Mike Mandel 1975

Mike Mandel made this untitled image, that looks like a baseball card. It's got that snapshot quality, all greyscale. I can almost imagine him there in the darkroom, the smell of chemicals, watching the image slowly emerge in the developer. You know, making art is like pitching – it's about control, release, and a little bit of hope that things will land where you want them to. Look at the way the image is constructed, everything so clear and defined. And the way his hand gestures—all these forms—they are like notes in a visual song, a conversation between the artist and his materials. It's funny how a simple picture can be so evocative, right? It’s all about dialogue, with himself and other artists, throwing ideas around. Every artist, every image, contributes something to the mix.