“The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.” –Abigail Adams

Life can be rough sometimes, but in the end, often that’s how we achieve our deepest growth. Challenges rarely feel fun in the moment, but they tend to be the things that sharpen our thinking, spark fresh ideas, and remind us what we’re capable of. Sometimes the detour, the stuck place, or the unexpected hurdle is exactly where positive change begins.

Yatika Starr Fields joined us to talk about Home As It Was, his recent show at Garth Greenan Gallery. The title, and the body of work reflects the potentially dystopian nature of the trajectory of our world. The work also speaks to Fields’ ancestry as a member of the Cherokee, Creek and Osage tribes, as well as a member of the Bear Clan. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.

Avital Burg spoke about her recent show, Cracks in the Pavement, which ran until June 7 at Fridman Gallery. The paintings in the collection have an almost sculptural surface, reflective of Burg’s long-held affinity for paintings that tempt you to reach out and touch them. In her own process, she creates a tactile surface using only layers of fresh and dry paint. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.