Exquisite Corpse: Contemporary Conversations

The final episode of Exquisite Corpse’s second season features a conversation between LA-based architect, Michael Maltzan, who chose to speak with an artist who had an impact on his work, Mary Miss, who is based in New York.

Mary speaks about her early career as an artist during the 1960s, the influences of minimalism and landscape on her practice, and how these influences pushed her closer to architecture. The two National Academicians discuss the ways in which their work is, in part, concerned with the interaction between a viewer and the work itself. They both discuss the psychological concerns of this interaction between the viewer and the work and what impact this has on their respective practices.

Michael probes a constellation of ideas—timescales, permanence, ephemerality—and how their respective practices are often quite different in this regard. Both examine the paths their practices have taken toward the impacting social change, and Mary considers participation and the notion of the “expanded field” working as an artist out in the world as an architect does.

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In the first episode of Season 3, previous guest Frances Barth chooses to speak with painter William T. Williams. They discuss their 50-year friendship, reminiscing about influences and interactions throughout their accomplished careers like working at Skowhegan, being neighbors, and their shared communities of artists. They discuss the mentors that were a part of their artistic development and how they help students and the next generation develop their own work. In the growing age of social media and miscellaneous distractions, both National Academicians share their advice for emerging artists to remain centered and focused.

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The second episode of season three joins friends and National Academicians Susanna Coffey and Sangram Majumdar in a conversation about painting. Both acclaimed painters, their conversation brings the audience into the complexities of painting–the material, gesture, and how it changes with their environment.

Sangram explains the evolution of his process as his paintings mark critical moments in time, from the 2016 presidency to a cross-country move. Susanna examines her own revelation with self portraits which began out of necessity for her teaching position at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They relate with one another about the ebbs and flows of their practices over time. In sharing different touch points of their journey, the conversation turns to the concept of invisibility versus visibility. Each of them share how they create despite perceived constraints and let the work live expansively.

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In the third episode of season three, previous guest, Mary Miss, speaks with architect, Jeanne Gang. In sharing their mutual admiration for each other’s practices, their conversation touched on social-ecological frameworks, the female gaze, and the nuances of involving community in their projects.

Throughout their conversation, the natural parallels between art and architecture begin to emerge. With both practices rooted in public environments, they exchange different approaches to sustained engagement with community members as co-creators. Mary shares her experiences working on the temporary memorial at Ground Zero, a process she describes as “turning voyeurs into mourners”. Jeanne speaks on her youth leadership program in collaboration with SCAPE for their project at Tom Lee park in Memphis, TN. Together they share a collaborative passion for addressing complex societal issues through their practices.

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The last episode of Season 3 joins old friends, artist Pat Lasch and architect James Timberlake. Their conversation explores how their residency experiences, spirituality, and childhoods influence their work. They reminisce about their time in Rome where they both attended the American Academy residency in 1982. Each took different approaches to engaging with the city and formed a lasting bond with their cohort. They also discuss spirituality, how it informs their creative practices, and how it is different than religion and the church. Through religion they touch on sensitive topics, but they hold space for their different experiences and embark on a reflective conversation of nuanced views.

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