“The memory of oppressed people is one thing that cannot be taken away, and for such people, with such memories, revolt is always an inch below the surface.” -Howard Zinn
The nation convulses. Long quieted voices are rising. We must listen. We must learn. We must accept our part in the past and commit to working for a new way forward. It must be torn down and built again. Every one of us has a part to play to ensure the momentum created does not diminish. We must not move on from this, forget, distract – focus is imperative.
Milica Pekic spoke to us from Belgrade, Serbia where the state of emergency had been recently removed and lockdown lifted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The art historian and curator worked from her home during the lockdown, working on multiple projects that moved to online platforms. While things are moving toward normal, for the time being, in person group work on projects must still be put on hold in order to keep participants safe. Pekic is also the co-founder of a collaborative project called KIOSK which is a development organization that supports the production of artwork, among other things. To hear more about this organization and Pekic’s other work, listen to the complete interview.
Sarah E. Brook is a Brooklyn artist who spoke to us from a friend’s home where she and her wife and child went to ride out the pandemic away from the cramped space of the city. Brook grew up in the desert and finds getting into nature to be an important part of her practice. She has shows and public art in her future – though many of them have been postponed for the time being as the pandemic continues to unfold. Brook sees her practice as having three parts, public art, creation of gathering and community spaces, and short-term low-impact installations that she creates alone in remote places and then photographs. The latter has become something of a ceremony for her own healing. Her work also incorporates indoor installations that bring the vastness of transcendent space to a place where others can experience it. To hear more about her work and practice, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket:
Black lives matter.
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 here.
Books to Read
What are you reading? Add your titles to our reading list here. Praxis user Laura is reading Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel. Praxis user Doreen is reading Life? Or Theater? by Charlotte Salomon
Deadlines
Call for entries for the Lumen Prize for Art and Technology is now open. This prize celebrates the best art that is created using technology. There are a number of cash prizes as well as opportunities for commissions, events and exhibitions. For more information and to enter, visit the website. Deadline is June 12.
Weekly Edited Grant and Residency Deadlines – review the list here.
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In these uncertain times, our first responsibility is assuring staff, their families and our entire art community is safe. We hope to turn the page on this devastating virus and return to normalcy soon. In the meantime, we continue sharing educational resources and have developed new Facebook Live events, providing an informal and intimate opportunity to meet artists and engage in topics we all love. Follow the GOLDEN Facebook page to join!
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists; Making it in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dreams Like a Creative Genius, Sell Online Like a Creative Genius and Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius.
Photo credit: Claudia Alick