Kindling IV 2021

James Jean made Kindling IV in 1979, and it feels like it arrived through a series of intuitive gestures and playful errors. I'm imagining Jean in the studio layering these vibrant colors, balancing the cartoonish figure with the almost psychedelic, patterned details. I feel for him trying to nail that balance. What's he thinking as he adds those dripping lines, letting the paint run its course? There’s such a tactile quality, you can almost feel the smoothness of the character's skin against the rougher texture of the painted bars. That contrast makes you want to reach out and touch it, doesn't it? That one little gesture, that arm reaching out from the side, it's like Jean is saying, "Come on, join the fun." It reminds me of Elizabeth Murray’s way of pushing the boundaries of painting, making them feel alive and breathing. It is about pushing boundaries and questioning norms. We, as artists, are constantly in conversation with one another, riffing off ideas across time, inspiring each other to keep creating. We explore the endless possibilities that emerge when we embrace ambiguity and uncertainty.