On October 3rd, we debuted an informal series, A Conversation among Painters, at Pratt.

Nancy Grimes and I hatched this idea last spring, realizing that although formal situations — panels, lectures — give valued experience to painting students, the spontaneous conversation among artists is rarely shared with them.   We wanted to create an environment where artists sit informally and talk about topics they feel passionate about.  Artists Hannah Barrett and Frank Lind completed our group. We met last Thursday during lunch.   Balthus, the enigmatic painter of big themes and troubling narratives, was our topic. Students packed the room.  We had a few images on the screen and easily fell into the issues, agreeing, disagreeing as we tried to plumb the depths of this singular artist and our reactions to him.  Painting colleagues who joined us added more.  Young painters rarely have access to this kind of conversation among the artists who teach them.

The Balthus Exhibition at The Met, Cats and Girls, is on view until mid-January 12, 2014.

More on this exhibition next week.