Artist’s talks—up for review, like a gallery show or spread in Artforum? A few nights ago I saw photographer, video artist, and filmmaker Laurel Nakadate give a presentation on her work at SAIC, and it was one hell of a mindspin. As I see it, Nakadate makes two kinds of work: the kind she’s in, and the kind she’s not in. Interestingly enough, I can’t seem to find any images of the latter on the internet—which probably has something to do with the fact that, when Nakadate puts herself in front of her camera, she’s usually wearing little to no clothing, unless she’s dressed up in what I roll my own eyes to call Lolita-esque getups.
In the neon afterglow of yesterday’s inaugural pomp and ceremony, I offer a modest tale: a profile by CBS national news of some Chicago high school students involved with the Mikva Challenge, a remarkable Chicago non-profit for whom my wife works. Twenty-six of these students were sponsored by Mikva to attend the inauguration, and Senator Dick Durbin provided them with some of the best seats in the house.
But rather than attempt to explain what Mikva is about myself, I direct you to the profile, where you can hear it from the mouths of the youth who make the organization thrive. If you’re interested, click here to learn more.