Lynch lives the art life

It has been over a week, but I haven’t forgotten my blog. I am excited and moved by the idea of consistency and longevity in one’s art practice. Recording your thoughts via blog, journal, etc. is a beneficial thing to do, simply because it is an act of consistency. I appreciate routine- and getting lost inside of it. The freedom inside set limitations is expansive.

Joe and I recently watched the documentary David Lynch: The Art Life. My musician friend Andy recommended I read his book Catching The Big Fish. In the book, he describes his first 2-3 hours in the studio as piddling, and the second half of his studio time is where the real ideas and actions come. I can relate to that. I tried it out in my studio yesterday. Except I ran into a funny technical problem that inhibited me from painting further (had to wait for the ground color to dry because it kept mixing with my hues) so I went for a walk in the Sun. It all worked out.

still from David Lynch: The Art Life (2016)

It’s worth mentioning that David Lynch’s approach to grabbing the reigns of the art life vs. Alice Neel’s guilt over the privilege of being an artist (that I discussed in my last blog post) feels like a classic example of the male vs. female dichotomy.

Last week I went to a group show opening at The Hole gallery on Bowery called Nature Morte. Over 60 artists are in the show and there were several works that make visual comments on climate change and pollution. Here are some of my favorites:

Eric Yahnker
Valerie Hegarty
detail of a work by an artist I don’t know
Holly Coulis
Molly Greene

I’ve decided to curate a screening of short films to celebrate the release of my narrative short film Coral & Sebastian. I invited 12 artists to show, and am brainstorming the order of which they will screen. Each film dictates the reception of the film that follows, and so on. It feels like a visual DJ set, though not with music, but with information/emotion. I am very excited to make the program. Millennium Film Workshop is hosting the event on May 11!

still from my short film Coral & Sebastian (2021)

Recently I have a sense of acceptance and resolve about my making art in different mediums and genres. I don’t think it’s a detriment if you create what is vital to your means of expression. So I am not a classical pianist, but I composed and transcribed a classical composition and booklet. So I am not a filmmaker, but I made a narrative short film. So I am not a musician right now because I am not writing or recording a pop album. So I am not a painter because I currently do not make my income from it. There are so many reasons to be one thing and not the other. Simplify and be whatever!

Lastly I’m excited for my coworker Tai who has an art show this month that Joe and I will go see this weekend. He is a photographer and makes work about plastic pollution, or so we once discussed. Actually that’s his foot in the below photograph:

show invitation for Taisuke Yamada’s exhibition at Nepenthes New York

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *