Body

John w. carlson

february 24, 2024

One Piece Viewing

One Piece Viewings feature one work selected by the artist for a one-day event open for public viewing hours. This is an exciting format because it allows a lot of flexibility for both us, as curators, and the artist in terms of the work that will be shown. Going against the grain of the typical timeline for exhibits and projects to create a sense of urgency and concentration around a single work.

John w. carlson | body | Saturday, February 24, 2024

Interior | 2016 | Ink on Paper | 20” x 30”

i Found this piece among a stack of ink drawings and prints in his studio. Created in fall of 2016, i knew immediately it was a self portrait of john, as much of his work is. interior, a gestural drawing of ink on paper was framed in 2021 in hopes that it would be exhibited. at the time i found this expressionist piece, i called it aneurysm. its bold colors, contorted form and emotional intensity were all there.

I ask, was it a distortion or depiction of what was to come?

-Shari Wilkis 2/14/2024