Are You Alone?

“Listen, I have been educated.
I have learned about Western
Civilization. Do you know
What the message of Western
Civilization is? I am alone.”

–Eileen Myles

We live in a world where independence is often celebrated. But can this independence go too far so that it ultimately teaches us the echoing mantra that seems all too common in Western civilization: I am alone. Does it have to be this way? Are we destined, within the increasingly isolated world in which we live, to tread our paths essentially on our own? Perhaps there’s a way to redefine the story of individualism we have inherited.

Eun-Ha Paek talked to us about her show, Alters, at HB381 until June 14. The title was inspired by the concept of alter-ego and the many facets of personhood. Paek uses multi-media to create her work, including hand built pieces and 3D printing with ceramic. To learn more about this process and more, listen to the complete interview.

Mara Da Luca joined us to discuss her show, Western Gate, which ran at Totah Gallery until February 15. While developing the work, Da Luca was reading multiple books about Western expansion, the history of California and the myth of the California dream. It was from these that the title emerged, a reference to the last gasp of her California living before making a move to New York. To hear about her time in California, the work and more, listen to the complete interview.