Among the highlights of the art I saw last week in New York was this show at EXIT Art—I can't forget the video Belongings by the artist Wura-Natasha Ogunji (a still is at left; click here and then on "Belongings" to see the entire thing). But even better than the show itself, after going out to dinner with our group (the 24 writers from the International Arts Journalism Institute), I had the chance to sit down and listen as three writers—Giovanni Mosquera from Colombia, Bongani Madondo from South Africa, and Greg Tate from New York—gave their takes on the concept of Negritude from three continents. Mosquera promises to publish the entire exchange, and when he does, I'll link it. (I'm told that Sartre, oddly, is the one to read if you want to best understand Negritude.)

Those are the kinds of conversations I was privy to, and I imagine they opened my mind in ways I can't yet describe. I was lucky to be part of this institute. I also want to give a shout out to Kriston Capps in D.C.—you should already be reading Grammar Police—who is working on a piece (follow-up to this) on a bizarre and fascinating case involving Iranian art and artifacts, American courtrooms, and lots and lots and lots of money. Those are the only two pieces I'm already looking forward to, but the truth is, I'll probably be reading and linking a lot more to these writers in the coming days. I met some amazing people. (One of my new favorite writers who should have been an old favorite: Gaile Robinson at the Fort Worth Star-T.)

So I'm just back in Seattle today, feeling nostalgic in all directions. I've missed this place, and I'm missing the other Washington this morning, too. When I get this way it's time to look at some art, so at 2:30 I'll meet curator Michael Darling at SAM to take a walk around this new show, which I want to love. The Baldessari at right is part of it. (Click to enlarge!)

I also just got a call from SAM spokeswoman Nicole Griffith, and apparently SAM is involved in repatriating an object to an aboriginal culture in Australia. More on that to come.

Just punching in.