Exquisite Corpse S2 E3: Lorraine Shemesh and Frances Barth

In the third episode of this season of Exquisite Corpse, we hear from National Academicians Lorraine Shemesh and Frances Barth. Though the two visual artists have very different visual styles, their background and interest in dance and movement in their early careers heavily influenced their work and visual language, and sensibilities. They discuss their working-class upbringing, painting as women in New York for decades, and the gender biases that continue to pervade the art world and culture in general. Both artists connect on the compulsion to make art, the difficulties in but ultimate importance of their educational opportunities.

Frances discusses her recent work Dreaming Tango, a film that explores Argentine Tango in the lives of six people. Lorraine talks about her ceramics and their impact on her work in paint. And despite all their differences, they connect over many similar experiences in their long and varied careers during which both artists worked in many different media and dealt with criticism for not sticking to just one thing. Finally, they explain what it means to them to be inducted into the National Academy by their peers and how difficult it is sometimes to connect with other artists.