2022.09.08

Cori, Nick, Ruby and I went to this art space called Foreland in Catskill. We saw an exhibition titled Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, where they were showcasing works by three teenagers who are incarcerated. At Foreland website it says,

"...focusing on the intersections of cultural and carceral systems, tapping our prison history archives, the crisis of youth incarceration, and visions of a decarcerated future. How do we identify modes of abolition and advocacy, create critical projects, and identify the reaches of our prison industrial complex?"

After visiting Foreland, we headed to English-American painter Thomas Cole's house. The historic house was preserved and was open to the public where people can see in side of the house including the studios.

I personally found letters Thomas and Maria (his wife) exchanged during the times where Thomas had to leave abroad to pursue his artistic careers very touching and relatable.

And then we saw The Pollinator Pavilion by Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. It was beautifully built light purple wooden architecture that was made site specifically to Thomas Cole's historic site. I have been making a lot of linoleum laser cut stamps of ancient fossil images and those black stamped shadow illustrations really reminded me of that. The burnt away ashes -- traces of the marks, traces of the dead ... still around, just forgotten.

The image below, Cole's mineral collection, was probably my favorite part of the whole experience today. I asked the docent if he ever grounded up these collected minerals/rocks and made his own pigments. She said he did made his own paints but was unsure if those raw pigments were purchased or foraged by Cole.

I was thinking during the visit how remarkable it is to have such a big following of Thomas Cole, or any other artists, even after their death. How the artist's legacy is preserved and restored, to be shown to the public. I know there is a lot of conversations needed in terms of artist's agency regards to privacy after their passing -- but it does fascinate me how people who are left are so passionate about archiving, restoring, preserving one's work. I'm curious why other than like asset/property/financial reasonings...

Well after the Foreland - Thomas Cole trip, we went to go have a lunch at Willas, which was part of the Foreland building. I ordered sausage in a bun sandwich, jelly donut and yuzu seltzer. Yuzu seltzer was much more than the expectation. Really refreshing and aromatic! But sandwich and jelly donut was pretty good but within my expectation. Overall, super satisfying lunch experience. Didn't took the photos though.

From the bookstore I went in Catskill. They had small birds on the 2nd floor.

Really lovely store that was unfortunately closed "OPEN STUDIO". I want to go back if I get a chance.

Ruby, Cori and I came back to Stanley house and it was around 3pm. I ate 2nd lunch, rested and went to the studio before outside got dark since the studio doesn't have electricity, there is also no light. Anyways, I worked a bit and did laundry. Wrote couple emails, did some research and now writing this blog post.

I had fun writing it. Let's keep up the momentum Mimi!

Mimi in her room in Stanley house, 1:07am