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Repository 235: Changing Patterns
On the eve of my daughter’s graduation, big launch, and leaving the family nest, I am in a proud moment of grief and growth. I am feeling the most unusual mix of emotions. As always, art is my salve. Preemptively grieving last winter I was looking at a recent series of work by Colin Kippen. The work centers on disposable banal objects turned into brute, cement, permanent, and un-budging objects attached to the walls of a coffee shop in Portland….
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Repository 234: Start Close In
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Buckmeister Fuller It has been two years since I posted on my beloved Mindmarrow blog. When I should have celebrated 10 years of writing and commitment to an invisible and caring art loving community, I took a grand pause. The collective and my private life forced me to pivot to listening mode. I observed the systems thankfully…
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Repository 233: Announcements and Affirmations
The artist must summon all her energy, her sincerity, and the greatest modesty in order to shatter the old clichés that come so easily to hand while working, which can suffocate the little flower that does not come, ever, the way one expects. Henri Matisse (I changed the pronouns:) A short post to point, share and thank you for your patience as I’ve been busy writing and publishing though on different platforms and channels. I will post them below, a…
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Repository 230: Some Smelly Press
A quick post to share some press I’ve received lately. It’s humbling, and I am happy to see it locally and abroad. Starting new dialogues with folks outside the art and perfume worlds feels great. And having the respect by the perfume world insiders also means the world, I’m so grateful. The underserved sense of smell continues on its rise in interest and relevance, yay! Last Sunday the Columbian did a thoughtful and thorough review of my work as a…
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Repository 227: Things to Do with Your Hands and Head
This week I am a panelist for the inaugural Digital Scent Festival. I have been asked to speak with two other panelists about scent, art and design. No small feat to do virtually, I’m excited for the challenge. It’s informal, so that’s the good news. Send me in advance questions you might want discussed. I will be sure to post highlights of topics covered. The event is May 7, 10 AM PST, here are the details and please RSVP. The…
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Repository 225: Coronacation | When Things Fall Apart
Do not censor yourself right now – make, write, do without judgement. Censorship* is the height of vanity as Martha Graham said, and now is a time where you must create, and destroy outdated definitions of your “self” and do it freely. I am speaking to you – self identified non-artist, or fully indoctrinated “artist” – we are ALL artists, it’s time to be meaningful. We are in crisis mode throughout the world and the only thing we can do…
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Repository 224: The Flower, The Witch and the Pool Toy
Below is my artist statement for the exhibition I will have in Portland in March. Please save the date for the opening, and come say hi! Saturday, March 7, 2020, 6-8 PM, Luke’s Frame Shop (Albina Street location) The Flower the Witch and the Pool Toy: New work by Catherine Haley Epstein Her language does not contain, it carries; it does not hold back, it makes possible. When id is ambiguously uttered-the wonder of being several-she doesn’t defend herself against…
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Repository 221: NOSE DIVE | Book Launch
I’m thrilled to share the launch of my book “Nose Dive”! The book is available for shipping on August 4. I will also having an informal talk, where I will have the books at Fumerie in Portland, Oregon on August 10, 2019. Please RSVP to the event if you would like to join. I look forward to your throughts on the book, and starting a new dialogue on scent, olfaction and art. From the back cover: “Adventures for your nose…
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Repository 215: When the Private Must be Public | Interrogating the Home in Art
One had to build shelters. One had to make pockets and live inside them. -Lorrie Moore, Like Life. Vintage, 1990 If home is sweet home, then why is the domestic sound terrifying? Horror stories are rooted around a home, or collection of homes we call a town. Countless artists have avoided direct representation of the home unless it’s a subversive attempt to expose the dark, inner sanctum of the familiar. Naturally artists remove sweetness from the domestic. Sweetness is heavy,…
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Repository 214: The Business of Beds and Banks | Slow Thinking on the Immigration Investment
On the top of my to do list every day I write “kind, honest, necessary, urgent” – if it’s not any of those things, it’s not on my list and I’m not doing it. I’ve been writing a lot privately about art (more to come publicly), and I have been slow to the draw on my blog. Some urgent matters are occurring in the media, so much so that I’m finally feeling pushed to dissect. For me it’s urgent because…
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