December 20, 2024

Ketchup. Breathe.

Dec 20, 2024

Helen Kohnke, *Corrugated Fresco,* From the aritst’s open studio with Sibyl Gallery

Hi.

I was meditating, meaning I was sitting on my yoga mat for five minutes, holding a spot for mediation for when I finally decide to lean in and get serious about the thing. This has gone on for years.

Rather than focusing on my breath, I was thinking about how last week I was thrown off track by things that makes life lifelike. I was thinking about this post, the art I wasn’t able to post last week, and how I have to catch up. Then I started thinking about ketchup, wondering about the origin of the word. And then I was thinking about America and condiments.

Now I’m thinking about Eddie Vedder and Lukas Nelson playing “Just Breathe.”

Here are some things I saw.

Helen Kohnke’s Open Studio curated and co-hosted by Sibyl Gallery

This little painting stopped me in my tracks. How it reverberated with the correguated tin (aluminum?).

“16” Group Show at Good Children

Generic Art Solutions , *Duo Cycle*, 2024, Chrome, aluminum, vinyl and rubber, archival pigment print from negative

I had seen several works in this show on previous occasions. It was nice to see them again, like old friends. Others were new to me like Ivan’s favorite, this Duo Cycle.

Brian Guidry, *Happy Hour,* 2024, Acrylic on linen

Samantha Combs, *Subterranean Shower Excavation: All Those Times You Remembered that Thing and then Forgot About it* 2024, Handmade soap, self-help book paper, epoxy resin

Denna Ameen, *The Hound in the Distance is Starting to Bey*, Fabric collage & Paige Devrais *Shadow Boxer*, Oil on Canvas

Carrie Fonder, From And then it ate itself, 2023-24, Steel, monitors, video loop

Christopher Saucedo (info pending. sorry!)

30°/-90°, Group Show at Antenna Gallery

Ryan Leitner, The sum of a house, Acrylic, ink, wax, oil, paper, canvas

Ryan Leitner, *By any other name*, Acrylic, ink, wax, oil, paper, canvas

Ryan Leitner’s two pieces at Antenna are confusing. THey might even be about confusion. I like the feeling of being confused (by art). Lately, I have been thinking about how things would be better if people got used to and even grew to like the feeling of being confused.