“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
-William Shakespeare, As You Like It
Ever catch yourself thinking you’ve got it all figured out? Shakespeare’s words remind us that true wisdom begins with humility. In a world that rewards certainty, there’s quiet strength in admitting what we don’t know. It’s OK to embrace curiosity, ask better questions, and make space for growth.
Michele Abramowitz sat down to talk about her show, The Intermediate Reals, on view at Kate Werble Gallery until June 28. The title is derived from the book Mordew by Alex Pheby, in which magic wielders use “intermediate realms” in which they can create realities of their choosing, so to speak. These cognitive realms echo paintings, in a sense. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Z.T. Nguyen joined us to talk about his show, Facts Are Bigger in the Dark, which is on view until July 12 at Island Gallery. The title is a short excerpt from Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson. For Nguyen, this spoke to his habit of ruminating on the dark and often drawing pictures that take place in the dark. Returning to this phrase over and over again, he knew it needed to be the title for this show. To hear more about the work and other aspects of Nguyen’s career, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
Let’s be brave enough to be beginners—again and again.
Outings.
Join me at the Queens Museum for Nsenga Knight’s Close to Home
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 user Sadie Bridger recently read Lillian E. Smith’s Killers of the Dream.
Opportunities.
Stove Works’ Residency invites eight artists annually for 1–3 months of focused time, space, and community—no expectations, just openness. Learn more at the website. Deadline for applications is June 15.