Episode 59: Conversation with Art Writer and Storyteller John Seed

Art Ladders: The Creative Climb

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, we had the honor and pleasure to interview author, ⁠⁠John Seed ⁠⁠via Zoom from his home base on the Central California Coast. He defines himself as an art writer and we would add storyteller with rich experiences in the world of art that tell all the sides of the art coin. From taking the path of an art student, to MFA, to gallery driver, collector, curator, installation team member, art professor, to author, he has done it all and uses all the facets to his advantage in his writings.

He has written for the art section of Huffington Post, Hyperallergic, a round the clock online art newsletter, Arts of Asia and other fine publications. His books include My Art World: Recollections and Other Writings, ⁠⁠Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World⁠⁠, and his most recent book ⁠⁠More Disruption: Representational Art in Flux⁠⁠. He was the recipient of a Society of Professional Journalist's award in art and entertainment writing.

For over three decades John Seed taught Studio Art and Art History at Mount San Jacinto College. He also taught Modernism at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and Theory and Criticism for the MFA program at Laguna College of Art and Design. Since 2013 John has served on the board of the ⁠⁠Sam Francis Foundation⁠⁠ and am currently serving as the President of ⁠⁠Greenspace: The Cambria Land Trust.⁠⁠

Here is a video interview with John Seed titled ⁠⁠"My Non-Tragic Backstory".⁠⁠

John is also teaching an online class called ⁠⁠Art Criticism for Artists⁠⁠ through the Penn Studio School of Art. Val will be taking this class starting in January and is looking forward to hearing more from John. Check out the link above to learn more about this class.

Thank you, John for spending time with us and sharing your knowledge and stories. By the way, he invites our audience to email him at [e-mail] with questions and comments on any of his books. He is generous and kind with his correspondence and you will be richer by sharing an email with him. Enjoy this episode!