“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” -Nikola Tesla
Life is mysterious. Our “reason” – if there is one – for being here at all does not get revealed to us in ways that are at all obvious. Most of us walk through life simply trying to create meaning, doing things to fulfill the deep desire to have our existence matter. But the universe stretches on. Perhaps there isn’t intention to it all. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t order and even some inherent meaning, though perhaps not in the sense that we often think of the word.
Bruno Dunley joined us in February along with a translator to help him speak more fluently about his art. We discussed his show, Clouds, which ran at Nara Roesler from January 12 to February 25. The cloud drawings in the show were done after the paintings. Dunley finds the speed and depth he can achieve in drawings interesting, but he does not use them as studies. Rather, he uses the drawing as a way of thinking. To hear more about this process, listen to the complete interview.
Luciana Abait spoke to us recently. Originally from Argentina, she moved first to Miami and then to Los Angeles, where she has now lived for 17 years. Although a traditional painter from the start, when she started being invited to show her work and needed to produce it a little faster, she switched to acrylics. It was when she purchased an underwater camera that her crossover to photography began. She now shows large-scale public projections of her work. To hear more, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
Move through life with the knowledge that, although we may never understand it, meaning does exist.
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. Brainard Carey is reading Nikola Tesla: Man or Space Man by Michael X. Praxis user Ana de portela recommends The Disappearance of Rituals by Byung-Chul Han.
Deadlines:
The Studio Museum in Harlem announces applications for residency. This opportunity includes an 11-month residency for three local, national or international artists working in any media. In their own words:
“Proposed as a founding initiative in 1968, the Artist in Residence program has earned The Studio Museum in Harlem recognition for its catalytic role in advancing the work of visual artists of African and Afro-Latinx descent.”
For more information and to apply, visit the website. Deadline for applications is May 22.
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.