catches the attention of Adam Simon, who notes that in her newest there’s a “manic energy” but “also a high degree of control and an extensive repertoire of incidental mark making” (Newman uses novel combinations of materials – acrylic and oil paint, flashe, spray paint, and ink).
#lauranewman
Taking a different direction from the last time I wrote here and I’ll begin the same way- some of you might not have the capacity to engage on this topic what with (waves hands around in the air) everything going on, and we will see you around some other time.
And “yes” I’m intentionally making this title a contradiction to my last essay. I’m full of surprises, I know.
Hyperallergic published a Rhea Nayyar essay recently that caught my attention, I admit, out of a typical suspicion I feel whenever people try to smash science and Art together- ;tldr I was disappointed in that regard, and inspired. The article “references new research which posits museums and galleries as ‘accessible, non-clinical spaces for preventive health promotion’…“. Y’all know two things can both be true, right? So “Art is a salve for the soul” can be corny and true. While Nayyar’s intent is that old saw that there’s no substitute for seeing “real” art which I completely agree with and tell my students on the reg, I stayed for the data (link to a pdf) on Art-viewing lowering cortisol levels, as someone who cares about that stuff. So I’ll go ahead and hypocritically fall head first into a trap of my own design and say, with moral clarity, that outcome (Art = better mental state) is a “good” thing.
The topic of the article reminded me I’ve blogged before** about another academic’s essay (link is a pdf) with a similar thesis- “awe felt during experiences with religion and spirituality, nature, art, and music” serves as “the motivation to be good to others.” Feeling good and doing good are clearly not the same and “yes” I think it would hard to do the latter without the former as well.
There’s an another piece of context for this essay, too. Two hours before finishing it, I was standing on a sidewalk with hundreds of other people to say “thank you” to a small group of Buddhist Monks from Fort Worth, Texas who are currently walking the 2,300 miles to Washington, DC, to promote peace and nonviolence. Their gift to us in these trying times has been very inspirational- I chose to walk the 2 miles from my house to downtown in small act of solidarity. And I’m not alone either, not just as someone who has been moved but who felt literally, physically drawn to the energy of this moment in history.
Am I projecting because I was just around so many people that seemed to share my values? Even if so, it can still be true that **it feels good to work for “good.”** I know I just rambled off some science at y’all earlier, and, I also doubt many of you needed to read **that** sentence to know and believe the sentiment.
While I try to be clear headed and fair when I write, I do this thing, like all other writers, out of passion about a topic. I’m not doing this to be right or have a winning argument. In fact, I’m fine with the contradiction that two weeks ago I wrote that moral clarity about good and evil doesn’t lead to desirable outcomes by default and my thesis for today- which is? It sure would be awesome if more folks woke up in the morning and intended to go out into our hurting, scary, intense communities and do something… good! That doesn’t have to be make Art (although looking at some can’t hurt, obviously, and is always appreciated), and it doesn’t have to be something as selfless and heroic as walking two thousand miles. Let the spirit of “good” guide you.
**”yes” it’s sort of wild to re-read a ’21 essay and remember when Small School was still getting going, what with all they’ve added to our community; I’m bummed that the weather kept Jody Servon away this weekend but more events are scheduled (link above is to their events page). And I’ll gladly re-commit a professional error as a writer and admit “yes” I still love how Jean Gray makes our scene awesome- you, too, Pete.
I originally posted about George in 2022 when new USPS stamps depicting his distinctive landscapes were released. Laurie at Two Coats recently reviewed the posthumous retrospective of his career at the Met.
#georgemorrison
(From Iron Gallery in Chicago) With a career defined by experimentation and spatial exploration, Rocío Sáenz transforms her experiences into an artistic proposal that challenges boundaries. Her work has been exhibited across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, earning her accolades such as the Chihuahua Award in Arts and Sciences and the Pedro Coronel Painting Biennial. More
#rociosaenz
Ishi Glinsky investigates the traditional practices of his tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation, as well as other North American First Nations to create contemporary homages to sacred events and customs. These investigations often consist of a close study of the history and significance of a craft tradition, the committed apprenticeship of its technique, and its assimilation or transformation within Glinsky’s artistic practice.
#ishiglinsky
(From Aninat Galeria) In the crossroad where fiction and history meet, German Tagle has established a place of observation with the intention of catching in his paintings those narrative fragments that allow us to reread the territory where our main cultural icons lie, this is to say, all the output of diverse images taken from paintings, of advertisement, movies, anyplace we can recognize without even being sure we have even really seen it.
#germantagle
Michael Brennan is a big fan of abstraction and of Jane. The title of his essay creates high expectations of course and is still worth the read. Also since I’m trying to draw more connections this year I’ll note that readers who like Jane should check out Osamu and Lorser, and Thomas who was the best living American painter for most of my life.
More (Jane)
#janehaimes
I first blogged about Zio in 2021 by noting A Case Against Reality, a two-part solo exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by Zio. At the time I wrote their work was like Christian– abstractions but not abstraction.
Zio’s recent Six Trees exhibition at the Almine Rech gallery features work that harkens more to Mondrian.
#zioziegler
Getting ready to teach the history of Abstract painting recently made me realize I’d never blogged about Piet, the founder of De Stijl and easily one of the most recognizable early Modernists.
More on How Piet Mondrian’s Abstractions Became a New Way to See the World.
#pietmondrian
Jacob Cartwright says that, true to its title, the group show “Precisely.” at Flinn Gallery (which also includes Nate and Sarah) is chockablock with the type of “precision-crafted paintings” Anoka and David produce.
BTW if you like graphic painting take advantage of my meta content. If you like duos, see also Luftwerk, Sestra Kuya and CHIAOZZA.
#anokafaruqee
#daviddriscoll
Natasha Sweeten recounts her history with the artist, noting that her paintings (seemed) to grow from concentrated, layered planes of light, before diving into an interview. Below is titled “Listening to the Ocean.”
#susannatanger
I’m guessing the title will self select who has the capacity for this topic and I’d understand if many of you don’t, see you some other day.
2026 is off to quite a start, and things are happening that are hard to take in even if not really surprising. I’m sure I won’t be the only person who’s had a big challenge processing the recent news of the US government stealing (Venezuela) and murdering (civilians, by “law enforcement”). Especially big, though, if the statements and emotions of people for whom you feel affection or love or some other connection come across as indifferent, or even sympathetic or supportive. It can be jarring to hear another person respond for example to the events in Minneapolis with “yeah well she was running her mouth” if you value freedom from tyranny.**
While I do think it can ease distress to hear or read someone reflect your values (see paragraph above) this topic was a bit of a conundrum for me as my head took me in different directions from my heart. I’m not a political reporter, and I also don’t think that the internet really needs more moral clarity. What I can do, I hope, is reflect the energy I find helpful. This blog is as much for me as it is for you. Regular readers know how I love that words can have several meanings, so, I’m writing today as a writer who needs practice, to tie this theme to a couple of concepts important in my practice. Big appreciation that this act helped me get to that realization (about the meaning “practice” has for me).
My art work doesn’t deal with the concept of evil- in fact, ;tldr I’m going to give a couple of reasons to just steer clear of that word. I do hold to the importance of recognizing contradiction- that two ideas can both be true. You can take and release a breathe if you’re worried that means I’m about to make a case that “both sides are right.” That has never been the reason contradiction is important to me. “Right,” like “evil,” is a facet of how we’ve gotten here.
One piece of non-fiction that I’ve been picking at for several months is High Conflict by Amanda Reilly. I haven’t finished it, yet, and I scrolled through it again this week looking- please? anyone? hello?- for some answers. Obviously “yes” I’d recommend despite not yet finishing it, and the reason for this mention? One concept that is covered therein; “conflict entrepreneur.” Pretty much what it sounds like, these are the actors and forces that gain power by trafficking in conflict. Note, they do not need to be politicians or lawyers, it could be your Aunt. As the concept relates to the impetus for this essay… the book was published in 2021 so even though DJT gets mentioned as a “fire starter” leader (a specific type of conflict entrepreneur) it is surreal to read, today, of his first term as though he was in the rear view mirror of history.
Part of the shape for my thinking on the word “evil” was also a fairly recent Ologies episode- # 475 on Ponerology, titled “What is Evil featuring Kenneth MacKendrick. I listened to it over the winter holidays. I did so somewhat begrudgingly because of timing really- it’s not a holiday-ish topic- but nevertheless because even a month ago it seemed to speak to me as part of the zeitgeist (yeah I feel like a calendar month is, like, 12 in late capitalism months, too). I re-listened to the pod this weekend (again- help me, please, anyone) as the idea for this essay took very rough shape, and of course I’d recommend the episode, as well as the pod itself.
To tie the book and pod together more clearly, folks are gaining power by feeding narratives about who is evil (I never claimed this would be a hot take).
What interests Dr MacKendrick, and what I found most resonant, was the notion that what you do once you define evil is what matters- how does your understanding of and identification with “evil” change your behavior. I agree, which is why I gave the specific example early on of recent events in Minneapolis. My thesis is that one can not murder a civilian if one does not think their values are “evil.” I also used the phrase “moral clarity” earlier so that I could circle back here and highlight that being really certain of what’s “right” doesn’t lead to a good outcome or even a smart choice.
Yes, I’m conflating “good” and “right” or more to the point right/wrong and good/evil, and saying a LOT of people are also doing. Yes, I’m hoping you realize that categorizing that… categorizing as “not right” illustrates how commonplace binary judgements are. Both of those things can be true, at the same time. That is the truth and value to me of recognizing contradiction- it allows one to move out of binaries and into complexity (one of the strategies Ms Reilly suggests later in her book, as I understand it at least).
I hope you don’t feel let down or betrayed that we aren’t arriving at the end of this essay to find me pointing y’all to a solution or way out of this situation, from the pod or the book or my own mind. It’s never been my motivation as a writer to present hypotheses, only perspectives. I don’t have a game plan for how we think or talk or work (or fight) our way out to the other side of conflicts.
This isn’t apathy or resignation. I’m also, definitely, not going to say any outcome is inevitable, or predicting that “we” can’t reach outcomes we desire for… whatever reason- because “the other side won’t do this work with us,” or “we aren’t willing to be violent in the way they are”. I’m sharing because I wanted folks to know I sought moral clarity and the universe reminded me that it is natural that we need such clarity, and, that clarity is neither an end all or a sufficient reason to deny another agency, property or life.
**BTW, one last note, or suggestion really, which is that we not assume someone who isn’t enflamed and engaging in conversation about these topics doesn’t feel the moral dilemma keenly.
I really enjoy (as regular readers know) wistfully if also mildly resentfully perusing Two Coat’s NYC gallery guides. This Jan’s features Jemima’s Wild Reveries at Anat Ebgi (as well as plugging new work by Dona and Jacqueline). Yeah, I sort of think of Ross a little bit also.
#jemimamurphy
(a few months ago) Jennifer Dudley at Burnaway had some words about Joy’s approach to (what I will call) the architecture of information. If you like the pieces you should also check out Travis and Stanley if you haven’t already. Below is not the work addressed in the article btw ( more here).
#joydrurycox
