Explore every episode of the podcast The Art Colony

In this episode of the Art Colony podcast, we talk about the art school that started it all, the one that put the Provincetown Art Colony on the map. Host Gaston Lacombe welcomes Rob Longley, artist, instructor, and board member of the Cape School of Art. Together they discuss the history and impact of the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, founded by Charles Hawthorne in 1899, and its successor, the Cape School of Art, headed by Henry Hensche. Rob Longley shares his Provincetown story, starting in 1971, when he began working under the tutelage of Henry Hensche, the legendary art instructor and former assistant to Hawthorne. Longley reflects on the evolution of the oldest art school in Provincetown, the distinction between the Cape Cod School of Art and the Cape School of Art, and the artistic legacy of Henry Hensche, particularly his unique focus on light and color. The conversation also introduces some of the characters who punctuated the school's history, its evolution and re-invention over the last century, and the school's future plans. This episode is an in-depth look at Provincetown's vibrant art community and the ongoing efforts to preserve the artistic techniques and heritage of Hawthorne and Hensche.

In this episode of The Art Colony, Gaston explores the artistry of drag with Jeffrey Robison, better known as Varla Jean Merman — one of Provincetown’s most celebrated performers. Far beyond wigs and sequins, drag in Provincetown draws on theater, music, comedy, costuming, and cabaret, forming a multidisciplinary art practice that has shaped the town’s identity for decades. Varla traces the evolution of drag in Provincetown from the 1990s to today, reflecting on how the town became a crucible for drag excellence, what it takes to sustain a residency in a place with 30 shows a night, and how resilience and reinvention remain at the heart of the craft. This conversation places drag firmly within Provincetown’s art history — as vital, demanding, and transformative as painting or theater.

In this episode of The Art Colony, host Gaston Lacombe sits down with Laura Shabott, a pivotal figure in Provincetown’s contemporary art scene whose career has spanned three decades of creating, educating, and shaping the town’s creative identity. From her first job in a gallery to working and teaching in some of the town's most iconic art spaces.  Laura and Gaston get to "nerd out" about the rich art history of Provincetown, through discussing the famous names who left their mark here, and the art schools and institutions that they founded or passed through.  It's a conversations that leaves no doubt that Provincetown was one of the most important art hubs of the 20th century, and still now plays an influential role on the international art scene. Laura and Gaston bring the listeners on a vivid journey to Charles Hawthorne's art school in the early 20th century, and to the legendary Hans Hofmann school of the mid-20th century, amongst others.  And they end by reviewing how teaching art has evolved in Provincetown in this contemporary age of online classes and diversifying interests.   

In this episode of The Art Colony, host Gaston sits down with Christine McCarthy, CEO of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), for a lively and deeply personal conversation about the institution’s storied past, vibrant present, and ambitious future. From its founding in 1914 to its role as “the anchor of the Provincetown arts community,” Christine shares how the museum has preserved the town’s rich artistic heritage while nurturing contemporary voices. She recounts her own journey from Italian Renaissance studies in Siena and Florence to leading PAAM for over two decades—through building renovations, historic art feuds, and the ever-changing cultural tides of America’s oldest continuous art colony. Whether you’re an art historian, a Provincetown local, or simply curious about how a small-town museum can make a world-class impact, this episode offers an inspiring look at the power of art to connect, heal, and endure.

In this episode of The Art Colony, host Gaston  sits down with Michelle Axelson, owner of Provincetown’s legendary Womencrafts—a feminist and queer bookstore, art space, and community hub that has held its ground on Commercial Street for nearly fifty years. Michelle shares the store’s roots in the second-wave feminist movement, its enduring commitment to women’s and queer representation, and the extraordinary story of how the community rallied to save it from closure. From pottery and protest buttons in the ’70s to political portraits and trans-inclusive literature today, Womencrafts has always been more than a store—it’s been a safe haven, a meeting place, and a cultural force. This heartfelt conversation celebrates art in action, the power of representation, and the resilience of a space built by and for women, queer people, and allies.

In the debut episode of The Art Colony, Gaston sets the stage for a journey through Provincetown’s rich and colorful art legacy. As the oldest continuous art colony in the United States, Provincetown has drawn generations of artists, writers, performers, and visionaries seeking inspiration and reinvention at the tip of Cape Cod.

Gaston shares a sweeping overview of the town’s transformation—from a whaling port to a cultural epicenter—and introduces key moments that defined its creative evolution, including the founding of the Cape Cod School of Art, the impact of the Portland Gale, and the arrival of major 20th-century art figures like Rothko, Pollock, Warhol, and O’Neill. He also reflects on Provincetown’s longstanding role as a queer sanctuary and creative haven.

Get to know Gaston’s personal story as an artist, gallery owner, and historian, and discover what makes Provincetown unlike any other place in the world. This episode is both a love letter to the town and a primer for what’s to come.