The delicacy of a moth’s wing, the shadowy space between the clock and the bed that looms large during a bout of insomnia: small details fill Marie Watt with wonder and become the basis for thoughtful, elegant works of art. Through her art, she draws attention to the unnoticed parts of our lives. “I am particularly drawn to the human stories and rituals implicit in everyday objects,” she has said. “Like blankets, bridges, and doorknobs. Made familiar by use and scaled to the body, they often go unnoticed, but make me think about the relationship between part and whole; I wish to capture this sense of familiarity in the objects I make.”
The exhibition “No Reservations: Native American History and Culture in Contemporary Art” curated by Richard Klein for the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgfield, Connecticut, about a one hour drive from Manhattan, may prove to be one of the most unique and influential projects of the season. The strategy and critical thinking of combining cutting edge work by emerging native and non native artists treating controversial issues of history and culture related to the legacy of indigenous people, is a landmark and template for future efforts.