Weekend: Rebecca Frank Morgan, Kim Van Do, Garth Weiser, Henk Schiffmacher

Are we not human? Contributor Jon Curley considers the poems of Rebecca Frank Morgan, who posits that

Feb 27, 2021 • View in browser

Are we not human? Contributor Jon Curley considers the poems of Rebecca Frank Morgan, who posits that our bodies and souls have long been robotized. In “The Mechanical Eves,” she recasts the patriarchal origin story: “Oh, man has made her in his own image / for beauty and service, oh man has / made her, a more pliable Eve / with no desire of her own.”It’s certainly true that too often we behave as if we are the only sentient being in the room surrounded by instruments at our disposal. This self-regarding revision of Hobbes–who viewed all humans as cause-and-effect machines–reduces others and elevates ourselves. It also conveniently insulates us from their pain. We aren’t machines; we aren’t ghosts either. We sweat, breathe, make love, and make art. Even at a moment when our brains have been replaced by screens and touch is forbidden, we should allow ourselves something very human–to feel awful about the hurt that’s all around us.– Albert Mobilio, Co-Editor, Hyperallergic Weekend

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The Rise of the Machines Rebecca Frank Morgan’s poems critique sexism, objectification, and violence by depicting humans as robots. Jon Curley

Books to See and Feel These alluringly physical objects provide an opportunity to explore the symbiotic relationship between sight and touch. Kate Silzer

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An Asian American Landscape Artist to Be Reckoned With Kim Van Do takes the full range of our vision, from left to right and sky to ground, to an extreme. John Yau

Garth Weiser Explores the Limits of Technical Wizardry Moving beyond the confines of abstract signs, Weiser seems to be seeking social and philosophical meaning. John Yau

SPONSORED Chautauqua School of Art’s Intimate Residency Program Welcomes Summer 2021 Applications Study with us for five weeks of bliss, critical discourse, studio time, and a rare opportunity to experiment freely. Funding available; apply by March 2.

A Tattoo Artist’s History of Tattoos TATTOO: 1730s-1970s. Henk Schiffmacher’s Private Collection is strong on the presentation of images, but says very little about their meaning. David Carrier

Trippie Redd, Louder and Crunchier The Ohio rapper’s new album, Neon Shark, is a pop-punk gem. Lucas Fagen

Required Reading Shrabonti Bagchi writes about the “constructed” history of Chandigarh Chairs and how the South Asian designers are often erased and Pierre Jeanneret gets Hrag Vartanian

From the Store

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