Category Archives: Interviews

Felipe Pereira Goncalves  | space…the unfuckable frontier, 2011, acrylic and spray paints,glue, and glitter on canvas, 32″x 50″

The Unfuckable Frontier

The limits of the human mind have something to do with really big numbers. There’s no insight into knowing that Earth is one hundred million miles away from the Sun, for example — it’s just real far. Partly, it’s a matter

Felipe Pereira Goncalves  | space…the unfuckable frontier, 2011, acrylic and spray paints,glue, and glitter on canvas, 32″x 50″

The Unfuckable Frontier

The limits of the human mind have something to do with really big numbers. There’s no insight into knowing that Earth is one hundred million miles away from the Sun, for example — it’s just real far. Partly, it’s a matter

Laura Hudson | Installation view of Art Opening | 2012, image courtesy of the artist

Social Practice: A Q&A with Laura Hudson

Laura Hudson has been getting out of the studio. The Baltimore-based painter organizes participatory events, documents them on video, then culls her compositions from the nuanced moments hidden in the hours of footage. For her latest project Laura organized a sleepover

Laura Hudson | Installation view of Art Opening | 2012, image courtesy of the artist

Social Practice: A Q&A with Laura Hudson

Laura Hudson has been getting out of the studio. The Baltimore-based painter organizes participatory events, documents them on video, then culls her compositions from the nuanced moments hidden in the hours of footage. For her latest project Laura organized a sleepover

Judy Rushin | Installation view of Modular series. Image courtesy of the artist.

Modular Abstraction: A Q&A with Judy Rushin

Practical necessity is Judy Rushin’s muse. Well, not exactly. Her Modular series of sculptural paintings are made to be disassembled and reconfigured again; site-specific works that can travel well. Individual modules are aggregated into compositions for new exhibition layouts, then stacked

Judy Rushin | Installation view of Modular series. Image courtesy of the artist.

Modular Abstraction: A Q&A with Judy Rushin

Practical necessity is Judy Rushin’s muse. Well, not exactly. Her Modular series of sculptural paintings are made to be disassembled and reconfigured again; site-specific works that can travel well. Individual modules are aggregated into compositions for new exhibition layouts, then stacked

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi | “I’m Coming Home”, 2012. Acrylic, gouache and handpainted collage on Mylar. 54 x 42 inches

Contemporary Wing Opens in D.C.

I catch up with Lauren Gentile, founder and director of newly opened D.C. gallery Contemporary Wing, to talk about her new exhibition space, her previous project “Next Generation,” and her inaugural show featuring the work of Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi.

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi | “I’m Coming Home”, 2012. Acrylic, gouache and handpainted collage on Mylar. 54 x 42 inches

Contemporary Wing Opens in D.C.

I catch up with Lauren Gentile, founder and director of newly opened D.C. gallery Contemporary Wing, to talk about her new exhibition space, her previous project “Next Generation,” and her inaugural show featuring the work of Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi.

Wilmer Wilson IV. Domestic Exchange (installation view). 2012, Conner Contemporary Art. (© Wilmer Wilson IV, courtesy Conner Contemporary)

Material Politics: Q&A with Wilmer Wilson IV

Wilmer Wilson’s a busy man. On Thursday he’ll be channeling Henry Box Brown in a performance that’s part of the city-wide public art extravaganza called the “Five by Five Project.” He also opened his first solo show at Conner Contemporary two weeks ago, “Domestic Exchange”, which is on view through May 5th. I recently caught up with Wilmer to ask him a few questions about his work at Conner, and about his upcoming performances for the 5×5 Project.

Wilmer Wilson IV. Domestic Exchange (installation view). 2012, Conner Contemporary Art. (© Wilmer Wilson IV, courtesy Conner Contemporary)

Material Politics: Q&A with Wilmer Wilson IV

Wilmer Wilson’s a busy man. On Thursday he’ll be channeling Henry Box Brown in a performance that’s part of the city-wide public art extravaganza called the “Five by Five Project.” He also opened his first solo show at Conner Contemporary two weeks ago, “Domestic Exchange”, which is on view through May 5th. I recently caught up with Wilmer to ask him a few questions about his work at Conner, and about his upcoming performances for the 5×5 Project.

William Betts | Untitled YYZ 10-30-2010, acrylic on canvas, dimension5: 36″ x 72″

A Mediated Landscape: Q&A with William Betts

This year’s New American Paintings Annual Prize has been awarded to William Betts. If you’re a longtime subscriber to New American Paintings you’re probably familiar with the work of the Houston-based artist. Betts has appeared in editions #60, #72, #84 and most recently as an Editor’s

William Betts | Untitled YYZ 10-30-2010, acrylic on canvas, dimension5: 36″ x 72″

A Mediated Landscape: Q&A with William Betts

This year’s New American Paintings Annual Prize has been awarded to William Betts. If you’re a longtime subscriber to New American Paintings you’re probably familiar with the work of the Houston-based artist. Betts has appeared in editions #60, #72, #84 and most recently as an Editor’s

Andy Warhol | Shadows, 1978-79. Dia Art Foundation. © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Photo: Cathy Carver.

Collecting Critically: A Q&A with Henry Thaggert

Andy Warhol’s relationship to abstraction is charged. Despite a late-career painterly impulse — which included the Shadows series currently exhibiting at the Hirshhorn — his pictorial language based on representation fundamentally questioned the narrative of post-war painting as defined by Clement Greenberg. And the implications of Pop Art’s

Andy Warhol | Shadows, 1978-79. Dia Art Foundation. © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Photo: Cathy Carver.

Collecting Critically: A Q&A with Henry Thaggert

Andy Warhol’s relationship to abstraction is charged. Despite a late-career painterly impulse — which included the Shadows series currently exhibiting at the Hirshhorn — his pictorial language based on representation fundamentally questioned the narrative of post-war painting as defined by Clement Greenberg. And the implications of Pop Art’s

Chip Allen | LALC 01, 2011, Oil on Paper, 22 x 26 in, courtesy of the artist and Heiner Contemporary

By Any Means Necessary: Q&A with Chip Allen

Chip Allen’s letting loose. He’s squeegeed, splattered, and gesturally brushed over his geometric abstractions, and by the looks of it action painting’s winning out. His loose, intuitive marks and smudges run interference across seemingly systematic lines, the resulting balance a taut

Chip Allen | LALC 01, 2011, Oil on Paper, 22 x 26 in, courtesy of the artist and Heiner Contemporary

By Any Means Necessary: Q&A with Chip Allen

Chip Allen’s letting loose. He’s squeegeed, splattered, and gesturally brushed over his geometric abstractions, and by the looks of it action painting’s winning out. His loose, intuitive marks and smudges run interference across seemingly systematic lines, the resulting balance a taut

Matthew Craven| "life totem I", 2011, ink on Paper with cutouts, 72″ x 48″ courtesy of the artist

Historical Lineage: Q&A with Matthew Craven

Much of Matthew Craven’s meticulous work exists as both colorful abstraction and surreal historical document. His transformation of  images appropriated from history textbooks nudge and reconfigure the original historical narratives. And his modular treatment of familiar forms unexpectedly activates their hidden potential

Matthew Craven| "life totem I", 2011, ink on Paper with cutouts, 72″ x 48″ courtesy of the artist

Historical Lineage: Q&A with Matthew Craven

Much of Matthew Craven’s meticulous work exists as both colorful abstraction and surreal historical document. His transformation of  images appropriated from history textbooks nudge and reconfigure the original historical narratives. And his modular treatment of familiar forms unexpectedly activates their hidden potential

Installation view of "The Working Title", a group show on abstraction curated by Progress Report and exhibited at the Bronx River Arts Center, March 25 through April 29, 2011.

Progress Report: Q&A with Kris Chatterson and Vince Contarino

Give it time and the Internet will mobilize for change in just about any arena. So it’s not surprising that artist-run exhibition spaces — always bastions of change — are increasingly striving for a stronger onlinepresence, sometimes even eschewing fixed brick-and-mortar

Installation view of "The Working Title", a group show on abstraction curated by Progress Report and exhibited at the Bronx River Arts Center, March 25 through April 29, 2011.

Progress Report: Q&A with Kris Chatterson and Vince Contarino

Give it time and the Internet will mobilize for change in just about any arena. So it’s not surprising that artist-run exhibition spaces — always bastions of change — are increasingly striving for a stronger onlinepresence, sometimes even eschewing fixed brick-and-mortar

Modern Living, 2011, Ink and bleach on paper, 19 3/4 x 25 1/2 inches, courtesy of Heiner Contemporary and the artist

The Writing’s on the Wall: Q&A with David Kramer

Considering current events, it may be easy to wonder if David Kramer’s paintings have a slight political bent. Much like the characters in his work, we’ve had to collectively reassess our own aspirations amid the failed promises of the credit and housing bubbles. But

Modern Living, 2011, Ink and bleach on paper, 19 3/4 x 25 1/2 inches, courtesy of Heiner Contemporary and the artist

The Writing’s on the Wall: Q&A with David Kramer

Considering current events, it may be easy to wonder if David Kramer’s paintings have a slight political bent. Much like the characters in his work, we’ve had to collectively reassess our own aspirations amid the failed promises of the credit and housing bubbles. But

The Capital Skyline Hotel, site of the (e)merge art fair. Image courtesy of (e)merge.

D.C.’s Fair Share: Q&A with the organizers of (e)merge

The Capital Skyline Hotel, site of the (e)merge art fair. Image courtesy of (e)merge. The (e)merge art fair (September 22 – 25, 2011) — founded and organized by Conner Contemporary Art co-directors Leigh Conner and Jamie Smith, as well as by Helen Allen, founder and former

The Capital Skyline Hotel, site of the (e)merge art fair. Image courtesy of (e)merge.

D.C.’s Fair Share: Q&A with the organizers of (e)merge

The Capital Skyline Hotel, site of the (e)merge art fair. Image courtesy of (e)merge. The (e)merge art fair (September 22 – 25, 2011) — founded and organized by Conner Contemporary Art co-directors Leigh Conner and Jamie Smith, as well as by Helen Allen, founder and former

Installation view, Ted Gahl and Tatiana Berg, Nudashank, Baltimore

That thing you do: 10 questions for Nudashank

If Paddy Johnson calls you a star, you must be doing something right, and lately it seems like Nudashank can’t miss. Most recently it was Out of Practice, a group show artist-run gallery curated at the temporary Art Blog Art Blog exhibition space in Chelsea, which gathered a

Installation view, Ted Gahl and Tatiana Berg, Nudashank, Baltimore

That thing you do: 10 questions for Nudashank

If Paddy Johnson calls you a star, you must be doing something right, and lately it seems like Nudashank can’t miss. Most recently it was Out of Practice, a group show artist-run gallery curated at the temporary Art Blog Art Blog exhibition space in Chelsea, which gathered a

Heiner Contemporary

Capitol ideas: Heiner Contemporary opens in D.C.

With a few exceptions, most art galleries left the DC neighborhood of Georgetown ten years ago in search of cheaper rent. Many of them settled on the 14th Street corridor and the 1515 building before gentrification and skyrocketing rents recently pushed some of the bigger players toward

Heiner Contemporary

Capitol ideas: Heiner Contemporary opens in D.C.

With a few exceptions, most art galleries left the DC neighborhood of Georgetown ten years ago in search of cheaper rent. Many of them settled on the 14th Street corridor and the 1515 building before gentrification and skyrocketing rents recently pushed some of the bigger players toward

Installation view, Sam Gilliam, Close to Trees, 2011 | Acrylic, polypropylene, nylon, and a mirror, site-specific installation. Courtesy the American University Museum and Marsha Mateyka Gallery, Washington, DC.

Well Hung: Q&A with Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam’s most celebrated accomplishment — the suspended painting — made its debut at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in September 1969. While other artists like Richard Tuttle and William T. Wiley were also experimenting with the unstreched canvas during the same period, Gilliam’s sculptural approach was revolutionary in that

Installation view, Sam Gilliam, Close to Trees, 2011 | Acrylic, polypropylene, nylon, and a mirror, site-specific installation. Courtesy the American University Museum and Marsha Mateyka Gallery, Washington, DC.

Well Hung: Q&A with Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam’s most celebrated accomplishment — the suspended painting — made its debut at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in September 1969. While other artists like Richard Tuttle and William T. Wiley were also experimenting with the unstreched canvas during the same period, Gilliam’s sculptural approach was revolutionary in that