Karen Schifano
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Evergreen Review: A Holding Pattern for Living: Christ Costan interviewed by Karen Schifano
3/9/2023
Karen Schifano: Ever since Chris Costan began making her series of art interventions—hand-painted and lettered posters inserted into urban and suburban landscapes—I’ve been impressed by her dogged persistence and focus; she seems to harbor little thought of reward or approbation. And I wanted to know why she began this project during, of all times, the start of the pandemic when most of us were isolating in our homes and studios. We are now in year three of Covid, and still “she persists” with subject matter that spans Greek mythology, climate change, apocalypse, female anatomy, and anything that strikes her curious mind. She posts her pieces in odd places, like on the side of a gas station or in an abandoned shop window, where anyone can stop and ponder them. Her beautiful (and not-always-identifiable) imagery and intriguing short narratives are at the very least attention grabbing. She later posts photos of these interventions on Instagram, sometimes with video or sound. Hers is a dedicated and disciplined practice, insistent and educational, admirable at a time when talk about art tends to gravitate to the marketplace and career. So I decided to ask her a few questions . . .
