The Art World Works From Home: Artist Dan Colen Is Admiring His David Hammons Work and Harvesting Crops for Food Banks on His Farm

The art world may be on lockdown, but it certainly does not
stop. During this unprecedented time, we’re checking in with
art-world professionals, collectors, and artists to get a glimpse
into how they are working from home.

We recently caught up with artist Dan Colen, who had a head start on New
Yorkers fleeing the city: in 2011, he bought Sky High Farm in Columbia County
as an escape from urban life.

Read on to learn about how farm life is keeping Colen busy, and
how his farm is mobilizing to supply food banks.

Where is your new “office”?

Same office as before—the studio/garden/pasture.

What are you working on right now?

My farm, Sky High Farm, which I founded in 2012, raises
pasture-based livestock and grows organic fruits and vegetables,
100 percent for donation. We work with food pantries in the Hudson
Valley as well as in New York City.

Gagosian also recently featured one of my works from the
exhibition “HELP” in their Artist Spotlight.

How has your work changed now that you are doing it from
home?

Although I’m lucky enough to be living across from my studio and
remain busy and immersed in my creative practice, my focus has been
on the farm’s work. The emergence of COVID-19 has exposed the true
magnitude of socioeconomic inequity inherent in our social systems
and the fragility and limitations of the very programs designed to
address it.

In this context, Sky High remains committed to playing an
adaptable and instrumental role in alleviating need. These are age
old problems—even before the current global health crisis, food
insecurity throughout New York State was deepening. COVID brings a
needed spotlight onto these inequities.

I’m seeing so many people rise up to help. Through these new
partnerships and creative thinking, there is an opportunity to
change things. Tragically, the staggering rates of unemployment and
acute stresses on emergency feeding systems will take a massive
toll on so many people lives in the immediate future.

What are you reading, both online and off?

Between the studio, the farm and living with a girlfriend for
the first time I’m keeping pretty busy. I’m stuck in the middle of
Roberto Bolano’s 2666… I’m
making better progress with some food [writers] like Michael Pollan
and Sandor Katz.

Have you visited any good virtual exhibitions
recently?

I keep meaning to watch all these videos galleries are offering,
but haven’t gotten around to it yet. There was some stuff that
looked good on Sadie Coles site, and I noticed a Douglas Gordon
video on Gagosian (from the “Broadcast” exhibition)
I’d never seen before. I also wanted to see the Wooster group
stuff.

Have you taken up any new hobbies?

Same hobbies as always. I’m getting to garden more than I have
in the past, although I believe the work is too backbreaking to
call it a hobby.

What is the first place you want to travel to once this
is over?

I’m staying focused on being here right now—travel hasn’t been
on my mind.

If you are feeling stuck while self-isolating, what’s
your best method for getting un-stuck?

As I mentioned, I’m with my girlfriend; she is very good at
getting me unstuck. When she is busy, a run in the mountains always
helps.

What was the last TV show, movie, or YouTube video you
watched?

The Executioner by Luis Garcia Berlanga.

If you could have one famous work of art with you, what
would it be?

I live with some of my friends’ works I love very much. And I
have a small David Hammons which would satisfy me all on its
own.

Favorite recipe to cook at home?

A special sourdough pancake my girlfriend cooks called
Donnycakes, inspired by Maggie’s buckwheat pancakes at Krooked Cafe
in Tannersville. Neither recipe has ever been published.

What are you most looking forward to doing once social
distancing has been lifted?

Hugging my family and friends.

The post The Art World Works From Home: Artist Dan Colen Is
Admiring His David Hammons Work and Harvesting Crops for Food Banks
on His Farm appeared first on artnet News.