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Modern Art Notes Podcast

MODERN ART NOTES PODCAST   B y Tyler Green The Spelman College Museum of Art is showing "Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi" through May 19. The exhibition features work Roberts has made in the last half-decade, work that uses collage and girlhood to examine issues of race, gender, and America's present condition. It was curated by Andrea Barnwell. San Francisco's Jenkins Johnson Gallery just opened an exhibition of Roberts' work called "Uninterrupted." It's on view through March 17. Deborah Roberts was recently  included in the group exhibition "Fictions" at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Her work is in the collections of the Studio Museum, the Blanton at the University of Texas, and the Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University. The Spelman College Museum has uploaded a conversation between Barnwell and Roberts. Part one is here .  The Modern Art Notes Podcast is a weekly, hour-long interview program featuring...
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About last year

Last year was a crazy, exciting and exhilarating year for me, I went to the Volta Art Fair in March and everything I thought I knew as an artist changed over night. All of a sudden everything I always wanted happened, that magical sun light found me waiting for my moment. I have always honored my practice, did what was necessary and let the works move me in the direction it need to go. I've dealt with disappointments, failures, missed opportunities and fear of change but this isn't anything unusual, most artist go through these things everyday. I'm nothing special, I think this can happen to any artist who works hard and is passionate about their work and accepts that its not about them but the work. I told myself the other day when I felt exhausted from travel that the other side of success is poverty and I've done that, so get up and go work in the studio because while nothing last forever and it's up to me to stay focus, keep my feet planted and to continue t...
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Studio Update

Summer/Fall 2017 Update   Power Dance , 30 x 22 cm Look for my work at the Chicago Expo in September 13-17 2017 Red dots and Hot water, 30  x 22 cm It’s funny how one part of my life has come full circle since my studio visit with the Studio Museum in Harlem. In 2006 I travelled to SMH to speak with Lowery Stokes Sims, then their executive director, and left with the feeling that much more work and scholarship needed to be done.  I met with SMH’s newest associate curator Connie Choi and assistant curator Hallie Ringle and felt good about it. Of course there is always work to do, but I feel much closer.  Twins  (2017) is now part of their permanent collection! Thelma Golden before  Twins   Nobody’s Darling: Women and Representation  at UT Austin’s Christian-Green gallery continues over the course of this summer and concludes on August 4, 2017. As I’ve said, I’m thrilled to have support in Austin and am as happy to ...
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Why documenting your work is so important

Ok, so I've been away for a sometime now, but I'm back with some nuggets from my months away. One of the things I'm finding hard lately is documenting my work before it goes into the art world never to be seen or heard from again. Hiring a professional photographer is great, but if you can't afford one simply taking a iPhone photo may have to work. Your work is an investment and it's something you must take seriously, because if you don't it shows. I can't tell you how many time I have sent jpegs out with chopped hair, feet and arms, looking back it's embarrassing. Remember, everything you do as an artist is an investment in yourself and your practice. Lots of galleries and dealers show clients work from images from computers, email, laptops and other devices at fairs, special events and sometimes right there in their space. It shows that you care about how your work is presented and that you are a professional ready for the next level clients. Image qua...
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Anatomy of an Idea

I started working on some new work and was rethinking my process, is it easier for me to plan out my collages or just construct them based on what I'm thing about "politically or socially" at any given moment? I know this is a "first world" problem (sigh) but I think it's something I should give more thought to. Structure, structure and more structure... After Grad school, reading theory and socially relevant books took a back seat to adventure novels and streaming stuff on Netflix. I'm wondering if it may be time to crack open those books again. Creating a bunch of series is what I tend to do in my work, (my current one is called " A funky dish of Chitterlings, ok!) because it helps me to flush out an ideas and it helps the work make sense. After my trip to the Volta Art fair  I now have a clean slate to think about how I make art. It may just be me, but I always find it helpful to think about how i process ideas and how can that process gene...
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Studio, studio and more studio

Big things ahead so, I am spending twelve hours a day in my studio practice. Stay tune and look for me in NYC in March! Here are some new works in progress and check me out on Instagram @rdeborah191
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Winter Studio Update

Fall/Winter Studio Update 2016 Greetings Friends & Colleagues, Happy holidays! I wish you well as 2016 comes to a close. I want to share what’s new, upcoming events, and recent developments and directions in my studio practice.  Notably, I’ve been working on several small art journals this winter as a way to unwind . Sometimes, in the middle of trying to create work that speaks to social, cultural, and political issues, I need to take a break from big issues and just paint. For me, stepping away helps the work relax and allows new pathways to take form. Have a look, If you’re not already aware, I filled the early fall season with several shows and an exhibition that I self-curated. I am glad to share with you some news coverage and photos related to a couple events. Thank you to everyone who attended and also to those who showed their support in spirit. Below are links and images: ·       Contemporary Art Exhibit Probe...
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Cut Ups!

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Collage for collage sake!

     These collages are from my torn paper journal, I created them out of found paper scraps. What I love about them is that they owe nothing to any social movement or cultural political structure and they don't have to be perfect.  I did 128 of these small creatures in an effort to wind down from my last exhibition. I think it is important to find space for your work to relax. One more week then I am back to work screen printing, pasting and cutting. Red hand 5x5 collage on paper Heavy is the head that wears the crown, 5x5, Collage on Paper Sunday Morning 5x5, Collage on Paper
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New Rules.

Whew, I can't believe that I have to create new rules for my studio practice, but some time back I started to feel stranded in the artistic hole I had dug for myself. So, in order to create some new energy (pathways) I wrote some "new rules" to work by while I'm creating my art. Yeah, It sounds dumb, but I was surprised by how often I looked to that list when doubt or fear creep into my practice. It helps, if nothing else its something to aim my brush at when I loose my cool. Check out this article: When You’ve Hit The Artistic Wall: Frustration and Creativity By: Lee Hammond | August 27, 2014
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#thisartistlife

Sunday and everyday. "An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. As far as I’m concerned, it’s their choice, but I CHOOSE to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself. That, to me, is my duty. And at this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when everyday is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved. Young people, black and white, know this. That’s why they’re so involved in politics. We will shape and mold this country or it will not be molded and shaped at all anymore. So I don’t think you have a choice. How can you be an artist and NOT reflect the times? That to me is the definition of an artist." Nina Simone
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Fall art season

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