″’Little brother, where is your light?’
‘Am I brother of yours, bridge?’ wondered the lighthouse. ‘Your light was so bright that I thought mine was needed no more.’”
–The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegard Hoyt Swift & Lynd Ward
Sometimes the perception of others’ brilliance can start to convince us that our own gifts are unnecessary, and we quietly dim ourselves. This is especially true in the age of social media, where constant comparison to carefully curated glimpses of other lives can leave us feeling like we will never be enough. But the bridge and the lighthouse were never meant to replace one another. Each illuminates a different path, serves a different traveler, and answers a different need.
Ali LeRoi, who joined us in December 2020, is an Emmy Award-winning film and television director, writer, and producer best known for Everybody Hates Chris, Are We There Yet?, and Survivor’s Remorse. Recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview captured LeRoi at a pivotal moment in his career as he discussed his debut feature film, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, the development of the CBS series Honorable, and several other projects. He also reflected on the intersection of politics and entertainment, the power of storytelling, and why Black women remain an essential yet too often overlooked audience. Listen to the complete interview.
Ever Baldwin joined us in 2024 for a conversation about Stranger in the Echoes, their exhibition at Marinaro Gallery at the time. Featuring both paintings and sculptural works, each piece was presented in a custom-built frame designed specifically for the finished work, emphasizing the relationship between object and presentation. Baldwin discussed their intuitive process, beginning each piece without a predetermined outcome and allowing experimentation to guide its evolution. Our conversation offered insight into an artistic practice rooted in discovery, material exploration, and the unexpected. Listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
The world is safest, richest, and most beautiful when every light chooses to shine.
Outings.
Join me at Andrew Kreps Gallery for work by Manuel Neri
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android, please click here. All weekly essay pieces are here in a shareable format. The full archive of interviews is here.
More Books to Read.
Ours is a community of readers. Tell us what books you’re reading now by adding your titles to our reading list here. Praxis user Daniel Barroca recommends Continent in Dust: Experiments in a Chinese Weather System, by Jerry C. Zee
Opportunities.
NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship helps artists and emerging arts organizations secure 501(c)(3) status to fund public projects. Visit the website for more information. Free applications are available until August 17.