Matt Ager and I talk about plodding along and where he should have been - in Aspen, and Mexico and Maine. Matt talks about being a fidgety person and being thankful for his studio, which he can still go to. We try to talk about Skowhegan, the Residency Programme, what it is and why it is so marvellous. We talk about being given permission to make the work we are making from the artists that have gone before us, and the ideas of content vs intent. Matt describes making feelings based works, relying on found objects and collecting textures. Matt talks us through his large box of stock materials that he is working through, thinking about simple gestures, waltz rhythms (1,2,3) and ideas of display. We talk about comfort and teetering between function and non-function. Matt talks about treating his work like a relationship and decided that he should date his work more often. We chat about the dowel, setting up problems to solve and disingenuous Tromp L’oeil. We end on cooking as a release and coffee rituals. 

Images:

Easy Rack (2019) - Plastic, Ceramic, steel and dowel. 

Links:

https://www.sun-dy.com/exhibitions/matt-ager-oh-i-know-why.html

http://lungleygallery.com/matt-ager/

http://galleryhigh.com/maaffiliates

www.mattager.com 

@matt.ager