“this is a nervous little decade we’re playing with”
-Richard Fariña, Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me
This quote was meant to describe the 1960s, the decade in Richard Fariña’s beloved classic. And yet, each age, each time has its own feeling. What might we say of the current moment? Is this a nervous little time? A large and in charge kind of moment? What is the shape of things, where will this decade lead us to – individually, communally, globally? It is an interesting pursuit to consider the time in which we live as a moment in history, to think what future generations may say when they look back.
Adam Erlbaum joined us to talk about his show, Flag Building, running until March 16 at Amos Eno Gallery. Erlbaum intentionally chose the title to keep the audience wondering, saying that while on the face of it a flag is flimsy nylon, when we think of building materials we think of brick and mortar and the like. For this show, he wanted to convey the idea of a step upon step journey, much like the slow start of his painting practice 12 years ago. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Graham Marks chatted with us about his show, For Joy and Grieving, on view until April 19 at HB381 Tribeca. The duality in the title and the work in the show, Marks says, come from being older – the artist is in his 70s now. There is a good measure of joyful improvisation in the work, but Marks admits that sometimes the images of his life that arise shock him. Memories that are steeped in both joy but also grief for the many he has lost along the way. To hear more of our conversation about these things, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
What words would you use to describe our decade?
Outings.
Join me at Lehmann Maupin for work by OSGEMEOS
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 Jackie O Hara recently finished Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Opportunities.
The NYPL Picture Collection Artist Fellowship supports artists or scholars developing new work inspired by the Collection, offering stipends of $2,000–$5,000 and dedicated research access. To learn more, visit the website. Deadline for applications is March 31.
