“Never touch your idols: the gilding will stick to your fingers.”
(Il ne faut pas toucher aux idoles: la dorure en reste aux mains.)
-Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary
Have you ever had the experience of meeting one of your idols? How did that go? Were they who or what you expected? Did you strike up a conversation, or was it just a quick encounter? It can be jarring to meet those we idolize in real life. Sometimes we may simply freeze up and not know what to say, and sometimes we may begin to realize that they are simply human, just like the rest of us. This can contribute to or detract from the way you think about those you’ve long held in high regard.
Martina Grlić talked to us about her show, Memory Projects, which ran until August 16 at Fragment Gallery. The body of work is something Grlić started a few years ago, and much of her work revolves around history, memory and nostalgia, hence the title. This particular show focused on rearranging and reappropriate visual allegories around cultural, political, economic and social legacies. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Jack Arthur Wood discussed his work appearing in the group show Fracture Fracture, which ran from June 26 to August 23 at CHART Gallery. His large works in the show are collages on muslin canvas, something he began working on after his partner gave him surplus from a production gig she worked. To create his pieces, he glues elements directly to the panel on which he’s working, which removes the permanence of paint. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
Share a story about meeting someone you idolize.
Outings
Join me at HB381 for Marianne Nielson’s Leaf, Stem, Twig
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 member Barry N. Neuman is reading Empty Space by Peter Brook.
Opportunities
Willapa Bay AiR offers month-long, no-cost residencies for artists, writers, and scholars in a secluded yet communal setting. From April to October, it provides lodging, meals, and workspace for six residents each month. To learn more, visit the website. Deadline for applications is August 31.