In a time when the intersection of art and nature has never been more crucial, certain storytellers captivate our imaginations and inspire us to cherish the world around us with wit, wisdom, and a good dose of wonder. Bonnie Kelso is one such artist. Through her work she reveals the unseen lives beneath our ocean's surface, in our suburban forests, and along a path in life never walked alone—urging us towards conservation and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Her path is as layered as the ecosystems she loves. She is an alumna of the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, a former Smithsonian exhibit designer, muralist, and award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. But at her core, she is an educator passionate about conservation through storytelling. Today, Bonnie shares her journey from childhood memories of the beach to becoming a celebrated author and advocate. We'll explore how her work inspires a connection with nature in young minds and the importance of preserving our planet for future generations. You can explore more of Bonnie’s work and her efforts in conservation at: Website: www.bonniekelso.com

About Episode In a world enthralled by the new and the next, David Goyes invites us to pause and ponder a different question: What if true sustainability isn’t just about consuming less, but about deepening our care and commitment to each other? David’s search brings us into a conversation that challenges the core of our modern consumer habits—a conversation about what it means to live in a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. About Dr. David Goyes Dr. David Goyes is a senior researcher at the University of Oslo and a respected voice in criminology and environmental justice. Goyes conducts research on a variety of topics including globalization and crime, environmental conflicts, colonization and imperialism, life-course criminology, and victimhood. They are the author or co-author of numerous books, including: Green Crime in the Global South: Essays on Southern Green CriminologySouthern Green Criminology: A Science to End Ecological DiscriminationVictimhood, Memory, and Consumerism: Profiting From Pablo David is in search of a good life for every living being on earth, which he pursues through investigation and the application of his findings in everyday life practice.  You can learn more about David and his work catalyzing positive change at: www.drgoyes.com Find the transcript for this episode at: www.theinfinitesearch.com

About Episode In our season 2 kickoff of The Infinite Search, we journey with Layne through a landscape of profound transformation and deep self-realization. In "Bidding on Brighter Futures," Layne opens up about their evolution from a backdrop of cultural heritage and personal trials to becoming a beacon of change and authenticity. Layne recounts the intricacies of growing up in a Latvian-Canadian household, grappling with identity amidst traditional norms, and the catalytic moments of clarity following personal loss and societal pressures. These stories offer narratives of struggle, of enlightenment, and of resilience gained through the lived experience. With wisdom and sensitivity, Layne discusses the potency of acknowledging one's true self, the power held in community connections, and the impact of creating spaces where everyone feels they belong. This episode is an exploration of how personal histories and vulnerabilities shape our ambitions, drive social change, and craft futures filled with hope. Join us as we delve into Layne's life philosophy, where bidding is not just about auctions but a metaphor for advocating brighter futures through every action, every challenge, and every moment of vulnerability. About Layne The Auctionista, Layne, is renowned for revolutionizing the art of auctioneering with a blend of charisma, advocacy, and inclusivity. Born and raised in Canada as part of a Latvian immigrant family, The Auctionista's early life experiences with cultural and personal identity challenges forged a path toward advocacy and openness. Identifying as non-binary, The Auctionista uses their platform to catalyze change and champion LGBTQ+ rights while fostering inclusive environments. Known for their vibrant and engaging auction style, The Auctionista also leads workshops and speaks publicly on diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping organizations create spaces where everyone feels valued and recognized. Connect with Layne Website: www.theauctionista.com Instagram: @TheAuctionista Facebook: @TheAuctionistaLayne Twitter (X): @the_auctionista LinkedIn: @laynetheauctionista For speaking engagements, auction services, or workshop inquiries, please use the contact form on The Auctionista's website or email directly for a prompt response. Find the transcript for this show at www.theinfinitesearch.com

Early in my path as a creative, I was introduced to the work of the artist and nun, Frances Elizabeth Kent. When Kent entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary religious order in 1936, she took the name Sister Mary Corita. The name is Spanish for, “little heart”, which is ironic given her outsized love and hope for humanity. Corita went on to become an influential American artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. Through her vibrant and thought-provoking artwork and collective happenings, Sister Corita explored themes of spirituality, love, and social activism. Her unique artistic style, characterized by bold colors, innovative use of typography, and incorporation of popular culture, garnered widespread recognition and made her a prominent figure in the art world, eventually landing her on the cover of Newsweek and designing the iconic LOVE stamp for the postal service. Her work is held in major museums throughout the world and her 10 Rules for the Immaculate Heart Art Department hangs on many artists’ studio walls. Sister Corita's art and teachings continue to inspire and provoke conversations about the human experience and the power of creativity to bring about positive change. I feel lucky to have been exposed so early in my career to such heart-centered ideas like: “Consider everything an experiment” and “Be happy whenever you can manage it, it’s lighter than you think.” And to, “Do it all with love.”  So, today, I am grateful to be in conversation with a steward of Sister Corita’s archives and legacy, Nellie Scott. Nellie is the Executive Director of the Corita Art Center in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1997 the Corita Art Center preserves and promotes Corita Kent’s art, teaching, and passion for social justice. Today, the Center supports exhibition loans and public programs, oversees image and merchandising rights, sells Corita’s original prints, and serves as a resource and archive on her life and work. Links: Corita Art Center: https://www.corita.org/ Corita Art Center Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coritaartcenter/ Corita's Anti-Nuclear War speech: https://mps.lib.harvard.edu/sds/audio/451265426

On a chilly spring day earlier this year, I received a notification from my friend Julia, our first guest on the Infinite Search. The show had just launched a couple of hours prior, and people were reaching out to show their support. Julia was excited to introduce me to a friend who was curious to know more.  The idea for the infinite search was taking root—a space for personal storytelling and co-creation of meaning. Conversations of the human kind. Julia introduced me to Gabriel, and in our first meeting, I saw how they abide by their own set of rules, customs, and beliefs. A ritual of making in community as a way forward. We instantly connected over similarities in our own stories and their vulnerability was beautifully human, courageous, and inspiring. Gabriel Chalfin-Piney is a performance artist and organizer, with a background in cohort creation and public programming. They are interested in making by way of olfactory, gustatory, and tactile experiments, prompting audience members to participate as co-creators. Failure, co-learning and storytelling are central to the projects that they participate in. Gabriel has held positions at the Lunder Institute for American Art, Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Vassar College’s Powerhouse Theater. They have performed at the Dorsky Museum, Panoply Performance Lab, Chicago Artists Coalition, High Concept Labs, Grace Exhibition Space, and the Whitney Museum of Art.  Gabriel holds an MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They are currently engaged with Urban Gateways as the Senior Instructional Program Manager, and they are the founder of Care-Full Histories, an Oral History Archiving, Food + Performance Residency, which I’m excited to talk to them about today. To learn more about Gabriel and their work, visit: Website:https://www.chalfinpiney.com/ Instagram:@citrus.history

It was February of 2022. I opened the door of a large, industrial building on the South side of Chicago housing dozens of studios, galleries, and creative spaces on five floors. I was excited to meet other artists in the community, and my palms were very sweaty. The gallery owner convened a circle to introduce ourselves, and I only remember two things from that point on: 1) Someone talking about their relationship to mother earth, and 2) Locking eyes with that person as I introduced myself, wide-eyed and enchanted. The person I met is Abena Motaboli, and she is a Basotho–Ghanaian interdisciplinary artist, educator, and writer currently based in Chicago. She grew up in Lesotho, a landlocked nation surrounded by the country of South Africa, before moving to the United States and attending art school at Columbia College Chicago, where she obtained her bachelor of fine arts. Deeply inspired by plants, nature, and our living world, she finds joy in using pigments of the earth, working with flowers, and being in conversation with everything around her. Her work has been exhibited across the US and Europe, and she is currently engaged with the Center For Humans and Nature as a Land Reciprocity Program Developer and in Land access research with the Kalliopeia Foundation. Thank you for joining me, as I’m honored to share this journey and conversation with the incredibly gifted and wholly loving educator and artist, Abena Motaboli. You can learn more about Abena and her beautiful practice online at: Website: ⁠www.abenaart.com⁠ Instagram: @abenaart

It was the spring of 2020. I just had a nervous breakdown and experienced the very first panic attack in my life. I thought I was dying. I felt alone, isolated, and had come to the hard realization that decisions in my life had led me to a life unfulfilled. I realized I had no real community, and it was eating me alive. I made some pretty serious shifts in my life and serendipitously, a week later, met Christian via a hashtag, #chicagodesign. We connected instantly, and the last three years I’ve witnessed what it means to lead a life with something I call, Big Love. Christian is a Senior Product Designer at PWC, fine art photographer, Zen Buddhist instructor, writer of the newsletter, Beginner's Mind, and founder of the community-centered Chicago Graphic Design Club which just celebrated its third year of building a more thoughtful and inclusive industry and practice. And most importantly to me, he is an educator at DePaul University where he teaches everything from an Introduction to Visual Communication to how to build commercial-level digital experiences with more intent and care. He is committed to creating educational spaces for inquiry, critical thinking, and experimentation — guiding students towards asking better questions to consider what design means to them, their community, and the planet. Learn more about Christian and follow his writing and work at: http://christiansolorzano.com/ https://beginnersmind.substack.com/ https://chicagographicdesign.club/ https://www.instagram.com/xnslrzn/

There are times in your life when you meet someone that you hope to be in conversation with for the rest of your life. Julia is one of those people for me.  We met in 2020 after Julia had just completed her Master of fine arts at Columbia College Chicago. Originally from our shared hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, Arredondo is heavily influenced by the small, family-based businesses she grew up around. Formally trained in printmaking and specializing in artistic forms of independent publishing, she founded both Vice Versa Press and Curandera Press. And in 2020, she launched, QTVC Live!, a DIY shopping network for artists and creatives, which is currently through its third season. Julia puts it best when she says, “It’s like Art 21 meets QVC.”  Her work speaks to the everyday objects that we hold sacred. Crosses and moons mixed with dominoes and cassette tapes, iconic symbols recast with intersecting conversations that make new meaning from old histories. I look at them as vessels of a deeply personal kind of religion. Inspired by the botánica culture and syncretic spirituality of South Texas, she focuses on the similarities of visual language in spaces of retail and worship, exploring the historical crossroads of where manufacturing and magic meet to further survey the history of selling empowerment in the United States.   In a nutshell, “I think she makes magic.” Learn more about Julia: Website: https://www.juliaarredondo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/future_juju/

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Infinite Search—conversations of the human kind. Join artist and designer John Robert Hatherly as they dive into topics like love, purpose, faith, value, and more with friends they've met along the way.Exploring the human experience. To ask questions that challenge us. To share stories that inspire us. And to seek a better understanding, of ourselves, and the world around us. Welcome to the Infinite Search for what it means . . . to be human. Follow the show on Instagram @infinite.search Stay up to date on John's work by joining our newsletter. Come visit our studio at Sondwerk: www.sondwerk.co