This week we fight it out to bring you our ballot picks!!! Listen to the bloodbath unfold!
The music on this episode is by Deseos Primitivos
 |
| Do what you can, people! |
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Thursday, October 22, 2026
403 - Beef (with Max Blue)
This week we chat with writer, Max Blue. We squash our beef, finally! We also talk about the mayor, public art, and writing in a caftan. Plus a shoutout to Jeff Gunderson!
The music in this episode is by La Luz
 |
| It's what's for dinner. |
Nobody's coming to save SF arts — the scene must save itself by Max Blue
While artists work to ‘barely survive,’ SFAC merger delays grants By Max Blue
Thursday, October 15, 2026
402 - Snoopy, Linus, and Jack Halberstam
This week Maysoun regails us with tales of her mini-vacation to Sonoma County. She loses her mind for the Charles Schulz Museum! Kate gets dorky for Jack Halberstam.
The music in this episode is by La Luz
 |
| SNOOPY! |
California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
Leila Weefur's The Chapel of Becoming (Trailer)
Thursday, October 1, 2026
401 - Krang
This week we look at the final painting in our abstraction series. Go back two episodes to look at the painting (on congratulationspinetree.com) by Carmen Herrera. Also Kate saw a show. We also talk about conscientious law breaking.
The music in this episode is by La Luz
 |
| Carmen Herrera in a sassy hat |
 |
| KRANG! |
AI Is Dead. Organoids Are Alive
Thursday, September 24, 2026
400 - LIVE!!!
This week we're coming to you live from beautiful San Francisco! We discuss public art, bleeps, smack talk, and our treasured memories.
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
| Happy 400 to us! (shoutout to Conrad!) |
Friday, September 18, 2026
399D - Jaged Edge
This week Kate went to a show! We discuss climate activists gluing themselves to paintings. We also look at a painting by Miyoko Ito (see the notes from the last episode on CongratulationsPineTree.com) and we try to say the name of the city of Concord.
Throwing soup at a Van Gogh? Why climate activists are targeting art
The music in this episode is by La Luz
 |
| Untitled, 1952 Acrylic on canvas 25 x 60 inches Carmen Herrera (1915 – 2022) See high res image here! |
Throwing soup at a Van Gogh? Why climate activists are targeting art
Here’s Every Artwork That Climate Activists Have Glued Themselves To
Thursday, September 10, 2026
399C - You Missed a Spot
Be sure to check out the show notes from last week's episode to see the paintings we're talking about this week! We look so hard our eyes fall out. Plus Kate went to a show, and Maysoun got solicited for art opportunities. According to Kate this is part 8 of our 10 week series on abstraction.
Check out everything at www.CongratulationsPineTree.com
The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew
 |
| Miyoko Ito Sea Changes, 1977 oil on canvas, 45 x 36 inches See high res image here |
Amy Ellingson's new book, On Painting and the Nature of Work
Big Joan, Little Joan video clip
Amy Sillman on Art 21
Seminars with Artists: Amy Sillman | Live from the Whitney
How to look at an abstract painting (Amy Sillman on Joan Mitchell)
Thursday, September 3, 2026
399B - Alley Rat Juice
This week we tell you what music shows we went to because we are cool music people. Then we get back into our ten(ish) week series on abstraction. We also talk about rejection and redesigning Arizmendi.
The intro/outro music in this episode is by Hermanos Gutiérrez
Next week's paintings:
 |
Joan Mitchell, Ground (1989) |
 |
| Amy Sillman, 2P1 (2024) high res image here |
Thursday, August 27, 2026
399A - Artmaxxing (with Mel Prest)
This week we are graced with the presence of painter Mel Prest. Maysoun is hunkering down in the tropics! We talk about abstraction, haircuts, learning at the foot of the master, and what the hell goes on in a painter's studio.
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
| A Tantric painting from Rajasthan circa 2002 |
Don't forget to look at this Etel Adnan painting for next week
50 Works 50 Weeks: Thomas Eakins’s “Wrestlers”
Thursday, August 20, 2026
399 - Ice Cream (with Mansur Nurullah)
This week we have the pleasure of chatting with artist, Mansur Nurullah! We discuss abstraction, books, scraps, the technological sublime, bullying, and counseling. We make a lot of deviations and tangents and detours. Plus giggle fits!
The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew
 |
| BASEBALL NUT |
 |
| High res image here! |
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
398 - Agnes Sharkin'
This week we jump the shark for the second time. First off, this episode is part four of our ten part series on abstraction. We talk about motherfuckin Agnes Martin, whether sharks are older than Satan, and Craig Calderwood's amazing new mural at SFMoMA. Maysoun speaks of drones. We apologize to the listeners.
The music in this episode is by La Luz (they are on tour! See them!)
 |
| Say hello! |
Thursday, July 30, 2026
397 - Deconstruct (with Danielle Lawrence)
This week we have the pleasure of talking to artist, Danielle Lawrence about abstraction, the body, and institutional decay. Then Maysoun and Kate explore their feelings about last week's painting by Howardena Pindell. It's a long episode, folks!
The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew
 |
| Get in the mess! |
Agnes Martin at SFMOMA (the next works we're looking at)
“The heroine Paint”: After Frankenthaler
High Times, Hard Times: New York Painting 1967-1975
Abstraction: Politics and Possibilities
Enter the Dragon: On the Vernacular of Beauty
At the Met Museum, an Abstract Show That Falls Short of Epic
Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction
Thursday, July 23, 2026
396 - Crusty Peaks
This week Kate and Maysoun saw all the shows at Minnesota Street Project. We also talk about Marlow Moss and more abstraction! Plus we decide what shapes we are.
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
| Howardena Pindell, Night Flight, 2015–16. Mixed media on canvas; 75 x 63 in. See a high res image here. |
 |
| Mark Perlman, Overview, 2025, oil and wax on panel, 60 x 48 inches at Nancy Toomey Fine Art |
 |
Marlow Moss, White and Yellow, 1935, Oil paint, string and canvas on canvas |
 |
| Marlow Moss, Untitled (Free forms), 1950 Gouache on paper |
 |
| Julian Schnabel, Divan 1978 oil, plates, and bondo on wood, 90 x 120 x 13 inches |
Howardina Pindell at the MCA Chicago
Thursday, July 16, 2026
395 - Hard Line
This is week two of our deep into abstraction! Be sure to share your abstract experiences with us!
419 351 6606 or email us: congratulationspinetree@proton.me
Also, Kate went and saw some shows!
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
Marlow Moss, Composition in Red, Black and White, 1953, oil on canvas, 76 x 51 cm. |
 |
| Marlow Moss! |
Nice, neat lawn by Abi Tucker and Stanley Millerby Abi Tucker and Stanley Miller
Space, Movement, and Body: Marlow Moss
Talking Painting: Dialogues with Twelve Contemporary Abstract Painters by David Ryan
How to look at an abstract painting
Sculpture in the Expanded Field
Mondrian His Life, His Art, and the Quest of the Absolute Nicholas Fox Weber
Thursday, July 9, 2026
394 - Understanding Abstraction in Ten Weeks
This week we begin a ten week course on abstraction. Please follow along, there will be prizes at the end. We also talk about the International Art Museum of America getting voted best museum in SF. Shocking.
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
| Helen Frankenthaler, Mountains and Sea 1952 Oil and charcoal on unsized, unprimed canvas, 86 ⅜ × 117 ¼ inches |
Helen Frankenthaler, Mountains and Sea (large image)
Episode 18 - The Treasure Room (about the IAMA)
Thursday, July 2, 2026
393 - Get Madder
This week we have an emotional conversation about the SFAC funding saga. We also talk about the Queers Against Zionism event at the Lab. We also talk about poetry and why people hate it.
The music in this episode is by spacemoth
 |
| MAD! |
 |
Bay Area Arts Picnic on Sat. July 11th 1-4pm!!
Elk Glen Picnic Area at Golden Gate Park
1017 MLK Drive at 27th Street
San Francisco Finalizes $17 Billion Budget, Restores Millions in Proposed Cuts
Bay to Gaza Mutual Aid Collective
Thursday, June 18, 2026
392 - Solidarity Forever! (with Leo Dugan)
This week Kate has a conversation with Leo Dugan from the Creativity Explored United bargaining team!
the music in this episode is by Deseos Primitivos
 |
| Union Strong! |
Creativity Explored United instagram
creativityexploredunited@gmail.com - if you want to get in touch!
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
391 - Funeral Dirge
We talk about the election results, a couple events we went to, a protest that kate went to, and safe injection facilities. Decriminalize drugs!!!! Huge spoilers for I Love Boosters, the new Boots Riley movie!
The music in this episode is from the I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score)
 |
| Remember phone books? |
Supervised consumption explained: types of sites and services
Supervised injection facilities in Canada: past, present, and future
The Law (and Politics) of Safe Injection Facilities in the United States
Supervised Injection Facilities and International Law
New Strategies Are Needed to Stop Overdose Fatalities: The Case for Supervised Injection Facilities
The public health impacts of supervised injection sites in Canada: Moving beyond social acceptability and impacts on crimeThursday, June 4, 2026
390 - What's Up With the Sun? (with Ebti)
This week we have the great honor of talking to artist, Ebti! We talk about translation, theater, death, cats, light bulbs, and whether or not the sun is gay!
Sign this open letter to support the workers at the SFAC!
Music in this episode is by Meshell Ndegeocello
 |
| Languages! |
Ebti!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2026
389 - June 2026 Voter Guide
This week we finally made our voter guide! YES ON D, SAN FRANCISCO!
The music in this episode is by SPELLLING
 |
| do it! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)