NCMA/Artpapers
I was able to visit the NCMA this holiday break with my Dad to see the Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit.
This exhibit was very exciting to me because it paired work from throughout O’Keeffe’s career with pieces by currently working artists. The NCMA even commissioned a floral mural to be painted on one of its exterior walls for this show, which is very beautiful. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the works of O’Keeffe with their sexual undertones and the works by modern artists such as Tschabalala Self and Monica Kim Garza, which confront the viewer with female sexuality a little more forcefully. There were also many works that explored nature and its beauty, as well as American Landscapes. I and my Dad spent a very long time in front of the Light Atlas by Cynthia Daignault. We enjoyed figuring out the organization of the 360 small paintings, some of which were idyllic and some of which were less so. Because it was created on an American road trip, it reminded me of the prints of Nell Ruby.
My Dad and I also enjoyed the 3 walled video of O’Keeffe’s home and work environment which she narrated. This show gave me a deeper appreciation of her works and her artistic skill in general. We had fun drawing a still life at the end of the show.
Artpapers!
Artpapers is an art journal that during our visit gave me insight into what it is like to be a small nonprofit arts organization. The head office is housed in a repurposed school building and the staff was comprised of less than 10 people working full time. The current executive of Artpapers discussed the struggle with funding and making sure that they are serving the right population.
The visit to Artpapers, although brief, led me to consider a bit more deeply the various directions and options I have in terms of art careers. I didn’t even realize that working for an art journal was an option. I think the idea of writing about art is attractive but in the end I feel more drawn toward actual art making. One of the staff people at Artpapers said that the art world is oversaturated and it’s hard to get a job doing what you want in it, but I just feel hopeful.
