“Genius hesitates.” -Carlo Rovelli
What is genius? How to we define it or recognize it? Does it look different to different people or cultures, or is there a common thread of genius that is universally recognizable? Of course, these are questions that will never be answered. Genius is at once an objective and a subjective trait. It is something we can point to and yet something that eludes us in tangible ways. It is impossible to quantify, but we know it when we see it.
Tim Kent joined us on June 16 when he had a show about to open at Hollis Taggert Gallery showing mid-size works that are the completion of work he’s spent the last few years on. During the pandemic, Kent spent considerable time in his windowless studio, which led to these paintings being rather private spaces. To hear more about this show, which runs until July 29, and more about Kent’s other work including studies of decaying old buildings in Europe, listen to the complete interview.
Augustina Woodgate spoke to us from Amsterdam at the end of May. Woodgate maintains two studios, one in Amsterdam and one in Argentina. In her Amsterdam studio, she is focused on a radio broadcast that will be broadcast in Egypt during COP27. In her Buenos Aires studio, she is at work on pieces for an upcoming exhibition that examines the current economic situation. To hear more about both of these projects and more, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket
Genius does not need to be defined to be appreciated.
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. Tim Kent recommends Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker. When we spoke to Augustina Woodgate, she was about to read The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli.
Deadlines:
The Anita Wetzel Residency Grant at Women’s Studio Workshop is a new opportunity for mature artists (age 45 and up) to allow them an immersive experience of 4-6 weeks at WSW. The residency is fully subsidized with housing and studio space at no cost, a $350 stipend/week, up to $500 in materials costs and up to $250 toward travel expenses. For more information and to apply, visit the website. Deadline for applications is August 1.
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.