In Episode Five, Dave Reis speaks with internationally renowned, award-winning jazz musician Greg Abate, a saxophonist, flutist, and composer. He's traveled the globe on his musical tours.

After finishing his education at Berklee College Of Music in the mid-70s, Greg Abate went on to play lead alto saxophone for the Ray Charles Orchestra for 2 years.

Abate formed his group Channel One in 1978. It became a New England favorite and offered him an opportunity to play tenor sax from 1986-87 with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under the leadership of Dick Johnson. He was recently ranked number three in the Downbeat reader's poll for alto sax.

The Artist Index's jazz documentarian and Jazz Podcast Series host, Dave Reis, spent nearly 26 years as a Jazz radio show host, among his many other accomplishments. He was one of the original longtime DJs who worked at the former WUSM which became radio station WUMD, 89.3 FM, on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus.

Dave Reis, AKA David Domingo Reis, began as our guest on In-Focus Podcast 154. and In-Focus Podcast 181. He returns once again as the host of our first-ever ten-part jazz podcast series underwritten by the Fiber Optic Center.

There is no better host for this series than Dave Reis, a walking, talking jazz encyclopedia and local legend himself. Dave grew up surrounded by and hanging around with many of the jazz greats he will be presenting his ten-part Jazz Podcast Series underwritten by the Fiber Optic Center.

In Episode Two, Gallery X Documentation Project podcast host Sean FitzGerald speaks with Zachary White, the executive director of Gallery X. Zachary majored in photography and minored in printmaking while attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Sean and Zachary discuss the first phase of The Gallery X Documentation Project, with an agenda to scan Gallery X‘s entire collection of documents spanning 34 years. The documents include news clippings, posters, flyers, photographs, and more. Once scanned, these records will be archived and mined for information specific to the artists who have exhibited their work or 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 is 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.

This eight-episode podcast series supports and documents the overall project and provides historical and background information about the gallery and the progress made to date. The Gallery X Documentation Project will reach out to listeners and anyone seeking information about historical or contemporary artists from the South Coast's creative community.

The Artists Index offers listeners up close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of South Coast's 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.

Please consider donating to, sponsoring, or underwriting our podcasts and programs. This and other podcasts are available on The Artists Index and your favorite media app including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer / APPLE PODCASTS

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.