REILLY DAVIDSON | DATE 2/28/2019

Unstoppable genius in Jason Moran

To have and to hold this exceptional monograph is to experience a deeply satisfying yet suitably challenging immersion in MacArthur “genius” Jason Moran’s interdisciplinary practice. Best known as a jazz composer and pianist of the highest order, Moran is also an excellent visual artist, and this exhibition catalog/artist’s book from the Walker Art Center provides for an in-depth study of the musician, the artist and the human in one. Reminiscent of an intuitively designed scrapbook, its pages are filled with beautiful color and black-and-white photographs of Moran’s works, his personal inspirations, and images of the artist in the process of creating. Having collaborated in the visual arts alone with such icons as Joan Jonas, Lorna Simpson, Theaster Gates, Kara Walker and Adam Pendleton, among many others, the scope of Moran’s influence and experience transcends the bounds of any particular artistic discipline. Featured here, “Run 2” (2016) is from a series of drawings for which Moran taped paper over his piano keys and played with charcoal-coated fingers.