This is the August AHA! episode of our continuing series of podcasts from Play Arcade, co-hosted by our podcast partner and friend, Adam Katz. Our guests included Max Wickemeyer, The Artists Index's new volunteer development director, and Kat Knutsen (Episode 73, Episode 131, and Episode 180), as well as painter Mason Terra.

The topic was about connections and networks, and community. Our guests joined podcast host Ron Fortier to relate and swap stories about our wonderful South Coast creative Community and New Bedford, the world-famous, historic New England seaport.

The Living Room at Play Arcade is "an old-school 80’s style arcade offering a full-service bar, craft-made drinks, and food..." and over 40 vintage arcade games and a rooftop deck overlooking the working waterfront in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

AHA! (Arts, History, Architecture) has presented New Bedford and the South Coast with free arts and culture nights. It celebrated its 25th anniversary this September! AHA! Nights are held every second Thursday of the month to recall and honor the nostalgic late shopping night offered in New Bedford from the 1940s through the 1960s. This revival has brought a new and lasting vibrancy to downtown.

Every artist has a story! Listen in to all of our up-close and personal conversations with artists, supporters of the arts, and the cultural impresarios of the South Coast's remarkable creative community.

Podcasts are also available on your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer, and APPLE PODCASTS

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Welcome, Adrian R. Tió, a former Professor of Fine Arts in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He was also a former dean at the College. Tió received his fine arts training from Temple University (BA ‘74), the University of Cincinnati (MFA ‘79), and his post-baccalaureate study at the Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy (‘75-76).

He resides in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Adrian Tió has exhibited nationally and regionally, in drawing, painting, and printmaking for over 40 years. Tió maintains the Hare of the Dog Press & Studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the north end Hatch Street Studios.

Adrian spoke with The Artists Index co-founder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier. They discussed his art, heritage, life, and his time and experiences at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Adrian Tió

Mattapoisett, MA 02739

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

ALSO AVAILABLE ON: YouTube

Please consider donating whatever you can to ensure that our mission continues as we document the legacies of South Coast Artists.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!

Welcome, Zarla Ludin, a design strategist, product enthusiast, and sometime artist. Her career has focused on helping businesses—such as Sonos, Amazon, and iRobot—connect their creative teams with clear narratives and organizational goals.

Zarla has also partnered with municipalities, including the City of Boston, to shape service innovations and reflect on design practice. She is now channeling her love for storytelling and product development into her artistic side.

After she began prioritizing her art practice, she was surprised by how few art supply stores exist in Massachusetts—outside of big-box chains, options are scarce.

Zarla Ludin launched The Spare Studio in 2024 to address this gap with a second-hand art supply store that extends the life of creative materials and invites the creative community and community-at-large to "reimagine what’s possible with what we already have." She is officially an art supply retailer.

Zarla spoke with The Artists Index co-founder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier. They discussed her passion, heritage, life, and developing journey as a art supply rescue retailer. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Zarla Ludin

Scituate, MA 02o66

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

ALSO AVAILABLE ON: YouTube

Please consider donating whatever you can to ensure that our mission continues as we document the legacies of South Coast Artists.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!

Welcome, Lara Lourenco Harrington, AKA Lara Harrington, a re-emerging artist and supporter of the arts in the South Coast. She is the daughter of immigrants from Terceira and Faial, "two of the most beautiful islands in the Azores." Her journey to connect more deeply with her heritage took a significant turn in 2011 when she became involved with the Azorean Whaleboats in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Lara's involvement opened doors that allowed her to immerse herself deeply in the culture, "particularly through participating in international regattas with Pico Island and Faial." Through these experiences, she has built amazing friendships and discovered incredible opportunities to share the Islands' beauty and charm from a local perspective.

Her passion for the Açores (Azores in English) continues to grow as she brings the essence of these islands to those around her. "This journey of bridging a creative community between New Bedford and the Azores was inspired by my background in the arts and my commitment to cultural exchange."

Lara Harrington received her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in 2000. After building and leaving a successful business in fitness, she is excited about her new adventure, Hotel Papel, which includes an art residency program!

Lara spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently. She spoke about her passion, heritage, life, and developing journey as a working musician. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Lara Harrington

New Bedford, MA 02744

508-965-8860

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

Please consider donating whatever you can to ensure that our mission continues as we document the legacies of South Coast Artists.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!

This is the July AHA! episode - our eleventh - in our continuing series of livestream podcasts from Play Arcade co-hosted by our podcast partner and friend Adam Katz. We invited Max Wickemeyer The Artists Index's new volunteer development director, and Kat Knutsen (Episode 73, Episode 131, and Episode 180). Elyse Laurelle Dermarest joined us later.

The topics ranged as they usually do. Our guests joined podcast host Ron Fortier to relate and swap stories about our wonderful South Coast creative Community and New Bedford, the world-famous, historic New England seaport.

The Living Room at Play Arcade is "an old-school 80’s style arcade offering a full-service bar, craft-made drinks, and food..." and over 40 vintage arcade games and a rooftop deck overlooking the working waterfront in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

AHA! (Arts, History, Architecture) has presented New Bedford and the South Coast with free arts and culture nights. It celebrated its 25th anniversary this September! AHA! Nights are held every second Thursday of the month to recall and honor the nostalgic late shopping night offered in New Bedford from the 1940s through the 1960s. This revival has brought a new and lasting vibrancy to downtown.

Every artist has a story! Listen in to all of our up-close and personal conversations with artists, supporters of the arts, and the cultural impresarios of the South Coast's remarkable creative community.

Podcasts are also available on your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer, and APPLE PODCASTS

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Welcome, Jimi Blacksheep, AKA James A. Bourne, musical artist. His mantra: sounding good and looking good. His alter ego, his stage persona, is Jimi Blacksheep, and his life has been a musical journey. Now in his 60s, this transplanted New Bedford, Massachusetts, resident is most at home busking on the streets, entertaining pedestrians with his vast catalog of covers and original songs.

Jimi Blacksheep has been taking his dream to the streets for quite some time, and he continues to do it with style. He regularly commutes to Boston to entertain pedestrians with his catalog of covers and original songs on the city’s sidewalks. It's just Jimi, his guitar, voice, amplifier, and another page in his continuing musical journey.

Jimi spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently after meeting him at an AHA! event. Ron asked him to talk about his passion, his life, and his journey as a working musician. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Jimi Blacksheep

(AKA James A. Bourne)

New Bedford, MA 02746

774 271-5179

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!

Welcome, Jeff 'Pixel' Palmer, a block and screen printing artist with deep New England roots, is currently based in Marion, Massachusetts. His artistic style is heavily supported by his years in the field of graphic design production. Jeff or Pixel has extensive credentials in video and film production. His subject matter includes historic icons, famous actors, musicians, animals, pop art, humor, and a dose of whimsy. Jeff's shop is where you'll find "Cool art for fun folks!"

Jeff spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently about his passion, his life, and his journey from commercial to, well, fun art. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

Jeff 'Pixel' Palmer

Marion, MA 02738

Studio Address:
Kilburn Mill Artisan Center

3rd Floor - Suite 40
127 Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA 02744

857-523-9252

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists.

If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!