ArtSake confesses to a fondness of the materials used in drawing, particularly Pink Pearl erasers. Yes, we adore all things drawing, except when a pencil lead breaks when you don’t want it to. So when we found out that the artist Deborah Davidson has curated Cannot Be Described in Words: Drawing Expanded, an upcoming exhibition at the Concord Art Association, we jumped at the opportunity to talk with her. And by the way, Deborah and the artists will also be giving a free talk Materiality and Intimacy – A Conversation, on October 27th in conjunction with the exhibition.
How did you select these artists? I was asked to make a proposal for a drawing exhibit and this group presented itself, my criteria was – what artists would I like to see in the same room together – all of whom push the definition of drawing.
Being a curator is like a) flying a plane, b) being a gardener or c) waiting for the subway to come? A gardener – after coming up with a great idea for an exhibit, it takes a lot of nurturing and supporting of the artists to make that idea become manifest.
What excites you these days? I have noticed many drawing-related exhibits both here and in New York. With the Maine Drawing Project, the state of Maine is devoting a year’s worth of exhibits to drawing. I just saw the Dance/Draw exhibit at the ICA – it is exciting when that kind of synchronicity happens.
The show’s title is Cannot Be Described In Words: Drawing Expanded. Explain? I was thinking about the relationship between drawing and writing – thoughts or images coming from the hand, and then it occurred to me that when words are incapable of expressing something, that drawing is.
What do you hope to achieve with your curation of this show? I am hoping that there is a visual dialog with the actual works in the gallery, and that will engender further dialog among the artists and with the viewers.
The unauthorized biography of your life is titled? A Circuitous Route From There To Here.
What is the most misunderstood aspect of being a curator? Perhaps how much administration it takes to present an exhibition, all the things that are not visible.
What advice would you give an artist that has been rejected from a call to exhibit? Oh, that is clear – look for the next opportunity and try again.
Cannot Be Described In Words: Drawing Expanded
Curated by Deborah Davidson. Exhibiting artists include Jill Slosberg Ackerman, Ilona Anderson, Sheila Gallagher, Audrey Goldstein, Raul Gonzalez, Chuck Holtzman, Fred Liang, Cynthia Maurice, Randal Thurston and Debra Weisberg
October 20 – November 20, 2011. Opening Reception: October 20, 6:00-8:00pm
Concord Art Association, 37 Lexington Road Concord, MA
Image credit (top to bottom): Raul Gonzalez, Chuck Holtzman, Randal Thurston, Fred Liang, Audrey Goldstein, Sheila Gallagher, Jill Slosberg Ackerman, Debra Weisberg and Cynthia Maurice.
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