Last Thursday, Joan Jonas (MFA ‘65) spoke at Columbia School of the Arts as part of the program’s Speak Now series. In conversation with Adama Delphine Fawundu (MFA ‘18), Joan shared new perspectives on her seminal works and divulged more about her artist’s process. 

“She is one of the greats, whose work has stood the test of time,” is how artist and Speak Now series speaker Joan Jonas was described in her introduction at her talk last Thursday. Speak Now, a new speaker series at the School of the Arts, features artists and creative graduates of the school who “embody the spirit of adventurous creativity,” as Dean Sarah Cole said that evening.

Such a style of creativity is extremely evident throughout Jonas’ artistic career. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Jonas was a graduate of Columbia’s MFA program in its inaugural year. Since graduating from the School of the Arts, she has created a multitude of works, serving as a pioneer of the performance and video art genre. Her works bridge a variety of mediums, from installation to sculpture to theatrical performances. Jonas has exhibited at the American Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, Dia Beacon, and most recently, was subject to a hugely successful retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. Some of her many accolades include the prestigious Kyoto Prize, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Nam June Paik Prize. As Cole heralded Jonas, she is “truly one of the unsung creatives of our time.” 

Prior to her talk, Jonas entered the Lantern event space at the Lenfest Center for the Arts to insurmountable applause. Accompanied by Adama Delphine Fawundu (MFA ‘18), the two embarked on an enriching dialogue on Jonas’ more than 50-year career. Jonas kicked off her lecture section of the event by sharing anecdotes of her time at the School of the Arts. As she told the audience, she could not believe how “different it was back then” when her studio was simply in the rotunda of Low Library. 

Alongside funny anecdotes of her life and career, Jonas discussed many of her most famous works—those ranging from the video piece Song Delay to her oil pastels. While presenting such works, Jonas highlighted core tenets of her practice, such as asking, “What is female imagery?” to explore theories on identity as well as “dealing with inconsistencies in perception.”

As Jonas is one of the most famous performance artists of our time, she spoke about such practices in that field. As her goal is to “develop within a space,” many of Jonas’ performances have been collaborations either with institutions or other artists. A frequent collaborator of hers is the composer Jason Moran. Alongside Moran, Jonas seeks to “blend the artistic pieces [of music and visual art] into one another.” 

When transitioning into the conversation portion of the evening with Fawundu, Jonas was asked about where she draws inspiration from. A lover of mythology and reading, Jonas shared how her constant curiosity about the world has drawn her to diverse methods of sourcing in her art. Whether it be a fable or her travels to Norway, Jonas is always looking for something to incorporate into her practice, sharing that “you can never stop learning about art.” 

In the final moments of the event with Jonas, the artist was asked about the advice she would like to give to the audience, and she shared, “Love what you do. You have to do what you love.” Such a sentiment is clear in the passion and dedication that Jonas has demonstrated in her works throughout her career. Prior to attending the event, I was drawn to sign up for a ticket after seeing Jonas’ career retrospective at the MoMA. During that museum visit, I was enthralled by Jonas’ non-traditional means of artistic expression, which differed from the oil paintings hanging on the walls of the museum just a few floors below. Yet, after having the opportunity to learn so much about such a remarkable artist and creative, I felt so much more informed about such a historic artist and promoter of art. Such heartfelt counsel truly encapsulates both Jonas as a person and her remarkable survey of art, reflecting her lifelong commitment to creativity.

Speak Now via Author