Elyse Laurelle Demarest, an emerging artist whose fledgling practice is based out of the Co-Creative Center in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. Elyse lives in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts with her young son, Luke.

Elyse Demarest her art business as Elyse Laurelle Artworks out of the Co-Creative Center. She paints, sells art, and teaches watercolor and acrylic classes throughout the South Coast. Her artwork is locally inspired, primarily by the area's proximity to the New England coastline and harbors

Elyse Laurelle Demarest grew up in metro Detroit and moved to New England to pursue her PhD and a teaching position at the University of Rhode Island. After leaving academia and going through a divorce, she became a single mom. Elyse found a new home in the creative community of the South Coast as well as a place to pursue her art career.

Elyse Demarest speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about her continuing journey and mission to share her art and her love of teaching. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know! The Artists Index also uses Zoom to accommodate our guests’ schedules and to allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes, especially those who no longer live on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered donating or becoming a sponsor.

Learn more at https://theartistsindex.com/share-support/

Welcome Eden Soares (Eden Nelson Brandao Soares) who is a multi-talented multimedia artist. He has worked hard to sharpen his skills and ability to quickly and accurately, as he relates, "create proofs from their visions in a professional timely manner."

Eden has demonstrated his gratitude from continuous referrals and recommendations from his satisfied customers and clients. His creativity on many different levels has allowed him to, "create simple or elaborate corporate or complex designs that are eye-catching, very marketable, brand-based and strategically laid out."

He gives his art (product and service) the attention it deserves with an image that reflects value, professionalism, and, most importantly, the buyer, customer, or client.

Eden Soares speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about his continuing journey and mission to share his art and culture. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know! The Artists Index also uses Zoom to accommodate our guests’ schedules and to allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes, especially those who no longer live on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered making a donation.

Learn more at https://theartistsindex.com/

Consider donating, or becoming a sponsor.

The Artists Index is an AHA! partner and this is the fourth in our series of livestream podcasts. The September AHA! celebrated AHA! @ 25 on Thursday, September 12th from 6 to 7:30 pm. and was co-hosted by our livestream partner and friend Adam Katz, the owner of Play Arcade.

Our September AHA! galaxy of guests included Dave Reis, our Jazz Podcast Series podcast host, Ymelda Rivera Laxton, the Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art & Community Projects at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, artist extraordinaire Kat Knutsen, Christina Maiato Fitz Gerald, our Gallery X Documentation Project Scanner, and the newest podcast host of our newest, soon to be premiered Gallery X Documentation Project Podcast Series, Sean FitzGerald.

They all sat down with The Artists Index's co-founder and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about their contributions to and views on the September AHA! theme - Aha! @ 25 and its impact on the phenomenal creative community of New Bedford and the South Coast. Once again, it was very loud and noisy with all the arcade games but we still had great conversation.

The Artists Index is an AHA! partner and this is the third in our series of livestream podcasts. The September AHA! celebrated 25 years! This podcast was co-hosted by our livestream partner and friend Adam Katz, the owner of Play Arcade.

Learn more at https://theartistsindex.com/

Consider donating, or becoming a sponsor.

Welcome to our first cookbook author and culinary artist Milena Rodrigues, who was also, unbeknownst to me, my neighbor in Buarcos, Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Yes, a small world indeed! Milena is a first-generation American and daughter of Portuguese immigrants from Figueira da Foz.

Her parents and sisters immigrated to Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1966. In the early 1970s, Milena Rodrigues and her family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Milena always stayed connected to her family's roots. She spent her summers in Portugal since the age of one.

Milena Rodrigues grew up enjoying and loving everything Portuguese, including the food. However, as she states, "I am not a chef and never had any professional training in cooking. I enjoy cooking good homemade food for my loved ones." In 2013 she began sharing recipes on her Facebook page called For the Love of Portuguese Food.

She had always dreamt of writing a Portuguese cuisine cookbook in English because she realized there were very few then. Milena's Facebook page marked the beginning of her writing her cookbook come true, which she published in 2017.

Milena Rodrigues speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about her continuing journey and mission to share her culinary heritage. They also reminisce about their experiences living in Buarcos, Figueira da Foz, Portugal. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered making a donation.

Welcome Drew (Andrew) Furtado, a South Coast Massachusetts Emmy Award-winning visual storyteller. Since 2005, Drew has produced photo, film, and web content for South Coast schools and nonprofit organizations. He currently leads the New Bedford Whaling Museum's communication and marketing efforts.

Drew Furtado has transformed how the Museum reaches its potential audiences through digital platforms. Through his digital work, including films like Restart 2020, photography, and illustrated posters, he champions the positive stories of New Bedford and Fall River.

Before his association with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, he spent 10 years building the media arts program at Fairhaven High School. His students have received over 30 New England and three national student production awards. Many of his students can be seen throughout the South Coast pursuing their careers in film and communications.

Drew (Andrew) Furtado has a master's in Interactive Media from Quinnipiac University and studied at New England Institute of Technology's media arts program.

Drew speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about his continuing journey in photography, film, and web content. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

We would love it if you considered making a donation.