Julia Salinger: The Insistence of Memory

Fredi Schiff Levin Lecture with the artist and curator: Thursday, June 13 at 6pm

“Why do we choose to retain certain moments and filter the rest, while other lost fragments emerge years later?”

In Insistence of Memory, artist Julia Salinger explores these questions through objects, drawings, poetry, paintings, prints, and video installation. Intertwining visual creations and the written word, Salinger layers memory and narrative to uncover and generate meaning. Her work includes paintings mounted on various materials (cloth, silk, plastic), works on paper, imaginary archeologist series “Lost Letters”, sculptural objects, and more.

“What I am looking at with Julia’s work is the consistency of line throughout her work and how it crosses over materials. I am drawn to her mark-making and how it pushes outside of the boundaries of whatever medium it is on…Julia’s work is completely intertwined with the rest of her life. Words that come from her memories are the primary focus, and they are connected by her various marks. It is one continuous line. It is one long poem or song lyric,” writes curator Susie Nielsen.

A book of Salinger’s work designed by Nielsen and titled Mermaids Grange: A Curious Visual Adventure on the Scenic Route will be published in conjunction with the exhibition and available for purchase at PAAM.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Julia Salinger’s varied art career began as an art historian. Her mentor, Irving Sandler, was the preeminent art scholar who wrote The Triumph of American Painting. She continued her studies at Columbia University and worked for Ronald Feldman Fine Arts as a researcher for five Andy Warhol print portfolios. During this period, she was accepted into the prestigious curatorial program at the Hirschorn Museum in Washington, DC. She has also worked at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design, the Guggenheim, The Neuberger Museum and the Whitney.

Her journey took her into the musical side of the arts, where she managed performers for over seventeen years. She worked with such diverse talents as Laurie Anderson, Bobby McFerrin, Diane Reeves and Diana Krall. After a few life changing experiences, she decided it was time to nourish her own creative spirit. In 1999 she started to create her own work. Since 2000, she has shown in numerous group shows and is represented in collections in the US, Europe and Asia.

ABOUT THE CURATOR

Susie Nielsen is a curator, designer, and artist- owner/curator of Farm Project Space + Gallery, Wellfleet, MA.  Curating since 1997, Nielsen has created exhibitions in traditional and non-traditional spaces including universities, outdoor environments and a boxing gym.  She has curated three previous exhibitions of Julia Salinger.

Image: Julia Salinger, Ready, Set, Go, 2022, Drawing on paper, ink, pencil, crayon, paint, 42”X 35”