“Why were the things that were closest so often the hardest to see?”
-Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These
Sometimes the things that matter most are right in front of us. And often they become so familiar, we stop noticing them. They are the quiet gestures of care, the steady rhythms of daily life, the people and places that shape our days in small, essential ways. The world around them becomes noisy, often detracting from our ability to pay mind to these tiny, perfect things.
Heather Drayzen joined us to talk about her recent show, Towards the Sun, which ran at My Pet Ram Gallery until November 9. Her work reflects on experiences that are sometimes traumatic, sometimes deeply nostalgic with each painting acting as a vignette within the larger narrative of her life. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Amiko Li sat down to discuss Near, his recent show at Ptolemy Gallery. The title speaks to something infinitely close, echoing the experience of photographers who get very near their subjects but remain at a distance in a way so as to not become the subjects themselves. To learn more about the concept and work in this show, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
Pause, look closer, and rediscover the beauty in what’s been there all along.
Outings.
Join me at Mile McEnery Gallery for Conrad Egyir’s In Jubilant Pastures
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 user Amadeo Marín suggests La Historia Oculta de Cristo: Los Once Pasos de Su Iniciación by José Luis Parise.
Opportunities.
NEFA’s Public Art for Spatial Justice program supports Massachusetts artists and organizations creating public art that fosters equity, access, and imagination in shared spaces. Grants of $15,000–$30,000 fund two-year projects. Learn more at the website. Deadline is December 2.