When I walked into Cheim & Read Saturday I immediately thought that maybe I would take some pictures and use my Photoshop skills to rearrange Jack Pierson's letter sculptures to say something smartass like, "SIMON SAYS". The recent blow up about Barneys appropriating Jack Pierson's format was an unusually ham-fisted bit of intellectual and fiscal property protection. For the record, while Barneys might or might not have respect for Pierson's art, John Cheim's letter seemed to display little faith in it.
That said, as soon as I realized that Pierson had incorporated Barbara Pym into the show all was forgiven. I wasn't ready for that at all. I know. I'm easy, but . . . Barbara Pym! How often does she get mentioned anywhere? Between her work and her life she's a perfect touchstone for one corner of what Pierson is exploring here, female suffering. It was especially moving to see that candle flickering beside the well-worn copy of Less Than Angels.
Start anywhere. Everything I've read by Pym has been good. I have to say that the subtle power of the everyday in Quartet in Autumn is what makes that one my favorite. And trust me, nobody's ever going to copy her style to sell socks.
7 comments:
BARBARA PYM--I ADORE HER! I can't believe you like her too. Quartet is amazing, as is A Glass of Blessings.
Unfortunately, Jack Pierson's work does not inspire the same response from me. I think that whole so-called controversy was a crock of poo. The gallery stirred all this up for publicity.
Very few people know Barbara Pym's genius. I wanna devote a whole post to her.
Crock of poo is not exactly saying anything, sorry.
Yeah, I guess I didn't really say whether or not I liked the show. Overall it fails, but I liked the Meloncholia and Roses sculptures. Pym helped. Pym always helped. Always a kick to find another Pym fan.
Good call, Brent, about Chaim's apparent lack of *faith* in Pierson's work.
Very nice word choice. Put your finger right on something I was whacking just to the side of.
cool blog :)
Deborah and Bambino. Thanks so much for the kind words.
And Bambino, I still have a hangover from those drinks. I mean, it's been a month. Now, that's a cocktail with resonance.
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