“You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.”
-Woodrow Wilson
What are artists, if not world-changers? Indeed, the very essence of art is to help advance and educate society in ways that are, at times, subtle while at other times quite blunt and unapologetic. Art can act as a mirror, reflecting the world back as it is. It can act as a shield, protecting our most important assets and resources. Sometimes art is a guide, showing us the way. Whatever form it takes, art is important. In times of crisis, it can be a beacon.
Kandy G Lopez joined us to talk about her show, Situational Identities, just coming down over the weekend at ACA Galleries. Within her work, Lopez deals with the way people present themselves and code-switch depending on their context from moment to moment. Ginetta E.B. Candelario’s essay Black Behind the Ears gave inspiration for the work. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Ruiji Aiba spoke through an interpreter to discuss, among other things, his exhibit, Dancing With an Octopus, on view at Seizan Gallery through November 2. The title speaks to the large number of octopuses that appear in the work. Surrounded by the sea, Japan has always had a close tie to octopuses. In one work, in which an octopus sits on a child’s head entangled in its limbs. Though it may appear that the child has been attacked, in fact the two are playing together. To learn more about the work, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
Open your heart to all.
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. Kandy G. Lopez draws inspiration from Black Behind the Ears: Dominican Racial Identity from Museums to Beauty Shops by Ginetta E.B. Candelario.
Moab Arts Reuse Residency invites artists to apply for an experience in which today’s waste-making culture is challenged through the intersection of art, community and waste systems. To learn more, visit the website. Deadline for applications is October 31.
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.