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On April 16th, the Arts’ Research Center collaborated with UC Berkeley’s College of Letters and Science course titled “Public Art and Belonging” to host Cannupa Hanska Luger “on” campus—though, in light of the pandemic, this event occurred virtually on Zoom. Luger was kind enough to join us from the comfort of his New Mexico home and, with the aid of his website, tell us about his artistic processes and the projects which he has helped to facilitate as of late.

You are allowed to laugh today. You are allowed more than a hidden giggled breath. Let this be a reminder that laughter that does not have to replace heaviness. You are allowed whatever joy knocks at your heart. For whatever length.

(These days, I laugh in short, quick bursts. My brother’s always sending me dad jokes: I be preaching on Amazon, call me Prime Minister)

anna’s mother began the day in her own bed in san diego a long way away from her birthbed in india. i began the day leaning over and remembering this marriage. i also recalled renee gladman beginning her day inside the world trying to look at it, but it was lying on her face making it hard to see. the light was shimmying and dull in the middle. our bed is not a front line and if not on the front line what do you do with these mounds of safety |

It starts on my birthday at midnight or the day after. He brings me breakfast and later he brings me flowers. David Hockney was the fourth son of a conscientious objector and if often compared to Matisse remains “his own person.” I move the flowers, put them on my desk, and open the windows. Palm Springs or Lake Tahoe? Do you have any eggs? “The theme is emergency!” So, they close all the non-essential shops but not their windows. I don’t follow. Paint the blue openings.

At the end of February, curator Horace Ballad, Ph.D. visited us from WIlliams College to speak on his recent exhibit “possible selves: queer foto vernaculars.” Ballard is the Lead Curator of American Art at the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), and thus began his talk with a brief description of his perspective concerning art history and the canon. He admitted that though he does not believe that the discipline will open itself up to change at any point in his lifetime, “we don’t need Americanness anymore, just great humanness.”