Art talk
Art talk: conversations with 15 women artists
by Cindy Nemser
Publisher: New York : IconEditions, c1995.
ISBN: 0064309835 DDC: 709.22 LCC: N8354
p. 13 Barbara Hepworth was the first to pierce the stone in 1931.
p.15 If there´s conflict, I have to sit down or go to sleep to solve it. And the only way to solve it is to produce really affirmative work which can only come - I can´t make it come. i can´t conjure it up. I can only go to sleep and hope it happens.
I haven´t much patience with women artists trying to be women artists. At no point do I wish to be in conflict with any man or masculine thought. It doesn´t enter my consciousness. I think art is anonymous. It´s not competitive with men. It´s a complementary contribution. I´ve said that, and I do believe it, that one does contribute to art and that´s nothing to do with being male or female.
p.16 BH: But art´s either good or it isn´t.
CN: In our society masculine has always been the higher good and feminine the lower.
BH: That´s a stupid thing because the scales are out of balance. As far as I´m concerned, in my work and in my life, the scales are in balance.
p.21 The idea that geometric = intellectual and organic = humanistic
p.22 On Caro "But again I feel it´s not enough to be against something [abominable architecture since the war]. You have to do something that will damn well replace it. Where do you put these sculptures? I mean if they don´t work with architecture or culture what do these sculptors do with their work and what do we do with our heritage?
I like to think that time is timeless and I wouldn´t want to make a work which wouldn´t last for more than ten years - nor a work that wouldn´t go anywhere.
p.23 I think where you live as a sculptor is a very practical matter. You want space and lights, materials, simple living and everything. But one can´t get it in London anymore. It doesn´t exist.
I can´t be unpolitically minded.... I don´t march... I´m involved in everything I read just as I was in the thirties during the Spanish War and Franco and everything.
CN: I think very often one has to work very hard, do lots of research and lots of thinking, and then when you start to work, it´s all there, waiting to come out - to flow out of you.
BH: But you can´t start with a block and say "Now it´s going to dictate to me." You dictate to it.
CN: There´s an interaction at the same time, isn´t there?
BH: Oh yes.
CN: And you have said that you follow the stone. It speaks to you.
BH: Of course, but you can´t put anything back.
CN: It´s a high risk business you´re in.
BH: I enjoy that.
CN: But still it´s very scary. The thought of making one false move and then ruining it.
BH: I´m not afraid you see. I know how to carve. No credit to me. I was just born like that.
To read:
Barnett Newman
Barnett Newman: Paintings, Sculptures, Works on Paper
Armin Zweite, Barnett Newman, Jane Bobko,
Publisher: Hatje Cantz Publishers
ISBN: 3775707956 Edition: Hardcover; 1999-11-01
Question: what ground-breaking technique do you bring to your work?
How do you get through writer´s block?
What do you do with work you don´t sell?
