Welcome to a special installment of the Truth in Us Art from Artscape 40. I am your host, Rob Lee, and this episode is presented to you by our sponsors, Verizon and Crust by Mac. Thank you for joining me for my conversations at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. Today, I have a special guest who's been a reoccurring guest on this podcast. She's here to discuss her involvement in artscape and the vibrant comedy scene in Baltimore.
Rob Lee:Please welcome the managing director of the Baltimore Improv Group, Big Improv, Michelle Faulkner Forsen. Welcome to the podcast.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Artscape
Rob Lee:40. I I I as I as I approach 40 and see Artscape 40, I'm like, come on now. What what are we doing? I was like, thinking about it, Artscape predates me.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Artscape started when I was born. Okay? I wasn't here, but it happened. Same year.
Rob Lee:And it's it's one of those things. This is the 40th installment and, you know, it's been around since 82 and it's definitely been a big part entrenched into what Baltimore's I think arts and culture seen as in a in a macro sense. And before we dive a bit in more into the artscape conversation, let's let's level set with you. Could you I gave the very sparse. Could you introduce yourself?
Rob Lee:And I know I've had you do this before by having a little extra spice and seasoning for this this intro, but I want to start off by giving you the space to introduce yourself.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Okay. I am Michelle Faulkner Forsen. I am the managing director of the Baltimore Improv Group and have been for almost 3 years now. Time has been flying. I am I originally from Chicago, Came here by way of the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:So art escape has been, very much a part of my life as soon as I got here.
Rob Lee:And we're recording a part of the campus right now in Maloro Station.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Uh-huh.
Rob Lee:So you're like, oh, I know this place. I know that room. Exactly.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It was like that. It was the deja vu moment or something. Yes.
Rob Lee:So one of the things I remember we talked about, I think, your first, the first time you were on this pod, the John Waters connection. So I wanted to dive a little into that a bit more. Like, what was that that that influence on your decision in in coming here and how did John Waters play a role in that?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know what, when I think of his values, although he is the was he like the the king of trash? Like he's he's got some kind of like interesting name. Yeah. Yeah. I respect that he didn't change or
Rob Lee:The Pope of trash.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Pope. Excuse me. The Pope of trash.
Rob Lee:All praises.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:All praises due to John Waters. But just the fact that he didn't change who he was to be a part of the masses. The masses had to adjust to be a part of him and, that's that's gangster. That's gangster and I and I wanna be in that number of artists that are able to do exactly, make the art that I exactly wanna make and then not having to adjust myself to be a part of anybody else's community.
Rob Lee:That is a It's a good point. And it's a very, I think it's a very Baltimore sentiment too that it's like, it is what it is.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It is what it is here. Well, I'm not
Rob Lee:the I I wanna I wanna adopt this. It's the first time I'm saying this. I wanna be the patron saint of Pod. I wanna I wanna do that.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You I like how that is. I like the flow of that.
Rob Lee:Just have a little, like, like, medallion?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Go ahead. Go for it. Like, make you a little little stained glass window.
Rob Lee:Like, all praises. Give it up. I think your audio quality good. So, you know, talking about being an artist Mhmm. What is your art?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I would say, my art is satire. I use satire in everything that I make, and it could have been I started in photography. That's what I majored in. I'd make a still image and call it something satirical, because those are the connections that I have and I feel that people are more likely to get the message from you if there's some humor or a tint of comedy in it. So I'm trying to speak my peace about mainly culture, black culture, popular culture and I make fun of it.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I poke at it. I disassemble it and put it back together. I do a lot of things but all of it has something to do with comedy. So before I even got to the Baltimore Improv Group as a as a student or, I was already kind of making and poking fun of things through my artwork. So that just kinda added added this performance element onto some of the stuff that I wanted to do.
Rob Lee:And and I think that's one of those points, like, that that sentiment around your art. Thank you for sharing that because I think that's where we're we're we're like minded in that regard. And, it's always been a thing for me, like, it's it's not the same as far as, I'm gonna make a comic reference here. Mhmm. But like the the, comedian from the Watchmen
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:Is is sort of that for me and, night is dark, as the dude goes left, but it's just like, this is kind of a bit. Right? Yeah. And I can get humor out of this, and that sort of matches my sensibilities.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And, and I think when, you know, being from here, there from Baltimore, there's a lot of it's almost like certain things aren't allowed to be funny at times. And I I remember having a conversation in this, you know, just after celebrating 5 years of this podcast. Mhmm. Yeah. It's it's cool.
Rob Lee:And I remember talking to a dude who's Chicago, the dude from, Seoul time from, South Side.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm. Mhmm.
Rob Lee:And he was like, I wanna see some comedy coming out of Baltimore, like a sitcom. And sort of, I immediately, I was like, I immediately was like, I could do that. I could write it. I can look at that. So, ultimately, what I'm getting at, I think we need more laughs and more like, this is kind of messed up.
Rob Lee:Right?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Exactly.
Rob Lee:We can turn this into a bit. Right? Uh-huh. While still acknowledging sort of the authenticity, what's really happening in these different places, like being real, being legit, but also seeing that there is many ways to look at it from a dramatic side to a, you know, humorous side.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Yeah.
Rob Lee:Satire.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yes.
Rob Lee:So I've gotta ask, so with that big improv, and what are you what are you doing for artscape this year? What is the Hello. What's the vibes we Yes. Guys involved in?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yes. So we are providing all of the comedy at Artscape and it's, we've got a little thing called LOL at Artscape and it's right at the Baltimore Improv Group. Free improv shows all weekend long, and we've got a mix of improv, and stand up. So, best of both worlds on the same stage, doing our thing.
Rob Lee:So if you could briefly give folks a sense because there's always that Yeah. And I and I know because you're you're an educator, like, oh, you you're an artist on yourself.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:It's this thing where, man, improv and stand up is the same thing and they're not.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:They are not.
Rob Lee:So if you will and sort of, you know
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I would love to explain. Please. Please. I would love to explain the difference. Improv is, improvise.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That's it's a short word shortened version of the word improvise and improvise is something made up on the spot. It's not planned and, that's very much the sentiment of the shows. We have some really talented, creatives there. They can make a scene out of just a word or phrase from an audience member and have an entertainment show for a 30 minute set. So, like, that is miraculous that someone could do that but, it's something, a skill that all people can learn.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:If you're open to learning that, you can go to the bostonawareproperty.org and take a class. Now stand up, also very difficult to do, but still anybody can, you know, get the skills to be able to do it. They create content outside of stage and then they come to perform what they've written on stage. And that's typically by themselves. It might be a duo here and there, but that's by themselves.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And then they get like 5 to 10 minutes to say that versus working with a community of folks Yeah. In improv and having close to 25 to 30 minutes to make stuff up at the same time. It's very different worlds but, I think the commonality is that we end up in the same spaces as you see. Comedy is comedy and it's all about expression and trying to get your perspective out in the
Rob Lee:let's say if someone is like, I'm a songwriter, I like to spend time in the studio collaborating Yeah. And then someone who might not be as skilled at writing songs, but it's like, yo, I'm a great freestyle guy.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:Off the top of the dome, here's my 5, here's the cipher. Exactly. Smack DVD.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yep. Yep. It's different, very different processes. That's what it is. It's a different process.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:But, you know, we're all of the same similar mindset. We wanna make people laugh. That's the way we deal with our trauma. Most of us are pain, our distaste in something. That's the way we deal with it and, our perspective needs to be heard just like everybody else's
Rob Lee:does. Speaking of that Mhmm. Brings me to my my next question about sort of working with BOPA, working with and and toward this capacity at Artscape Mhmm. How do you feel like, you know, this collaboration and working in this capacity has, like, helped with that that mission of, you know, for Artscape's mission of, celebrating diverse artistic expressions.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I I appreciate you. So like I said, my entry into Baltimore City came along with, my entry into artscape. I started school here during the summer.
Rob Lee:Yep.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And that's all our teachers were talking about. Oh, artscape, artscape. And, you know, Mike is right on Mount Royal so that's like prime prime stage. There's a lot going on up there, during art escape. But, I just think it it kinda is twofold.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It, all of them kinda play into each other. They they make a good point to bring all kinds of, like, Baltimore has so many arts communities. Like, I've seen some really cool shows here. And these are artists that, you know, are doing it for the love of the art. Not necessarily to be, you know, I don't know, in in MOMA or, you know, just they wanna just create and I I respect that so much in, in the city and the the acceptance of all kinds of arts in general.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Sure. So Baltimore Artscape, they do a good job at just bringing people together. So these these creative geniuses can, like, showcase what they've been doing.
Rob Lee:It's like letting folks cook.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That's it. And Not micromanaging.
Rob Lee:And I and I think
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Add some pepper. Just a little bit of that. Right. Right.
Rob Lee:But but I think it's it's cool to seeing, like, all of these different communities together because at times, the sort of I and I and maybe I'm thinking fine art here, but it it's almost rarefied. It's almost like, your what you do isn't creative enough or isn't the type of work that we're looking for where it feels a little bit more open source, if you will, where folks that are doing work, they're getting the opportunity. I'm seeing so many young artists, artists that I've interviewed, artists that I'm eventually going to interview, posting like, yo, I'm gonna be at Artscape. I'm I'm showing work or I'm gonna be part of B23 or I'm gonna be vending, or, hey, I can't wait to see this performance.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So I wanna get this tape because and and I'm gonna go back to more of the, like, sort of specific RSK questions. But I wanna get this one as, you know, the experience being an attendee. Mhmm. Because, you know, being on both sides, this is my first year on the other side of it. Of working here and and doing interviews.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:And it's a different setup
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Oh, for sure.
Rob Lee:Versus attending and absorbing. And I'll I'll give you this context. I've gone to several and some of the ones that stick out, one was I saw Ray Charles here.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Oh, dope.
Rob Lee:I was here for for that. I was like, that's Ray Charles.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Right. Right. Right.
Rob Lee:I was just like I I was I was super young and I was like, yeah. You got the right one baby.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Uh-huh. Exactly. Exactly.
Rob Lee:And, you know, seeing other, like, performances and I think it was one, like, sort of, like, street performer 1 year, this is forever ago, but he was, like, using me as stilts. He, like, stood on me because I'm so, so tall. I was like, this is wild. And it seemed like it just felt really Baltimore and of it's it sounds like a large carnival in Somerset.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. That's a great way to describe our escape. It is like a big carnival.
Rob Lee:What is the experience for you in attending that and and what is something that sticks out in the years that you've you've attended?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I, you know, I'm a I'm a small it don't take much for me to like like, really be happy and I and I appreciate this about myself. I, I remember last year and it was only Friday last year because I what? Was was the the tropical storm that shut us out, Ophelia?
Rob Lee:Yeah. Ophelia, you funny.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I mean, you know what I'm saying. But, last year on Charles Street, they had these kinda streamers that were just flowing. The wind was nice.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And I was just like looking at everybody participating and I was like, this is beautiful. It was just like, this is cool. This is cool. People are enjoying their selves. They're enjoying this art.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:They dressed up the street. People walking in there. It was just something really small. You could hear the the, you know, the music around the corner because they had a stage over there. It was it was just really small but it was really it spoke to me as the experience that people could be having, you know, outside of myself.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I'm like, this is really nice that the city does this for whomever can come, you know.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And and I think, you know, last year kinda coming back and, you know, as you touched on earlier, being there at big and the capacity you're in, you know, that's like having that experience of being embedded right there in Station North in that role and then seeing Artscape which was gone those previous years
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:and
Rob Lee:kind of being back
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:There, I felt the kind of the same because I was I was there at Big O' Friday.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And I definitely booked, like, 5 interviews, Michael Ferris, so many different people, like, Roberto, oh, oh, oh, and, you know, definitely, I felt it. I I felt this sense of, like, man, I love seeing our people.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That's what it's really nice. Just a nice piece. And, it also felt like a full circle moment for me, because like I said, when I got to Baltimore, our escape was one of the first things that I like was kinda wasn't wasn't forced into but it was like it it intruded into my my existence because I I lived in a dormancy. Right. So I was like, oh, I can't park here?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Like Like, what is this? Exactly. So, I went with some of my classmates and, we walked from Mica, the where the dorms were off of Mount Royal to to Charles, Cliff Charles.
Rob Lee:Yep. Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And that's, like, where our night ended. Yeah. And, you know, to now be working across the street and participating in this way that I didn't even anticipate it was just like, okay.
Rob Lee:And now that you're you're, like, almost one of those stops on there now where folks, if they know, they know. If you wanna get the
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Exactly.
Rob Lee:You should pull up and and and I think that's the really cool thing about, sort of, going to big during artscape because I pulled up. I, like, I pulled up. I was there. I was just kind of maxing and it was a few folks that thought I was doing, like, comedy. I was like, no.
Rob Lee:I look funny, but I'm not doing comedy. And I I ended up talking to a few folks there as I was saying, you know, building out for interviews and communicating and networking and just kind of being there in this sense of folks are not it's not that it's not the hustle and bustle and people are moving because there's so much stuff to see. Right? Yeah. But people are there with and I guess I'll say a creative intent and creative energy whether it be in appreciating it or showing their stuff Yeah.
Rob Lee:That if you're able to dive into a conversation,
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:what do
Rob Lee:you think of this?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Exactly. What do
Rob Lee:you think of that? Mhmm. Hey, you know, you you're into this? Yeah, I know you, man. You do this podcast or whatever it is.
Rob Lee:And it seems like it it's open for almost a networking capacity because, I've never gone by myself to artscape. I've always gone either with friends.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It's never
Rob Lee:a solo thing for me.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Yeah. I feel like I I walked through a little bit by myself, because previous times I was with other people. And it just, you know, like this I was able to reflect more and just like take it all in. And it's just like people come.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:They wanna see what's going on and they try to get the best artists, you know, headliner and, you know, people that folks can appreciate from all age groups. Uh-huh. So I they do a really good job. They do a good job.
Rob Lee:So so back to the the comedy connection. Right?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:Like, you know, there are certain pockets here
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:As far as creative, like, communities that maybe aren't regarded as this is a creative outlet or that is creative outlet. Like, I've heard it about comedy when I did that series of interviews with comedians. Mhmm. And so it's like, man, it's almost that kind of, like, you know, like tight comedian. And this is the purest art form.
Rob Lee:It's like, I'm wrong, but also and some folks feel like they're underserved. They're just looked at as almost like your thing to do, but I'm not checking for it. Yeah. How does, like, having, you know, sort of the support from, like, Artscape, whether it be in from the marketing capacity, from this, you know, the structure and you're putting on the for the weekend. How does that help as far as post impact, if you will?
Rob Lee:Like folks coming back and, you know, being there at Big and even other comedy venues.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I would, say that is to be seen. We've participated pre pandemic, and I was in a different capacity. Sure. But, I think a lot of us a lot of our arts organizations, you know, post pandemic are, like, trying to re get our refuting together, try to get restructured, into what, you know, society is now and adjusting. And I think a lot of that has to do with, like our success in the future will have more to do with our partnerships than anything.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. And I'm I'm hopeful that a lot of us work in that capacity and, you know, come together and not, you know, consider 1 to be a competitor and and we all just figure out how we can work with each other and respect each other's art form for what it is and see how we can, support each other's community. So hopefully, it it, you know, we get all kinda wonderful people into our space, to keep us rolling and, we do this every year. I escape the surrounds. So that's I'm hopeful for all of those things.
Rob Lee:I think it's I think it's an invitation to go deeper.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:You know, I would imagine there are if folks are into, you know, comedy, into improv Mhmm. And seem like, oh, you guys have that? Sure. Let's pull on up. Let's pull on up because, you know, in the instances where I'm recording very big Mhmm.
Rob Lee:It's sort of that.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Like, looks
Rob Lee:like, I didn't know this was here. Can I take a class? As you saw last week, you know, when we were at, you know, you know, BC. Mhmm. So, yeah, that's that's good.
Rob Lee:Mhmm. So I I I got this question for you. You've been here. Yes. You're you're you're here in Baltimore.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yes.
Rob Lee:It's the you know, we're we're we're here at Artscape, and we're going to talk about, sort of, this question of defining defining characteristics. What's the defining characteristic of Baltimore's arts and culture, from your perspective?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Raw, open, spring and sprinkle with queer. Like, queerness is like all of these things all kinda meshed into 1. I've seen some really crazy shows that I know I couldn't have seen anywhere else. And it's funny because, like, when I reflect on your, John Waters question, I saw and probably learned some vocabulary. I didn't know, just about the queer community and how how they function here.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Like, I I think it's it's wonderful to be able to see all of these things in one space like drag, stand up, like, I don't even know what to call some of the shows I've seen. Like, shout out to MICA Community Arts Program. I saw, a performance that in in involved, hair being plucked from from a boob. You know what I mean? Like I I've seen so many things and I wanted this experience because I know our school is is a roll of the dice.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You're gonna see something something you ain't never seen in there, you know. And either you vibe with it or you don't and and that's the beautiful thing about art. You don't have to deal with it. Like, you don't have to enjoy everything, but you gotta appreciate that somebody was able to make this thing for somebody else that loves that.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know? And that could be your way to making a living. Like, this is this is America.
Rob Lee:This is America.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know what I'm saying? Like, you you can make a banana you can put a banana on the wall and make 1,000,000 of dollars. You know what I'm saying? Where else can you do that?
Rob Lee:See, you're you're gonna make hair grow out of my head and I almost dodged king in a little bit. Only in America, baby. It's like
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Only in America. Only in America. So I just, I'm happy. Okay. So I I think I think I spoke to everything that I said.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Just like, Baltimore is its own thing. Like, Chicago is its own thing and I just I respect both of
Rob Lee:them. No. Totally. And that's the thing that I I look for when and I had this conversation yesterday Mhmm. About when I travel, when I take this on the road and I'm not looking for what feels touristy.
Rob Lee:I'm looking for what feels real.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And I think when everything, like, right now, this feels like a sort of celebration. I want to get over the notion of happy artscape, happy artscape. Yeah. I want to get that over as a thing. I'm getting over multiple things.
Rob Lee:Patriot State of Pod, Happy Artscape, all of that. I wanted to be appreciated because of what it does and what that impact is. Because you're seeing sort of the purity that's here, like the unadulterated sort of, you know sure. We have headliners that are coming in, but it's a lot of local talent Oh, yeah. That's a part of it.
Rob Lee:And it's probably 80 to 90% local people
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Exactly.
Rob Lee:That that are doing it and that are that are crushing it and showing off what we have. Mhmm. I think that's really important. In a lot of times, like, you know, that's like a really big moment of being on that. When you're on stage at home.
Rob Lee:Right?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Yeah.
Rob Lee:You're gonna, like, I'm a pull Alexis Bank on this one.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Exactly. That's for y'all. Yeah. For sure.
Rob Lee:So and and I and I say that to segue into this and the the whole sort of traveling thing. Mhmm. I'm looking for when I travel, I'm looking for what gives me that feeling of Baltimore. That's what I'm looking for in other places.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:Like, you know, when I went to Chicago recently
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:I was like, I'm not looking for sort of, you know, these are the places on Yelp you should go to. This is what a blog says. I was
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:like, nah. I need
Rob Lee:to know the real thing. Where's the puro? You know, where's the real thing? Mhmm. So with Baltimore, you know, we have it here and if you know, you know.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Right.
Rob Lee:And it seems like externally, there's more and more attention. And I think the sort of traffic that comes in, there are people from MICA and people from Hopkins and the different schools that may have moved away and they come back for arts and they bring friends.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:So talk a bit about sort of maybe getting that wider attention outside of here and how, like, sort of, like, an event like this Mhmm. Contributes to that. Because DC is down the street. Philly's up the street if you will.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:For sure. For sure. I think we, as in the Baltimore Improv Group Yeah. We've been kind of trying to bring more people to us to see what we have and, you know, and we don't have to go to your New York's or your, you know, LA's to do improv. But that what we do here is just as valuable as anywhere else.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And, when people come here, there is like, oh, I'll be back. You know, like, oh, y'all got everything right here. Even if you want to stay here and you want to do a little bit of traveling, everything is like less than 5 hours away. Yeah. You know?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:So it's just such a good people need to understand how good Baltimore is. Well, don't don't understand too much because I wanna get a house here before. You know? But like, this is such a prime location that if folks would just really understand what a gym this place is, It'd be overpopulated. So I don't want I don't want y'all to understand.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I take that back. Just know it's a gym. Y'all should come visit.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Visit Skinny Martie. Enjoy the art. You
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:know, go back home. Go back home because it's popping here. People don't really understand. And they think everything is just a wire here and that's so far from the truth. All major cities, all cities that have, you know, urban environments, it's the same, you know, structures for the most part.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:They, you know, support one area. They neglect others. You know? It's it's it's what it is. You know?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And it's everywhere I've seen us, meaning people of color.
Rob Lee:Yep.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And, but there's so much light and joy in some of these places that aren't really supported the way they should be. And, we gotta acknowledge that. And that's why I think, like, comedy is such a, like, a space that, like, so many people of color are, like, using to just survive every day. Yep. That I want to just validate that even though nobody's asking me but, like, I validate everybody that uses comedy as a way to get through the day because it's hard out here and a lot of people, aren't happy.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And I, you know, I'm learning the older I get. It's only a couple of things you're trying to do. You're trying to be happy.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Try to keep it as many teeth as possible. Make sure your feet are right. You know what I mean? Like, it's just some basic stuff. It was just
Rob Lee:all in arch.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't even handle arch. So it's like, from the jump, I'm screwed. But like, if we just get to the to the foundation of like love and, like, supporting each other and joy, like, everybody's life will be so much better. So I'm just trying to support that.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And that that that sort of goal, and I think we've we've both touched on it, of just folks of all these different places with in all these different communities and sub communities. However, macro you wanna get micro you wanna get with it, all coming together on a sort of a like minded thing with all the positive energy. That's the thing that I it is palpable. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So it's the sort of last question that I have with the real questions. Because I even even in this even in this artscape sort of collaborative thing Mhmm. I still have rapid fire questions. Okay. So in in in we've touched on it a little bit, you know, throughout this conversation, but again, milestones Mhmm.
Rob Lee:Describe the feeling of, like and I know we're we're recording this for context before the floodgates
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Come open. Yeah.
Rob Lee:What is the sort of feeling maybe of anticipation and and so on of being involved in sort of the milestone year of, like, you know, every 10 years. It's like that Patton Oswell joke. It's like you get, you know, get a birthday sort of, like, every 10 years
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And we're one of those where, you know, the 40th installment. So what does that feel feel like as far as the being involved in this this year? You know, it's back fully.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I think I feel like this is the year of milestones for me just like in general.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And being a part of the 40th year of art scape. It's it's just like it makes sense. It makes sense. Of course, I'm a part of this too. You know, like, it, there's so many firsts that have happened in the last few years.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It just it's all validating for, like, the journey. Oh, it's oh, I'm supposed to be here and it you know? Because, you know, you question stuff sometimes. Like, what happened? I made the the left way the light.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:How, you know, how did I get here exactly? But, it's all validating for the journey. And I don't know what's gonna happen next, which is exciting and scary all at the same time, but that's life. So I'm just grateful to be a part of something bigger than me and that supports the artist community in Baltimore.
Rob Lee:Well said. That's great. Mhmm. So now it's time for us to get to rapid fire portion. Alright.
Rob Lee:I'm particularly proud of this first one. I rarely say that.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You said it. You you were gloating about it earlier.
Rob Lee:So this year, you know, in the 40th 40th installment Mhmm. We're we're back into the summer setup. Right? Okay. The actual legitimate summer summer.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Okay.
Rob Lee:And I know folks always talk about, man, it's so hot, and so
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:on and so forth. Mhmm.
Rob Lee:But no one's spontaneously combusted.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Not yet.
Rob Lee:No one is ignited.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Not not yet.
Rob Lee:How do you beat the heat
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Okay.
Rob Lee:During arts skate? Skate? Because it was in September last year.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It was
Rob Lee:back in beginning of August this year.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. I As you see, I have a very big water bottle with me. And I just in general, stay hydrated folks. Drink your water. No soda does not count.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:No juice doesn't count. Drink your water. I beat the heat and everything else with a big cup of water.
Rob Lee:I just drink my water and mama does it.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That's it, man. That's it.
Rob Lee:That was good. That was good. I was waiting for, like, man, snowball and cognac. I'm like, what? No.
Rob Lee:Nah. Actually, you know what? They have came up with a third one. Alright.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know what? I that sounds great,
Rob Lee:though. Yeah. They custard?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Look. Look. Okay.
Rob Lee:Here's the second rapid fire one.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Okay.
Rob Lee:I think, artists and yeah. I'm around, but you're you're an artist.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:You know, they always have sort of that secondary talent. Mhmm. It's like, I don't know if you how much anime or anything along those but it's like, when someone has a quirk in, like, My Hero Academia, it's just like, you have a secondary quirk.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:What do you have a secondary talent that you're so confident in, but you pretty pretty don't really know about it, but you're so confident in it. Right? That you're like, I'm a be on that Artscape stage with this talent one year.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That's funny. So I think the last few years, and actually, this this conversation started when I first got here. I realized one of my teachers asked me what I was good at and nobody. I couldn't recall a moment when anybody had ever asked me that. And I was like, my god.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Oh god. Like, it was just so many things that were rushing through my head. But like, I know with confidence that I'm funny. I know that. Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:But I have a personality that people want to be around and I can bring people together around things. I know that's a talent of mine. Yeah. To a point where, like, I have to, like, not tell people I'm around. So I won't, like, I have to set boundaries because I'm I'm that likable.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:If that if that makes sense.
Rob Lee:So the likability is the skill you're you're going with.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I'm going I'm going hard with it. Like like He's an
Rob Lee:emcee then, for 1. They're just like, look, you know, welcome to the stage.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:The, you know, I really I really have come to that thing. Like, oh, I can I can get any I can make anything happen just because I'm a likable person? Yeah. I mean, and that that goes a long that goes a long way.
Rob Lee:It does.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:It goes a long way. That's why I'm like, there's so many jerks and assholes out here like being nice genuinely. Yeah. Not even nice, kind. Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Being kind, and supporting people in what they're doing genuinely goes so far. That's true. So whenever you may want anything, you be like, let me x. See what's up.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And maybe that's the mafia standard. Like, I am from Chicago.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I was waiting for that. You know what
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:I'm saying? Like, you know. But I I really do think, well, that might be another skill too. I'm strategic.
Rob Lee:Strategy is is a thing. Like, again, you know, I'm told that I'm kind. I don't put it in my top five. But the strategy, I'm up there.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:No. You're up there. You know? Like, that might be 2.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Let me know with 2. Podcast today.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:That was You you said, like, you got a stiffy voice. So, like, it's there. You got that and you don't have to work at that. That's just
Rob Lee:your voice.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:You know what I'm saying? But you got you got strategy, fam. Well well, thank you. You're a strategic one. One strategist strategist, that's what it is, to another.
Rob Lee:Okay. Yeah. So that's kinda it for the the main conversation but there's there's 2 things that I well, the full conversation, even the rapid fire.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yep.
Rob Lee:So there's 2 things I wanna do in these final moments. Okay. 1, thank you for coming on and spending some time with me and happy art escape.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Happy art escape.
Rob Lee:And, 2, tell folks where to, you know, check out Big and all of the the good stuff or what have you that's going on there? The social media website, all of that good stuff.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Okay. We have we a website. It is www.bigimprov.org because we are a nonprofit organization. We also have an Instagram and that is at big improv. And we have shows even outside of our escape now.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:We got our escape shows, but we got regular shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday every week. We actually have our big Baltimore Improv Festival happening right the day after Artscape. I don't know why why I planned it like this, but I did. And so no rest for comedy. August 5th through 11th, this full week, all shows, as what?
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:6, 7? No. 7, 8, 9 o'clock. So, you know, if you wanna keep the party going, you could definitely chime on in. At the Baltimore Improv Group, we have all of our shows.
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:And if you're interested, you can take a class. So we we got all we got everything you need. Everything you need.
Rob Lee:Well, it needs more laughter. So
Michelle Faulkner-Forson:Yeah. Agreed.
Rob Lee:There you have it, folks. I wanna again thank Michelle Faulkner Forsen for coming on to the podcast as well as my presenting sponsors, Verizon and Crust by Mac, for making this possible. And I'm Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture, and community in and around your neck of the woods. You've just gotta look for it.
