How To Cook A Wolf

Words like anti-epoch, monumental, everyday, and empathetic are often used to describe Pickett’ s work and while these qualities remain consistent in her practice, How to Cook a Wolf, marks a departure. If Pickett’ s previous solo exhibition illustrated proficiency and unique visual language in painting, Pickett’ s new work reveals the semiotics of her practice. This exhibition is titled from a cookbook published by M.F.K. Fisher in 1942 during WWII to address wartime food shortages. Described as ‘ a wealth of practical and delicious ways to keep the wolf from the door,’  this title, when paired with large-scale abstract works, poses a poignant question to the viewer about both creative and personal livelihood. In paintings like How to Distribute Your Virtue, How to Stay Alive, and Paint Will Not Cover a Multitude of Sins, Pickett’ s voice appears more pronounced, directive, comical, and personal. The female perspective is privileged in Pickett’ s exploration of domestic and moral themes, reflected in the juxtaposition of forms that take the shape of household cleaners, lighting apparatuses, and coat hangers. The compositions are less dream-like and ambiguous, and the simplified formal relationships in the work lay in space, creating distinct moments that further separation and recognition of forms which may or may not be sawhorses, brooms, stairs, piano keys and bottles. This “may” or “may not” beingness is a question in the form of Pickett’ s arrangements and abstractions, yet things are very much distinctly what they are in this body of work. The mystification of semblance is a strategy that Pickett has executed successfully throughout her practice, but Pickett’ s focus is currently directed to emphasizing the presence of each formal element. The title of the exhibition (along with several of individual work titles) implies recipe, action, and mourning simultaneously. Pickett seems to be asking herself and the viewer at what cost and within what means do we follow through or divert from our commitments to people, careers, and individual needs.-Angela Berry