“the universe is unfolding as it should”

Live from SMoCA! Ok, well it was live almost a year ago. Today’s episode has been in a holding pattern since last fall, when I recorded at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art – aka SMoCA – in November of 2018. I loved every second of my time there, especially floating in a pool on a flamingo (I’m Canadian, so I realllly like being in pools when it’s snowing at home). Once I got myself out of the pool, I had the great pleasure of talking to not only one, but two fabulous women: Jennifer McCabe, the Director and Chief Curator at SMoCA, and Saskia Jorda, a Venezuelan-born Arizona-based installation artist. You can listen to the full episode right up there under my pink friend, or subscribe on iTunes.

First, a little peek at this gorgeous gallery in lovely Scottsdale, Arizona:

Such a beautiful building filled with gorgeous art, not to mention a smart and talented Director & Curator. Jennifer is doing fabulous things at SMoCA – curating original shows, and also bringing in really interesting traveling shows. We talked about the two shows that were there during our record, and you can find links to both of them at the bottom of this post.

Next, Saskia’s installation work:

Gasp! Gorgeous! I’m sure her butterfly genitalia drawings were gorgeous too, but wow, I’m thrilled she found a path to her map-based installation work. I love her 2016 project, titled “Soft Borders”, which just happens to be featured in my latest book, A BIG IMPORTANT ARTIST – A Womanual.

That brings us to today. Literally. Here are a few images from Saskia’s Instagram feed showing her installing and preparing for the group exhibition, “Counter-Landscapes: Performative Actions from the 1970s – Now” (curated by Jennifer) that opens TODAY, October 26, 2019:

So exciting! … and, a few of the final pieces:

Oh my word! Those mixed media drawings are gorgeous, and I cannot deal with how much I love the piece above, titled “Zona Ambigua”. The rest of the installation shots won’t be ready for a few more days… that’s how hot of the presses this show is!  If you are anywhere near Scottsdale between now and January 19, 2020, go and check out this show.

Thank you so much to everyone at SMoCA for not only inviting me to do this, but also for being so patient. I’m sure they weren’t betting on this taking a year to go up, but I’m so glad this LIVE podcast is actually finally live! Thanks to Jennifer and Saskia for sharing their stories; huge thanks to THRIVE for supporting the episode; and as always, thank YOU for listening.

ps. And thanks, Mom, for reminding me that the universe really will unfold as it should. xo

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More Links:

1. The two exhibitions that were showing last fall:

NKAME: A Retrospective of Cuban Printmaker Belkis Ayón (1967-1999)

Double Agents: Carla Fernández and Pedro Reyes

2. Saskia’s drawings above were photographed by Claire A. Warden

3. And, in case you’re wondering where that flamingo lives: The Saguaro, Scottsdale

Source: thejealouscurator