Scrim by Sarah McKenzie

Sarah McKenzie's second solo show, Void, at Jen Bekman Gallery, we debated which image to choose. While her previous works were an investigation into what we build and how, her new paintings ask and begin to answer the question of why we build. And, in particular, the series asks what do we seek and gain in the construction of memorials, specifically in the 9/11 Memorial. Which presented a problem: Did we really want to dive head first into the dialogue around 9/11? We couldn't not not talk about either.

Eventually we chose to present you with Scrim. In its modern, anonymous structure and quiet color palette, it humbly offers quite a bit to think about—"why?" is a pretty big question. But, a little like Sarah herself, Scrim asks questions and offers answers without pretension, giving comfort and solace above the intimidation of any intellectual debate. If you're in NYC or bound to be soon, I strongly recommend that you come by the gallery to see all of its 48"x48" in person.

Jen, tried and true New Yorker that she is, has written paragraphs about that fateful day 10 years ago. I, too, have attempted to assemble my ideas around it. But perhaps Sarah McKenzie's eloquent statement about her recent series can best close out this missive:

It's not surprising... that in the wake of a national tragedy like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, our immediate response is to rebuild, to erase the architectural scars that remind us of the horrific event and to demonstrate our enduring spirit to the world. While this urge is understandable—necessary, even—it offers an imperfect form of healing. A void remains: all the lost lives that can't be rebuilt.

In February 2011, I had the good fortune to spend an afternoon photographing the World Trade Center reconstruction site. I was particularly moved to see the 9/11 Memorial. Even in its incomplete state, buried under a foot of new snow, it impressed me. What I find profound about the memorial design is that it acknowledges our collective loss, giving physical form to an absence that will never leave us.

— Sara

Void
Paintings by Sarah McKenzie
Jen Bekman Gallery
6 Spring Street, New York
On view through October 23, 2011