“There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself.”
Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye
In The Long Goodbye, investigator Phillip Marlowe finds himself plunged into a world he scarcely understands. He is in pursuit of the truth, but along the way he encounters tremendously steep obstacles to achieving it. This is an apt metaphor for the way life moves along for the vast majority of us. While we all have, for the most part, the best intentions, external and internal obstacles often stand in the way of a straight path. Consider which of those hold you back the most – be honest. Is it really that the whole world is against you, or could you be getting in your own way?
Sarah Brenneman joined us to talk about a two-person show on view at Artisan Lofts. The exhibition is a collaboration between Garvey Simon Gallery and McKenzie Fine Art and features Brenneman’s work alongside the work of Gary Petersen. The body of work Brenneman has on view moves between works on canvas and small works on paper. Both relate to each other, though as she has worked on paper Brenneman has been working on paring down her art. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Elias Wessel sat down to discuss his show, It’s Complicated, on view until early September at Picture Theory. The title of the show, derived from one of the available explanations of one’s relationship status on social media, threads a few needles, including the complications of social media itself and the complexities of relationships in an age of digital communication. To learn more about this and the work in the exhibition, listen to the complete interview.
A few words to keep in your pocket
True self-awareness is never easy and often painful.
Outings
Join me at Yale University Art Gallery as I get distracted again and again by their incredible collection in my pursuit of an Albert Blakelock painting.
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 Shaunda recommends Basquiat-isms.
Opportunities
MacDowell Fellowships offer transformative residencies focused on artistic excellence. Around 300 artists are selected annually based on artistic excellence. Artists from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply. For more information and to apply, visit the website. Deadline for spring/summer 2025 applications is September 10.