Dear Readers,

 

Recently, I was asked about The Art Section, what sets this publication apart from other publications about Art? This issue may show what is indeed different about this publication as it presents three articles in which an artist or critic reflects on the life of an artist and a connection to the artist’s work, be it a self-reflection or through writing about another artist.

 

It is not difficult to understand why Giuseppe Gavazza, who is a composer and experimental artist and scholar from Turin, Italy, is interested in and feels a relationship with the work of the Korean American video artist Nam June Paik (1932–2006). Gavazza writes here about Paik’s temporal tension; the articulation of time being equally important to music and video art. Thanks to Gavazza’s commentary, I notice new things in Paik’s work; Gavazza’s sensibility gives me a new way into Paik’s art.

 

For another perspective on Paik, we turn to film scholar Greg Zinman. In an excerpt from his essay in the newly released book, Open Circuits: Writings by Nam June Paik (The MIT Press, October 2019) which he co-edited with John G. Hanhardt, and Edith Decker-Phillip, Zinman looks at Paik’s projects for using global television satellite transmissions as an artistic medium.

 

Reflecting on her own life and work, artist Joanne Mattera decided to write Vita: a memoir, Growing Up Italian, Coming Out, and Making a Life in Art (Well-Fed Artist Press, May 2019). Living such a life is no simple thing, as her story makes clear. I interviewed Mattera this past summer as she was preparing for her exhibition Dawn to Dusk which is on view at ODETTA in New York City until November 16, 2019.

 

On Friday, January 3, 2020, The Art Section for the first time will present a live event in collaboration with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta as part of the High Frequency Friday series. Poet Opal Moore has curated a group of poets whom we have commissioned to write new works in response to the exhibition Something Over Something Else: Romare Bearden Profiles Series (on view at the High Museum until February 2, 2020, then traveling to the Cincinnati Art Museum where it will be from February 28 to May 24, 2020). These distinguished poets, Jericho Brown, Melba J Boyd, Sharan Strange, and Felton Eaddy, will read their poems in the Bearden Exhibition at the High Museum from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. All those who are in or near Atlanta, please Save the Date.  For those who cannot attend the live reading, we will make the poems and recordings of the poets reading their work available to all in the January 2020 issue of TAS.

 

I look forward to seeing you soon.

 

All my best,

Deanna