ARTWORK BY MATTHEW BACHER
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A nonlinear rambling, as I locate myself within the art world...

Thacher State Park

9/15/2018

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As my time winds down here at Arts Letters & Numbers, I’m taking a final survey of my environment in hopes of getting any last inspiration. I am currently working on a piece where I reinterpreted signs found in parks that warn about tics and lime disease.

Today I ventured to Thatcher State Park where I walked along an Indian trail that traced the contours of a breathtaking escarpment. The limestone and shale rock glistened with moisture as only dreamscapes do. Looking east, back toward Albany, off the side of the large precipice, I could see the beginnings of small pocks in the form of farms, spotting the viridian landscape. On this primal trail, waterfalls sprout at each turn. It was by far the best hike that I have been on since being back in Upstate New York. After figuring out the math on my steps for the day and successfully planning each following step; I made my way back to the car and went to Albany to meet with a few residents who were interested in an opening at the Albany Center Art Gallery.

The exhibition was a series of photographs of a woman in her 60s taken by her husband who clearly had no boundaries. None of our group really liked the show but we spent 45 minutes talking about it anyway just to make sure there weren’t any unturned rocks. “He’s objectifying her and not even in an interesting way,” “I think they’re all supposed to be landscapes,” and “The artist needs to think more about material” were just some of the comments my new colleagues chirped about once we were out on the street. I left them and drove back to the house to help out with the communal dinner.

Dinner was orchestrated by the two Korean residents were making bibimbap. The dinner ended up being amazing. I was given the larges bowl because behind my back all the residents had decided that I eat a lot.

​After dinner I three–way-called my wife and mother. Apparently this is what you do when you’re newly married.

It's late in the evening now and I just got in from attempting to find a pair of owls that have been haunting the woods behind the house. So far no luck but I did manage to find a frog. I grabbed it and went to show it to the other residents but it bolted out of my hands into some ivy. I left it for a few minutes and chased after the calls of the owls again. After, I returned back to the frog and shined my light onto the glistening patch of green where it had landed. Its body reflected the light back at me like a mirror. When I went to reach for it the frog’s body lengthened more than that of any frog I had ever seen. I crept closer and it bolted out of the foliage toward me. Screaming and pulling back I realized that it was a snake. Not just any snake but an Eastern Ribbon Snake. This trip has really kept me guessing. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.

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Show and Tell

9/6/2018

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Hey Everyone,

I hope that everyone had a good holiday. My thoughts go out to the victims that were in the shooting in Cincinnati. I'm so thankful that my extended family who live there are safe.

 
Last night we went through show and tell with some of the new residents. They all had extremely impressive practices which humbled and inspired me. One of the residents named Wolfgang, built a house in a day and another, named Karen, organizes feminist rallies for artists in Australia. Karen helped me explain to the other residents Justine's and my view on the importance of supporting female artists versus supporting artists solely based on merit and skill. Once the systems are more equal we can talk about meritocracy. Right now, I am doing some bookkeeping. I'm sending emails to artists trying to score studio visits. I even managed to upload some photos from the Opening Reception of our show last Sunday. Check them out and thanks for reading!

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#WIP Open Studio Exhibition

9/3/2018

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​Last Sunday we had our #WIP (work in progress) Exhibition! There was a great turnout and halfway through everyone listened to a reading from one of the residents. I gave a little speech that introduced the participating resident artists and thanked the community for their support. I also had the chance to meet an ecologist who looks for endangered and rare plant species in New York State. We are going to meet for an educational nature walk within the next few weeks. Last Saturday we also participated in a workshop that a resident hosted. It was a body mapping exercise, where we lay down and were traced in chalk. After being led through a meditation we filled our bodies with the visuals that came to us while scanning our bodies. It was interesting, but I couldn’t help feeling like I had done something like it in grade school. It’s always good to check in with your body though. My legs wanted to run, my stomach wanted food, my back and arms wanted a nap and my head wanted me to quit drinking coffee. None of my body parts were able to come to a consensus. I guess that’s democracy.
Today I woke up at 7am and did community service at a local organic farm in exchange for information and the possibility of a unique experience. It was interesting to see how much plastic organic farms use but I learned that it is the tradeoff for using fewer pesticides. We harvested tomatoes, zucchini and cantaloupe. I was able to walk around and take photographs of the workers and animals as a loveable pup followed along, peeing on ripe crops as we went. Afterward, I met up with my fellow residents in Troy, N.Y. to say goodbye to our beloved resident writer. She works at Columbia and apparently knows the translator of the book I’m currently reading: Memoirs of a Polar Bear.
After returning from Troy, I worked for a few hours setting up my new farm painting before being asked to go to the lake for a swim. I was in need of a break. The studio was boiling and Van Gough only worked 6 months out of the year so why can’t I take 90 minutes. At the lake I was asked by the group to read from my book. They loved it and now they’re all hooked! Below I’m attaching photos from the farm, workshop and some beautiful clouds with a rainbow coming out of them. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. Next time you see your local farmer tell them you love them. Stay posted for photos from the exhibition, which I will upload tomorrow. 
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    Matthew Bacher

    A San Diego based artist originally from Rochester New York. I'm new to blogging and want to use this to connect with friends and family. 

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  • Works
    • Exuberant Body
    • 2020-2021
    • Discontent
    • Pre-Pandemic
    • Averill Park
    • Performance
  • Contact
  • About
    • Blog
    • curriculum vitae
  • Shop
  • Interview