Forefront 360

Interview: photographer Caroline Jensen

Forefront podcast host Heather Morgigno talks to photographer Caroline Jensen.

Caroline is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and a creative artist. While she adores making all sorts of photographic art, her biggest passion is guiding other people to success, whatever that may be. 

Caroline's images strive to always take one step out of reality, be that digital painting, moving photos (cinemagraphs, time-lapse, or stop-motion), or creative editing. Photography can be therapeutic in many ways, and making the connection between this art form and stress relief is a huge part of her work.

To learn more from Caroline, check out the Creative Photography Network!

Interview: Andrew Nemr on Spiritual Formation for Artists

Nate and Zack talk to tap dance artist & TED fellow Andrew Nemr about his all-new virtual course developed in partnership with Forefront, Spiritual Formation for Artists.

As artists, we are always in the act of formation: crafting sentences, mixing colors, shaping sounds, cultivating audiences. But as we practice our disciplines, how are we being formed? Taught by Andrew Nemr, an internationally renowned tap dance artist & TED fellow, this course will consider the link between our art practices and who we are becoming as we create. Sessions will include discussion on spiritual formation and disciplines, artistic practices in both personal and professional spheres, and draw from authors such as Dallas Willard and Makoto Fujimura. It is our hope that in considering how we are formed by our art making, we will be formed into the likeness of our loving Creator.

Learn more at ForefrontFestival.com and register starting August 30.

Breakout: Josh Tiessen on Becoming a Professional Artist

We're excited to share this breakout session led by Josh Tiessen, recorded at Forefront Festival '22: Making New. It's called Becoming a Professional Artist while Keeping Your Faith (and Sanity!). Renowned painter Josh Tiessen shares the practical side of making an art career, from a Christian perspective. How do we regularly produce quality work? How do we network or market ourselves to have our work seen and appreciated by others? Josh does Q&A afterward and provides encouragement to aspiring artists.

Discussion: Stranger Things

Forefront podcasters Rich, Cody, and Heather, plus returning guest Dan Becker, discuss all things Stranger Things. Note: the first 20 minutes are spoiler-free, but spoilers abound after that.

• 02:19 - When Did You Start Watching Stranger Things?
• 05:59 - What Made Stranger Things Successful?
• 20:08 - Spoilers Begin / What Did You Think of Season 4?
• 28:14 - Should Everyone Watch Stranger Things?
• 34:56 - Biblical Themes in Stranger Things
• 01:02:09 - Favorite Character / Which Song Would You Play?

Interview: poet Sarah Collins

Cody and Nate interview poet Sarah Collins about her new book, Recovery from Unusual Attitudes.

Sarah Collins is a copywriter, poet, and emerging author. Sarah's writing style is fluid, flexing between different writer identities. And her work explores a variety of themes — faith, identity, emotions, nature, the mundane, the extraordinary. Her parents are from Jamaica, so she's proud of being a second-generation American. Her culture informs everything she does, from her creative expression to how she cleans the kitchen or folds fitted sheets. She lives in the Greater Rochester Area with her husband Ed and their sassy house rabbits, Buddy and Birdie.

Breakout: Timothy Leaven on Songwriting & Revision

We're excited to share this breakout session led by Timothy Leaven, recorded at Forefront Festival '22: Making New. It's called Songwriting: Befriending Revision and Re-Writing Your Way to Better Lyrics. “Most strong songs are not written. They are re-written.” How does one press into the songwriting process after the initial spark has faded? How does one know when lyrics are developed enough? What tools are worth having in one’s back pocket while revising? Timothy Leaven will share from his ten years as a songwriter and re-writer, with Q&A afterward.

Interview: Heather Morgigno

Nate and Rich talk to nature photographer Heather Morgigno about how to take great bird photos, whether photography "counts" as an art form, and how photography can proclaim the glory of God.

Would you like to be the next guest on Forefront 360? Just head over to the Get Involved page and fill out the short form.

Breakout: Joy Ike on Pollination in an Age of Politicization

We're excited to share this breakout session led by Joy Ike, recorded at Forefront Festival '22: Making New. It's called The Birds & The Bees: Pollination in an Age of Politicization. In an era of political correctness, identity politics, and fear-based messaging, dealing in hope can feel daunting. What does cultural transformation look like in the middle of so much deterioration? If the Gospel is real and true, then surely there is a light at the end of this very long tunnel, right? Join Joy Ike as she shares reflections on how we can plant good seeds and watch them grow…how we can spread those wild (kingdom) oats and witness the abundant goodness of our God in the land of the living.

Discussion: The Stories that Never Die

Cody, Rich and Nate talk about the stories that never die — the endless string of remakes, sequels and spinoffs that is occurring around each major sci-fi and fantasy property. This episode contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

 

Outline:

• 2:02 Topic intro
• 4:42 What are the elements a story continuation really needs?
• 9:14 Spoiler-filled review of Spider-Man: No Way Home
• 22:51 Stories you never thought could happen
• 29:18 What is a story that has been continued that should not have been?
• 42:58 What is a story that has not been continued that should have been?
• 51:14 Stories that are written to be contained
• 53:53 What currently announced story continuation are you most excited about?
• 1:00:15 Why do we refuse to let go of certain stories?

 

Special: Joy Ike and Brian Ferris at Forefront ’22

Forefront board member Zack Osinski moderates a special on-stage interview at Forefront Festival '22, featuring singer/songwriter Joy Ike and painter & actor Brian Ferris.