This story is a part of Picture’s April concern, exploring motion and the way it adjustments us from inside. For the problem, the artist Grace Weinrib created an unique art work based mostly on the issues her father left behind. On this as-told-to interview, Weinrib shares her course of.
For the previous couple of years, I’ve been going via my dad’s collections. For context, my household moved to Santiago de Chile in ’92 from L.A. — I used to be born there. My dad did cartoon voices. He labored with Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, and he married a Chilean, my mother. My father handed away in 2006; me and my mother are right here, and my sister moved again to L.A. in 2019.
I’ve been going via my dad’s issues — one, as a result of I made the time. Two, as a result of I felt prefer it was the suitable second to take action. It’s a very emotional course of, in fact. Subsequent yr goes to be 20 years since he handed away. I’m 41 — I didn’t have him for very lengthy. I’ve been sorting via the issues, selecting what I’m going to maintain for myself, what I’m going to provide away. The journey of doing this has additionally had rather a lot to do with giving this stuff a second alternative and a second life — getting them out of a warehouse or room or field and someone really utilizing it and giving it a brand new that means. There’s one thing symbolic and transformative about that that I’ve actually loved, and I didn’t count on it.
“I am realizing the reason why I’m interested in making small format works right now has to do with the universe that I’m referencing, which, in the case of this series, are books, the old world of lists and stationery and discarded pieces of paper.”
From the collection “crystals of sulphate of soda and lime,” collage, pencil, ink, stamp, tape, frottage on paper, diptych 22.5 x 30cm, 2025.
I’ve gone to storage gross sales and flea markets, and I simply put my little stand there and make every little thing very nice. It’s enjoyable to do the analysis, determine what every little thing is, as a result of I’ve all kinds of objects, like fossils and minerals and Avon thimbles from the ’80s and Japanese toys from the ’60s. I spotted that I used to be doing a lot work, taking footage of and measuring every little thing. I used to be like, “This is art.” It is a undertaking — this can’t be one thing that I’m doing on the facet.
You will note within the work some stationery from my dad’s bookshop, which was on Melrose: “Lenny’s Book Nook: Unusual, used books bought and sold.” A part of what’s fascinating to me is the fiction that you must create when someone passes away — you type of fill within the blanks. And reminiscence could be very tough in that sense, as a result of someone tells you one thing, and then you definately bear in mind it in a sure approach. That additionally informs the work, that unusual approach that reminiscence capabilities. It’s fascinating how, for instance, my dad’s bookshop, I’ve remembered various things from it. I by no means went there. I simply have just a little bit of information. Artwork is an excellent fertile place to make associations since you create one thing that’s form of parallel to actuality.
I’ve additionally began new collections within the course of. For instance, I accumulate lists that I discover after I go to the grocery store, and someone simply drops their checklist on the ground — I’ll at all times be the vacuum that can clear it up for these individuals. I discover them endearing, like one thing that someone made with completely no pretension for it to be artwork. And that’s additionally one thing I really like about stationery. It’s not meant to be creative.
I’m realizing the explanation why I’m involved in making small format works proper now has to do with the universe that I’m referencing, which, within the case of this collection, are books, the outdated world of lists and stationery and discarded items of paper. I additionally realized how intimate drawing could be, and numerous this subject material shouldn’t be very straightforward to speak about, it’s very private and personal. So the truth that it’s small has hit very near residence.
Going via packing containers and going via issues is extremely messy. It’s not like every little thing matches neatly in a field. Like, “Oh, here is the sector with my father’s smoking pipes” — it doesn’t go like that in any respect. For instance, the toys that I’ve been going via, they’re far and wide. I believe that this collection, in that sense, pertains to that overlapping of issues, the expertise of going via issues. I’m nonetheless wanting on the works, however the overlapping and the transparencies of the papers that I’ve been utilizing, it’s opened up one thing actually new and fascinating for me.
—As instructed to Elisa Wouk Almino
Studio desk of Grace Weinrib, that includes work from the collection “crystals of sulphate of soda and lime,” combine media collages of coloured pencil, china ink, india ink pen, carbon paper switch, rubber stamp, correction tape, masking tape and frottage on paper.
(Courtesy of the artist)
Grace Weinrib was born in Los Angeles and is an American Chilean visible artist and trainer. She at present lives and works in Santiago, Chile.
