Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Release

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” -Alexander Pope

Managing expectations can be a life-changing practice. When we learn to accept the things that come to us as well as let go of the things that don’t, we begin to make peace with the reality that our lives are never truly under our control. Leaning into this uncertainty and believing that even in the disappointments there can be opportunity will lead you to places you never imagined.

Jorge Macchi joined us from Buenos Aires to discuss, among other things, his role in an exhibit, The Double, at the National Gallery in Washington, DC. For the show, he exhibited Vidas Paralelas (Parallel Lives), a work consisting of two panes of glass sitting beside each other and broken in the exact same way. Encountering this work gives viewers the feeling that something is very strange, but they must confront the reality as they are standing before the piece witnessing it for themselves. To hear more about this and other aspects of Jorge’s life and career, listen to the complete interview.

Sung Hwa Kim recently exhibited at Hesse Flatow. The show, I Still Dream, grew out of his Nocturn series begun during the pandemic. The imagery he uses, butterflies and flowers, weeds, the moon and more symbolize impermanence and remind us of our mortality. When the pandemic started in 2020, Sung, who lives in Brooklyn, found himself completely isolated. This period weighed heavily on him and made him question whether what he was doing was worthwhile. He spent his time biking around the city, particularly at night. His experience began to unfold into these new bodies of work. To hear more, listen to the complete interview.

A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket

Embrace the chaos and move forward with courage.

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 ana de portela recommends The Cathedral is Dying by Auguste Rodin. Meanwhile, Praxis user virginia bryant offers up The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Deadlines:

The Foundwork Artist Prize is currently open for submissions. This grant to recognize outstanding practice by contemporary artists offers $10,000 in unrestricted funds plus studio visits with the prize jurors. The grant recipient and three shortlisted artists will be invited for interviews to further public engagement. To learn more and to submit your work, visit the website. Deadline for submissions is September 26.

 

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.

 

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1 COMMENT

  1. […] Ryan Sarah Murphy joined us at the end of August 2022 to discuss her show Structural Integrity at C24 in NYC, which runs until September 23. The title of the show works on a few levels, Murphy says, one related to building and construction and another examining the materials she chooses, mainly cardboard, and upholding the integrity of these. Murphy seeks out colored cardboard, which she does not paint, cutting any logos or graphics out and using the leftover colors to construct her work. To hear more about her process, this show and more, listen to the complete interview. […]

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