Pointing at things

And inviting others to wonder with you

Smokey Bear and Uncle Sam

Hey y’all,

Quick note: If you have a question you’ve been dying to ask me and want to be part of a new series, check out the P.S. at the end this letter!

I was delighted by the response to Ross Gay’s typewriter interview, especially how many folks quoted these bits on writing…

It's a version of pointing, writing is. Pointing and thinking, to be more precise. Preciser still: wondering!

…and teaching:

I've learned that a lot of teaching, maybe all of it, is sharing what you love, and maybe asking others to do the same. Which means, too, wondering together about what we love.

I wanted to expand on these ideas a little bit because they are very near and dear to my heart and my whole way of operating.

First, let’s warm up by taking a look at a series of “Commissioned Paintings” by the great John Baldessari: