“To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s.” -Fyodor Dostoevsky
It is all too easy to be swept up in the current of popular thinking. In these days of social media, the mob mentality is less about torches and pitchforks than it is about a common sentiment, perpetuated by many without much thought as to whether or not one truly believes what is being asserted. You have the power to be bold, to reject the senseless beating of the drum. Evaluate each moment for yourself, do not be swift to take up others’ thinking no matter who they are or what influence they may seem to have.
Adam Simon took the opportunity to get to know Praxis interviews and spent some of his time on our show interviewing the interviewer. He spent time discussing the importance of artists making things for the sake of making things in contrast to the commodification that does exist in the art world. Simon himself is known for projects that focus on the public distribution and presentation of art. The first iteration of this was his project Four Walls which consisted of evenings of presentation that ran for four years initially. To hear more from Adam Simon in this deep dive conversation, and to hear about what Simon is up to now including his own art working with logos and the major museum who has just decided to take some of his archives, listen to the complete interview.
William J Simmons returned for a second conversation with us. During a previous conversation, we discussed his critical review of the Jenny Saville show at Gagosian Gallery. Ultimately the interview never went to print as intended as the editors feared a negative response. The interview now appears on Simmons’ website. Simmons is a Provost Fellow in the Humanities at the University of Southern California. To hear this second conversation which touches on Simmons often against-the-tide, independent thoughts on the art world, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket:
Every important thinker became so because they insisted upon forming thoughts of their own.
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android please click here. All weekly essay pieces in a shareable format are here. The full archive of interviews here.
Books to Read
What are you reading? Add your titles to our reading list here. Adam Simon is currently reading Runaway by Alice Munro. He also speaks highly of Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump by Asad Haider.
The European Cultural Foundation is launching a special year of grants. As of February 2019, submissions for grant applications are being accepted until funding runs out. Anyone from around the world can send proposals, provided they meet the criteria of this call to action. For further information and to apply, please visit the website. And be sure to read through the FAQ section as it answers many questions pertaining to this special year. Deadlines are rolling as long as funding is available. First come, first served.
Deadlines
Weekly Edited Grant and Residency Deadlines – review the list here.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists; Making it in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dreams Like a Creative Genius, Sell Online Like a Creative Genius and the forthcoming Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius.
Signed and doodled copies of these books can be purchased from Praxis Center.
Golden Artist Colors began publishing the Just Paint newsletter in 1989, a source for information about painting techniques, product information, and the latest research in art materials. Now online, JustPaint.org has become one of the most exhaustive resources for technical information in fine art. With the new Just Paint Experience, GOLDEN is expanding the concept to provide artists with quick-reading, studio-oriented content to help bring their visions to life.
When you subscribe to Just Paint Experience (free), you’ll receive access to exclusive content. GOLDEN will also notify you whenever there is new content added to the site.