30 April 2026
Bench: painted a bench I saw in Dulwich Park while walking there a few weeks ago. Made of wooden slats riveted to thin, flat, ribbon-like iron rails. I remember that from a certain angle it separated from its function and took on the appearance of something like a rickety bridge, or piano keys, or teeth. That Ruscha pastel and gunpowder drawing Self (1967) came to mind after I painted it—the attempt at solidified grace. And the rail attached itself to the image's border, which I taped off loosely (for no discernible reason, but in hindsight was a decision that gelled nicely with the slight warping of the planks that comprise the bench's sitting surface). Thought about Rita talking about making unforgiving paintings too. An intentional arrangement of an observation, a speculative suggestion for seeing.