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Last years was Creative Duos, which honoredromantic couples and siblings alike.
And in a way, this theme allowed us some insight into how they think about their practice.
LAWRENCE WEINER ON CATHERINE OPIE
How has Catherine influenced you?
Thats sort of an interesting question.
It didnt deal with theatricality; it was reality.
My work is all based on the idea of the immediate object in relation to human beings.
Do you remember what year that was?
No, Im notoriously bad about dates.
I can remember occasions which retrospective, which show.
Im not good at dates, I dont know why.
I had the date wrong.
It was 1958 when I graduated from high school, not 1959.
Its really funny to think you spend your whole life with things as such.
Its like not knowing your age.
Or not wanting to know your age, because its something you could never ascertain.
Or something somebody told you all the time.
They give such dignity to whatever the subject is, from a vase to a human being.
When I look at the portrait she did of you, it reminds me of an old-master portrait.
Yes, she has a fantasy concerning me.
What do you think that fantasy is?
One of the older artists who was very enthusiastic about her, thats all.
If you were to spend an afternoon with Cathy in New York, what would you do?
Id take a walk.
Wherever Cathy wanted to see.
If she wanted to go to Staten Island, wed go to Staten Island and take the ferry.
You got on the subway, you got on the ferry, and it was really very nice.
CATHERINE OPIE ON LAWRENCE WEINER
Congratulations on being chosen by Lawrence
I know!
What did you think when you heard that you were his co-honoree?
Were not really a bestie, but when were in the room together, we seek each other out.
Its really lovely, and hes very dear to me.
So hell be a good person to spend a dinner with.
Well both have our hearing aids in and be like,Huh?
[Laughs] Just kidding.
I mean Im not, but
In addition to being friends, youve also photographed him.
What was that like?
[Laughs] Well, yeah but no, in the same way.
It deals with reality.
Thats nice that he said that.
What do you think of that?
Is it something youve thought about too?
Well, Im not interested in theatricality to a certain extent.
Im not trying to make old-master paintings.
you’re free to be with this thing that Ive made.
How did you first meet Lawrence?
It was years ago, and I think even before Regen Projects days, to tell you the truth.
Like, my work was the poster and his was the graphics on the poster.
Whats the dynamic between you two?
Oh gosh, its mellow.
So we just jostle with each other.
If you were spending an afternoon together in New York, what would you do?
I dont know if youre allowed to print that.
And then we would talk about whatever randomness came into our minds, you know?
ALEX DA CORTE on POLLY APFELBAUM
I love Polly.
Okay, yeah, tell me about why you chose Polly.
It sounds like you guys are friends.
I was in my early 20s, and I hadnt seen anything like that before at the time.
How would you describe that narrative?
Well, I think for me it alluded to power roles in domestic spaces.
Ive never seen someone work more or be more prolific than Polly.
I called her and said, How do I replicate this work?
Could I borrow it and show it in this tableau?
And she said, I went to this Hallmark store and bought this crinkly paper.
Maybe they were just muslin sacks.
If you and Polly were hanging out in New York, what would you do?
Maybe wed go fabric shopping or fake-flower shopping.
Amy and I are friends, so I was surprised that she chose me.
[Laughs] Im barely ten years older than her.
It was really cool becauseI love Amys practice.
I think we have the same worth ethic.
I was really honored that she chose me for that.
Thats important to us.
I think our practices are similar in that vein.
Are there pieces of yours that you see as being in conversation with each other?
How do we become these strong women?
How we grow from those things into the women that we have to be to survive in this country.
I think there are many similarities when were talking about feminism or intercultural racism, things like that.
Have you ever talked to Amy directly about these topics?
So yeah, we talk about things like that.
Do you feel her work has influenced you?
It makes me get better.
I want that for my work.
How did you first meet Amy?
We have a mutual friend that we love to death, Zoe Charlton.
Shes an artist in Baltimore.
We all shared an Airbnb, and thats how wereallygot to know each other.
[Laughs] Everybody wanted their own space!
It was good, though.
Our food choices … so just sisters kind of just hanging out.
Those three days were the best three days Ive had in a long time.
We all had to read Fred Moten, and I know that I didnt understand it.
We all went to our spaces and read a section and came back and started trying to talk.
Were all academics, we all have masters degrees, and were trying to talk academically about it.
And then I cant remember who said, You know what, I dont get this shit.
[Laughs] We all started laughing, and were like, I dont either!
Im trying not to act dumb!
Sometimes, things are over your head, and you have to be honest and admit that.
I think that Zoe, Amy, and myself, we all have that.
We can talk to each other very safely.
Where would you go?
Oh God, what would we do?
I honestly dont think we would do anything art related.
She likes to shop, I dont like to shop, but I think we both like nice things.
We both have complaints about it, but those are good problems to have.
LYNDA BENGLIS ON CLYTIE ALEXANDER
Tell me about why you chose Clytie as your guest.
Many of the well-known contemporary artists have worked with those ideas, many more than we even know of.
How did you meet Clytie?
I met her in Los Angeles, where she has a studio.
I first went to L.A. and her studio was in her home and she had two young daughters.
The criteria for the gala honorees choosing their co-honorees was to select an artist who has influenced your thinking.
In what ways do you feel Clytie has influenced your thinking?
I have a few people who I depend on.
Its perhaps not directly related to my product because in the productso many different things reflect my thinking.
But it reflects my total well-being, my relationships with a few people I can name on one hand.
She definitely is a part of my life.
Tell me more about that.
Lets put it this way: My friends bear a lot of responsibility in relationship to me.
Ive never been to a therapist, I dont believe in it.
Have you met with Clytie recently while traveling?
When did you last see her?
Right now, she has just built a beautiful studio in New Mexico on Agua Fria.
This studio is kind of an expression of her interests and her being.
Shes living and working in that studio.
She doesnt even have room for a twin bed or a queen-size or king-size bed.
This girl is really serious.
Is there anything else you want to add about choosing Clytie for the event?
