ARTSPEAK RADIO with Rudy Youngblood, Sieglinde Othmer, Haley Sellmeyer, & KC Poetry Slam

Wednesday August 8, 2018 Noon to 1PM

Host/producer Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes actor Rudy Youngblood, author Sieglinde C. Othmer, artist Haley Sellmeyer, and KC Poetry Slam team.

Rudy Youngblood is Native American of Comanche and Cree descent. Growing up, he never called one place home, but went to school and graduated in the small town of Belton, Texas. He is proud of his roots. Prior to making his on-screen debut in Mel Gibson’s Oscar nominated film, “Apocalypto” (2006), Youngblood worked as a laborer in a variety of fields. He toured for three seasons with Peter Buffet’s Native American Dance/Theatrical Production, “Spirit-The Seventh Fire”, as a warrior protector, Rudy was also part of the Native American Dance Theater. In 2005, Youngblood decided to move to Los Angelos to create his own theatrical production. It was at this point he was cast for the lead role of ‘Jaguar Paw’ in Apocalypto. Youngblood spent weeks preparing for the filming of the movie, for which he had less than a month to learn the Yucatan Mayan language. In addition, due to his natural athleticism, he performed all his own stunts, including a death-defying175 ft. free fall during the waterfall scene and running in front of a live 200 lbs. jaguar. According to stunt coordinator Mic Rodgers, “Rudy is the purest athlete I’ve ever met. He has his head together and is totally on top of his game. If he wasn’t an actor, he could very well be a stuntman.”

Youngblood also starred in other films, including the lead role as ‘Brandon’ in the 2010 MMA film, “Beatdown”, a natural role for Youngblood considering he was no stranger to the world of mixed martial arts. When it comes to cinema, Youngblood is currently working on several upcoming pictures, side by side with the best in the business. Rudy had the pleasure of working with director Russell Friedenberg for the movie, Wind Walkers. Also, Crossing Point by Daniel Zirilli, and The Dance of the Blue Tattoo. He is executive producer and leading role in the film Say Something. Rudy is also co-producer and leading role in the film AG-1Adrift. Rudy is very talented and is one of the few mainstream Native American actors of his generation. He has endured many struggle in his life and prevailed hardships as a child and young adult. Many would have faltered and taken a different path. He loves being able to speak and motivate youth across the country when given the opportunity. To Youngblood, youth are the future, so he feels obligated and privileged to share his knowledge with them. He hopes his struggles are one example which will motivate youth to strive for success, have a positive outlook on life, and encourage individual personal growth.

“To believe in yourself and know who you are when others don’t believe in you is the greatest accomplishment; to never give up, to never quit, to have faith and stand your ground. Never change who you are. Love yourself because you have already made it and you are… Somebody.”
Rudy Youngblood

Sunday, August 12th Rudy Youngblood comes to the Alamo Drafthouse Kansas City to talk art, culture, and film. Best known for his role as Jaguar Paw in the groundbreaking film APOCALYPTO, Rudy travels the world to spread his passion for art and the value of hard work.
An actor, musician, dancer, and artist Rudy is very talented and is one of the few mainstream Native American actors of his generation.
We’ll be screening his film WIND WALKERS followed by a LIVE Q&A!
Doors open at 6:30pm
Screening at 7pm
Q&A will begin after screening.
Meet & Greet/Signing in the lobby to follow.

https://www.facebook.com/events/233122307204925/

https://drafthouse.com/kansas-city/news/special-guest-rudy-youngblood-comes-to-alamo-kc

Sieglinde C. Othmer, Ph.D. studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Hamburg, earning a doctorate in history and French literature. At age 25, her first book, a history of human rights in Europe in the 17th and 18th century, was finished and published in German.
Shortly thereafter she immigrated to the United States, pursuing a career in academia. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in genetics at Washington University in St. Louis, managed the Sleep Lab at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and held an Assistant Professorship in Experimental Psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Throughout her academic life, she was a co-author of various research studies, papers, and scientific works in psychiatry including “The Clinical Interview Using the DSM-III-R” with updates, all considered a classic in the art of interviewing, which yielded translations, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Farsi.
In recent years, she chose a dramatically different path in writing: fiction. She published two contemporary fables: “Whims, Wits, and Whiskers—A Californian Pet Tale” and “Adventure New Zealand: Beneath the Totaras.” Both books explore contemporary issues such as environmentalism, diversity, and tolerance. Her works emphasize respect as the necessary basis of community building and the delight of creativity.
Recently, she was awarded ‘First Place for Best Juvenile Book’ by the Missouri Writers Guild and ‘Distinguished Favorite’ in Juvenile Fiction by the International Independent Press Award.
She currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband.

Artist Haley Sellmeyer is a 10-year old professional artist from the Kansas City Area who loves to paint and create art. Haley’s been painting and creating different types of art since she was one year old. Born two months premature, her mother was trying to find things to stimulate her brain- art happened to be one of those things. Young Sellmeyer states “It’s just been a progression from there” Haley has participated in over 50 art exhibitions including juried artshows, gallery shows, charity events and has won numerous awards for her art. She has also been featured on several live radio segments, television new channels and in several newspapers in and around the Kansas City area.
Sellmeyer began her art career finger painting with pudding and water based kid paint. By age four she was painting with acrylics on canvas and at age 6 she began oil painting. Sellmeyer now paints with oils, acrylic, mixed media, watercolors, draws and is currently an artist in residence at the Paper Birch Landing Gallery in KCMO.
“Painting is my passion. It’s fun and my art makes me happy and it makes other people happy. My art represents Happiness and Peace. I find inspiration in my environment and what makes me happy every day. I love to create art for myself, other people, shows and charities because it makes me happy and it’s my way of giving back.”
“I approach art with a fun, creative perspective to create art for myself and other people to enjoy. My goals are to have fun, have people all over the WORLD see my artwork, raise money for charities and to show other kids and adults that if I can paint and have fun they can too!!!” Haley Sellmeyer 2016 Age 8

Samantha Slupski, Asia Raine, and Abby Bland from the Kansas City Poetry Slam Nationals team will talk about their journey to the National Poetry Slam based in Chicago this year. This is the slam’s first time at Nationals, and they have spent the past two months fundraising, writing, and practicing for the upcoming competition starting on August 13th. After they return from the National Poetry Slam, the Kansas City Poetry Slam will be heading straight into the next slam season, where any poet can compete from September to March to earn a spot on the team on the first Wednesday of each month. The team members will talk about their experience with getting on the team, what they hope to gain from the competition, and their expectations for the upcoming slam season.

Samantha Slupski serves as the host and Slam Master for Kansas City Poetry Slam, Executive Director of Poetic Underground, a board member for Fountainverse: KC Small Press Poetry Fest, was awarded 2nd Best Poet by The Pitch’s Best of 2017, and was an Arts KC grant recipient in 2017. She has toured nationally and has performed internationally. She currently works at Imagine That! Kansas City and is a studio resident at The Hobbs.

Abby Bland has a B.A. in English and sometimes questions the choice to get a four-year degree in a language she already spoke. Abby also likes to put the past behind her, except when she writes poems about it. Abby got a little drunk and honest one night, stepped on stage at Uptown Arts Bar, and accidentally (a year of work later) ended up on the Kansas City Poetry Slam nationals team. Go figure. Her special skills include getting embarrassed easily but not admitting it, not talking even when asked a direct question, especially if that question is about herself, and procrastinating on writing biographical statements. She wants to be Leslie Knope when she grows up.

Asia Raine is a Kansas City native, a bucket full of feelings, and a recent graduate of UMKC with her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She is a host at the Poetic Underground’s open mic night and 2-time champion of the Kansas City Poetry Slam. She featured at the Four Chapter Gallery’s First Friday show “First Fruits,” teaches workshops about slam poetry with high school students at her alma mater. Her work reflects her experiences as a woman through love and loss, advocating for survivors of sexual violence, and expressing life’s messiness through poetic storytelling

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