Image: Christianne Ebel
What was the last thing you read?
The last book I read is Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, the catalog to the remarkable Met exhibition of pottery produced by enslaved people working in the pre-Civil War south. It includes extraordinarily moving ceramic work including a group of large and small pots by David Drake, known then as Dave the Potter.
What was the last exhibition you saw?
The last exhibition I saw was Juan Francisco Elso: Por America, an exhibition exploring the highly influential work of the brilliant Cuban artist who worked in Havana and Mexico City before his untimely death at 32 years of age. In addition to rarely before seen sculpture and drawings by this powerful artist, the show also includes work by his friends (and others influenced by his work) including Luis Camnitzer, Papo Colo, Mel Edwards, Ana Mendieta, Glenn Ligon, Kcho, and Graciela Iturbide.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
The word I clearly overuse is “extraordinary”. Problem is, I am so often in the presence of extraordinary art and artists, but I am very aware of how often I say or write this. And yet, I persist.
David A. Ross is Chair of the MFA Art Practice program.