“History is the essence of innumerable biographies.” -Thomas Carlyle
You are a piece of history. Although we are led to believe it is made up of only those whose stories live on in the hearts and minds of the masses, the truth is that each of us changes the way forward incrementally. Over time, our small movements add up to the future of the human race – the future of our very planet. Considering this offers us the opportunity to reflect more closely on how our actions might affect not just ourselves and those in our immediate vicinity in the moment, but generations to come. If every individual thought about how their life weighs on the future of humankind, imagine the possibilities.
Anthony Akinbola joined us in late September to discuss his show, Natural Beauty at Sean Kelly in New York, which ended on October 22. The show, which consisted of two installations, earned its title when Akinbola considered a show he mounted a year before titled Magic City that focused on the fetishizing of objects. The new title speaks to the way in which we place value on objects in their natural state. Akinbola used the opportunity to appreciate the ready-made. To hear more about this show and more, listen to the complete interview.
Takuji Hamanaka spoke to us from Brooklyn in late September. His exhibition, Lineage, closed at Kristen Lorello Gallery in NYC on October 2. Hamanaka lost his father in June and was in Japan following the loss when he discussed the title of the show with the gallery. His experience being surrounded by family during this time and discussing family stories gave rise to the title of the show. Hamanaka’s background is in Japanese style print-making, another aspect of his work that lends itself to the title Lineage. To hear more about this and his unusual print-making technique, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket
Despite what you’ve been told, you are history and your actions are the future.
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 is here.
Books to Read
What are you reading? Add your titles to our reading list here. Praxis user Richard Alan Fox has two book recommendations – The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer and Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv.
Deadlines:
Artists are invited to investigate the eco project IT IS NOT TOO LATE, which focuses on seagrass beds. This international call and juried selection process will select artists to work on an art installation using collected waste to promote awareness of the importance of seagrass beds. To learn more and to apply, visit the website. Deadline is November 15.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists, most recently Making it in the Art World.