Design unmuted is a podcast for folks interested in engaging with social justice and critical perspectives in design, art and all things creative.
Art, architecture and food security: all about “Sustaining Apertures”
Join us as we unpack the stories behind our exhibition; Sustaining Apertures, currently on view at the Or Gallery from March 7 to July 6, 2024. Together Colin and I share all about our collaborative journey and discuss food security in relation to the land, intersectional conversations around environmental justice, place-based design, and architecture in contemporary art. Colin Berg Mbugua is a Kenyan-Canadian artist, researcher, and architectural designer. He holds both a Masters and a Bachelor in Architecture. Mbugua’s practice, Kagvr, founded in 2021, engages multi-disciplinary contexts that draw from traditional architectural practices while engaging experimentation through collaboration and cross-cultural exchange.You can watch a clip of this episode on the designunmuted youtube channel here and follow us on Instagram @design_unmuted
"The Sustaining Apertures artist podcast is co-presented with Design Unmuted, Or Gallery, And-Co Community, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) . The production of this episode is supported by the Real Estate Foundation of BC( REFBC)- a philanthropic organization working to advance sustainable land use and real estate practices in British Columbia, Canada. They do this by funding projects, connecting people, and sharing knowledge.
Taking your design practice to the streets: the stories of East Van Boulevard Gardens
Taking your design practice to the streets: the stories of East Van Boulevard Gardens
Saba Farmand, a landscape architect, talks about his passionate project that documents the boulevard gardens in East Vancouver and the stories behind the people who take over these public boulevard spaces and turn them into gardens. Through this project, Saba aims to build more urban literacy, environmental education and most importantly putting Landscape architecture into the community. This will be a great inspiration for those who want to have impact in their local communities in simple yet powerful ways. You can watch this episode on the design_unmuted youtube channel here
Follow Saba’s project on instagram at: eastvan_blvd_gardens
Recorded on: August 29th, 2023
The production of this episode is supported by the Real Estate Foundation of BC( REFBC)- a philanthropic organization working to advance sustainable land use and real estate practices in British Columbia, Canada. They do this by funding projects, connecting people, and sharing knowledge.
Engaging spirituality in the design process
I am happy to launch the first conversation of the podcast season TRANSFORMING with Patricia Algara and Jose Leal. In this conversation Patricia and Jose share the ways in which they engage with their design practices in a meaningful way, engaging their spiritual practices into their work as a means to restore balance, connections to the cosmos and to reclaim their own indigeneity and agency. Tune in to learn their about their practices and the ways in which you can connect and engage more meaningfully with your own work.
Patricia Algara is the Principal & Co Founder of Base Landscape Architecture and Founder of With Honey in the Heart . After working for a women’s rights organization on community empowerment projects, she earned a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture in order to bring together participation and the built environment. Patricia is a shamanic counselor, a frame drummer, a landscape architect, a bee priestess
Jose Leal is Principal, Landscape Architect Director of Native Nation Building Studio at MIG. José has a passion for truth-telling, considers humor to be good medicine. His Mexican and Indigenous heritage lead to Jose’s passion for Indigenous landscape architecture and celebrating how diverse Indigenous people have adapted to their natural environment.
The production of this episode is supported by Anova Furnishings-who is on a mission to enhance landscapes and strengthen communities. They offer a variety of high-quality, functional outdoor site furniture products and styles to fit your project and budget. See more at www.anovafurnishings.com where you can shop online now or search for a local rep.
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A note from the Host
If you’re reading this message, I want to start by thanking you for taking the time to share this space with me. I am Divine and I host and produce the Design Unmuted podcast. I am a storyteller, landscape designer, artist, and educator. I started the podcast to share stories that inspire us all to expand our minds and hearts.
As an advocate for social justice, I engage in conversations on the ways design and art can help us build more just and beautiful communities. I don’t shy away from difficult conversations, because there’s always (bad) jokes and laughter around the corner to lift our spirits as we need it.
If you’re about building community, justice and good vibes, join the Design unmuted community and the other folks who chose to move beyond convention and learn critical perspectives of design, art and all things creative.
I am so grateful for you for choosing Design unmuted. If you want me to talk your ear off, drop me a word :).