“Opportunities are like little seeds floating in the wind.”
-Sequoia Nagamatsu, How High We Go in the Dark
Much is said of opportunity for artists – ours is, perhaps more than many, a career of moments. Over time, one learns the art of grabbing chance when it happens by, but it is indeed an acquired skill. Every opportunity – even a missed opportunity – can be a catalyst for change. Sometimes, when we don’t see our moment, it teaches us to look more carefully. This in itself is an important piece of the puzzle. So, indeed, as Sequoia Nagamatsu says, opportunities are like little seeds floating on the wind. Sometimes, they germinate and blossom; other times, they wither and do not produce. All of this is important.
Marianne Nielsen chatted with us about her show, Leaf, Stem, Twig, on view until June 15 at HB381 Gallery in Tribeca. The ceramic sculptures in the exhibition depict aspects of the natural world. Nielson approaches her work not just as an artist, but in the way a naturalist or botanist would, striving for minute detail. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Alexander Brewington joined us to talk about his show, What Burns Beneath, which ran through March 16 at Thierry Goldberg Gallery. The title references an internal fire that exists in each person – what happens beneath the surface level. One of the paintings, She Who Walks Out of the Dark, depicts the idea of removing oneself from a dark situation and regaining the light, so to speak. To hear more about the meaning behind the works in the show, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
Have there been times in your life when missed opportunity taught you as much as gained opportunity might have?
Outings
Join me at C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, CT for an exhibition of artwork by Sharon Stone
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android, please click here. All weekly essay pieces are here in a shareable format. The full archive of interviews is here.
More books to read
Ours is a community of readers. Tell us what books you’re reading now by adding your titles to our reading list here. Praxis member Matthew Klein recently re-read an old favorite, Saturn: An Essay on Goya by André Malraux.
Opportunities
McColl Center’s Artist-in-Residence Program supports artistic growth with three annual terms, offering housing, studios, guidance, a stipend, and access to labs. Artists exhibit and engage with the community. To learn more and apply, visit the website. Deadline for applications is June 1.