(Four rectangular box-like forms joined by a beam) 1975

Connie Benham made this artwork, "Four rectangular box-like forms joined by a beam," by using a printmaking technique. Looking at this print, I get a sense of quietness and precision. The forms are so carefully placed, like a puzzle she’s figuring out as she goes. I can imagine Connie Benham in her studio, meticulously working on each line, each shape, thinking about architecture or some kind of impossible construction. There's something satisfying about the way the black ink sits on the paper, the textures almost velvety. It reminds me a bit of Sol LeWitt’s structures, but with a softer, more hand-touched feel. Each of those geometric lines communicates something about stability and precariousness. These artists are all talking to each other across time, figuring out different ways of seeing and building worlds with simple lines and forms.