“There is a sacredness in tears….They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.”
We do not live in a society where emotion is highly prized. On the contrary, we are often told to keep our feelings quiet, not tip our hand when it comes to what affects us and how. Greetings are composed of hollow inquiries into each others’ state of being, and yet, when was the last time you received – or in fact gave – an honest reply to the polite question, “how are you?” By some accounts, the world could be a better, more caring and empathetic place if we were only to be more honest and allow others to be honest about their emotions.
Torey Akers joined us to discuss her show, Besotted, which ran until September 1 at A.I.R Gallery. The title, an old word that means to be in love and comes from a term for being drunk, speaks to the grotesque and awkward in intimacy. The show includes drawings and works on fabric that appear sculptural. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Pieter Schoolwerth discussed his show, Supporting Actor, which runs until October 26 at Petzel Gallery. The title describes a relationship between two bodies as in theater or film. In painting this meaning is somewhat different, but there is still the sense of a doubling, as is found with actors portraying in both a private and public space. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
How can we begin normalizing real emotion as we move through the world together?
Outings
Join me at Bravin Lee for The Golden Thread: A Fiber Art Exhibition.
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. Click here to learn more about Marci Vogel’s work.
Opportunities
The Smithsonian American Art Museum offers fellowships for research on American art, encouraging scholars from all disciplines, especially those from underrepresented groups, to apply for residential, full-time research opportunities. Visit the website to learn more. Deadline for applications is October 15.