WA(i)STED, Curatorial Statement

One night, while I was spelunking in cyberspace, I encountered Jakub Kalousek and Scott MacLeod sitting close together by a cozy campfire discussing various aspects of their tangential collaboration. Carefully, I eased my way into the blazing glow of their intellectual fire circle and was granted an interview. Both men were quietly reflective as they confided that over the years they have developed a sincere artistic camaraderie in spite of mutual intimidation, insults, and competition. Jakub described his and Scott’s creative exchange, “like a patient-therapist relationship with unknown variables and roles of who is who....” Scott appreciated that Jakub’s work is, “...absurd but also completely scientific and rational....” Jakub, in turn, praised Scott’s “...incredible, sadly underrepresented and undiscovered acting talent.” He continued, “...there are these surprises in his multitude of work that pop up, stream briefly across the night sky, then fade away into the murky ocean of art world plankton... you remember the flash but not what caused it.” I stayed with them for a time, during which I was offered a curatorial role for WA(i)STED. The planktonic characteristic of this show is the way the chosen works float freely, independently, yet they drift together. The artists’ solo work may be miles apart thematically, but sometimes they both wander into the same current. That’s when the belts come off and the magic happens.

© 2014 The Author, Janet Silk.

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