studio notes

Untitled #1240 (Black Cloud), 2007–08

Taxidermy birds, silk flowers, silk/rayon velvet, plaster statuary, feathers, specially formulated wax, cable, cable nuts, acrylic paint, black spray paint, plaster, chicken wire fencing, metal hardware, felt, pearl-headed hat pins, pigment, thread, wire, plywood, wood, threaded rod, jaw to jaw swivel

74 x 104 x 174 inches.

Image: Galarie Lelong

One of the many highlights from the CAA conference was hearing Petah Coyne speak and getting to talk with her briefly afterward. She was part of a distinguished panel including Robert Gober, Vija Celmins, Philip Taaffe, and Janine Antoni discussing what goes on when art making doesn't.

Ms. Coyne offered up a few words that will forever resonant with me. When working in the studio becomes difficult, everything fails, and feels hopeless: "just show up."