two hundred fifty-seven

WFDD.  Farm House. Wake Forest University.

The year starts with a trip to WFDD studios, an NPR member station.  Lovely overcast morning.  In January.  Cold Winston-Salem morning.  But not as close to the bone chill as the permeating thought -- "how do you use words to talk about visual art?"  For real -- it will be radio and we're talkin' about pictures.

The station house is the oldest building on Wake Forest Campus.  It was originally the farmhouse for the Demon Deacons Brand Churned Butter.  Naw, but there was a farm there and the building's current coat reminded me of butter.

Inside the door my chills were quickly put at ease by station employee Bethany Chafin.  As soon as we met it was like "that voice. I know that voice".  Derrr.  She's a WFDD Associate Producer and radio personality.  We shared ginger chews and chewed the fat a bit.  Kept me calm.

David Ford, Bethany Chafin, Les III, and Station Intern

Then a calm, yet booming voice walks in with other voices.  "Thanks for stopping by.  Good bye -- hello, Les III".  It's David Ford bidding  farewell to the previous guests.  He then fixes me a cup of coffee in a pre-Eat-Mor-Chikin era cow print mug.  There is no need for more buzz between my ears.  It's a cool mug though -- and with cream.

We transport though the farmhouse labyrinth hallways to Studio A.  Then we chat.  Each sentence is backed with the never ending, coffee fueled thought -- is-this-too-esoteric-as-the-professors-warned-about?  How do I use words to describe art work that people need to see?  Ah, but Triad Arts Program Producer, David along with his poignant intern kept it moving with excellent questions.  Heck, they hadn't seen the "Looking Up" solo show at the Turchin Center either.  I guess that's why they are in the radio business -- and Triad Arts is a mighty fine production at that.

How'd it turn out?  Tune in Wednesday, January 21 at 8:45a and again at 5:45p to hear the pre-recorded magic produced by David.  Link on over to WFDD's website and click 'listen live'.

More photos from the "Looking Up" exhibition and the interview may be found over at WFDD too.  Click here.