“However mean your life is, meet it and live it.” -Henry David Thoreau
Eschew the modern belief that life is meant to be a thing of ease and comfort. Accept it in all its discomfort and live as fully as you possibly can. Do not believe that the only times worth really digging into are those that are soft and filled with ease. On the contrary, often it is the most difficult moments that bring the greatest change, the richest depth of understanding.
Paula Wilson sat down to chat with us about, among other things, her exhibition titled Imago at Danny Dimin Gallery in NYC. The word imago, Latin for image, holds many meanings and associations for Wilson. There are the ideas of copying and artistic representations as well as a definition within psychological terminology. There is another meaning of the word, which is the last stage of metamorphosis for insects when they become fully winged. To hear more about what the show represents, and to hear what works were on view created by Wilson and her collaborator, woodworker Mike Lagg, listen to the complete interview.
Monia Ben Hamouda joined us to discuss her collaborative show with Michele Gabriele Remarkably Clear, Almost Visible at Ashes/Ashes Gallery, which closed in August. The artist six years ago and a few years later attended residency in Massachusetts together. The work they produced there makes up the body of this exhibition. To hear more, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket
Lean into life, no matter what.
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. Among the many meanings of the word in Paula Wilson’s work, Imago refers to the novel of the same name by Octavia Butler. Monia Ben Hamouda recommends The Big Something by Ron Padgett.
Deadlines:
The Hopper Prize is accepting applications for the fall cycle. In their own words:
“The Hopper Prize is a grant-making institution and digital archiving platform offering a series of individual artist grants on a bi-annual basis totaling $22,000.00 USD.
We provide unrestricted cash grants in the amount of $3,500 and $1,000 to artists around the globe.”
For more information 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.