399C - You Missed a Spot

 Be sure to check out the show notes from last week's episode to see the paintings we're talking about this week! We look so hard our eyes fall out. Plus Kate went to a show, and Maysoun got solicited for art opportunities. According to Kate this is part 8 of our 10 week series on abstraction. 

Check out everything at www.CongratulationsPineTree.com 

The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew

Miyoko Ito
Sea Changes, 1977
oil on canvas, 45 x 36 inches
See high res image here

Amy Ellingson's new book, On Painting and the Nature of Work

Big Joan, Little Joan video clip

Amy Sillman on Art 21

Seminars with Artists: Amy Sillman | Live from the Whitney

How to look at an abstract painting (Amy Sillman on Joan Mitchell)

399B - Alley Rat Juice

 This week we tell you what music shows we went to because we are cool music people. Then we get back into our ten(ish) week series on abstraction. We also talk about rejection and redesigning Arizmendi.

The intro/outro music in this episode is by Hermanos Gutiérrez

Next week's paintings:

Joan Mitchell, Ground (1989)

high res image here

Amy Sillman, 2P1 (2024)
high res image here

reddit.com/r/spacemoth

Led Kaapana

399A - Artmaxxing (with Mel Prest)

 This week we are graced with the presence of painter Mel Prest. Maysoun is hunkering down in the tropics! We talk about abstraction, haircuts, learning at the foot of the master, and what the hell goes on in a painter's studio. 

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

A Tantric painting from Rajasthan circa 2002

Don't forget to look at this Etel Adnan painting for next week

Mel Prest

Bay Area Artists Connect

50 Works 50 Weeks: Thomas Eakins’s “Wrestlers”

399 - Ice Cream (with Mansur Nurullah)

This week we have the pleasure of chatting with artist, Mansur Nurullah! We discuss abstraction, books, scraps, the technological sublime, bullying, and counseling. We make a lot of deviations and tangents and detours. Plus giggle fits!

The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew 

BASEBALL NUT

High res image here!

Mansur Nurullah

Quilts of Gee's Bend

El Anatsui

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison

398 - Agnes Sharkin'

 This week we jump the shark for the second time. First off, this episode is part four of our ten part series on abstraction. We talk about motherfuckin Agnes Martin, whether sharks are older than Satan, and Craig Calderwood's amazing new mural at SFMoMA. Maysoun speaks of drones. We apologize to the listeners.

The music in this episode is by La Luz (they are on tour! See them!)

Say hello!

Craig Calderwood

Sad Francisco

397 - Deconstruct (with Danielle Lawrence)

This week we have the pleasure of talking to artist, Danielle Lawrence about abstraction, the body, and institutional decay. Then Maysoun and Kate explore their feelings about last week's painting by Howardena Pindell. It's a long episode, folks!

The music in this episode is by Hannah Lew

Get in the mess!

Danielle Lawrence

Agnes Martin at SFMOMA (the next works we're looking at)

 Sam Gilliam

Lynda Benglis 

Terry Powers

Brett Reichman 

linda besemer

The Ugly by Mark Cousins

Ron Nagle

Sheila Pepe

Harmony Hammond

Cecily Brown

“The heroine Paint”: After Frankenthaler

High Times, Hard Times: New York Painting 1967-1975

Hot Mess Formalism

Abstraction: Politics and Possibilities

Enter the Dragon: On the Vernacular of Beauty

At the Met Museum, an Abstract Show That Falls Short of Epic

The Politics of Abstraction

Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction

David Hammons

Ed Clark

Denyse Thomasos

Anthony Viti

Howardena Pindell: Reclaiming Abstraction

Paul Pfeiffer

396 - Crusty Peaks

 This week Kate and Maysoun saw all the shows at Minnesota Street Project. We also talk about Marlow Moss and more abstraction! Plus we decide what shapes we are.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Howardena Pindell, Night Flight, 2015–16. Mixed media on canvas; 75 x 63 in.
See a high res image here.

Mark Perlman, Overview, 2025,
oil and wax on panel, 60 x 48 inches
at Nancy Toomey Fine Art

Marlow Moss, White and Yellow, 1935, 
Oil paint, string and canvas on canvas

Marlow Moss, Untitled (Free forms), 1950
Gouache on paper

Julian Schnabel, Divan 1978
oil, plates, and bondo on wood, 90 x 120 x 13 inches

Howardina Pindell at the MCA Chicago

Virtual Crush at /

395 - Hard Line

 This is week two of our deep into abstraction! Be sure to share your abstract experiences with us! 

419 351 6606 or email us: congratulationspinetree@proton.me

Also, Kate went and saw some shows! 

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Marlow Moss, Composition in Red, Black and White, 1953, oil on canvas, 76 x 51 cm.

Marlow Moss!

Nice, neat lawn by Abi Tucker and Stanley Millerby Abi Tucker and Stanley Miller

Space, Movement, and Body: Marlow Moss

Talking Painting: Dialogues with Twelve Contemporary Abstract Painters by David Ryan

How to look at an abstract painting

Sculpture in the Expanded Field

Mondrian His Life, His Art, and the Quest of the Absolute Nicholas Fox Weber

394 - Understanding Abstraction in Ten Weeks

This week we begin a ten week course on abstraction. Please follow along, there will be prizes at the end. We also talk about the International Art Museum of America getting voted best museum in SF. Shocking.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Helen Frankenthaler, Mountains and Sea 1952
Oil and charcoal on unsized, unprimed canvas, 86 ⅜ × 117 ¼ inches

Helen Frankenthaler, Mountains and Sea (large image)

Best of the Bay Area

Sad Francisco

Episode 18 - The Treasure Room (about the IAMA)

Helen Frankenthaler, A Brief Biography

393 - Get Madder

 This week we have an emotional conversation about the SFAC funding saga. We also talk about the Queers Against Zionism event at the Lab. We also talk about poetry and why people hate it.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

MAD!

You're invited to the 1st Annual:
Bay Area Arts Picnic on Sat. July 11th 1-4pm!!
Elk Glen Picnic Area at Golden Gate Park
1017 MLK Drive at 27th Street

San Francisco Finalizes $17 Billion Budget, Restores Millions in Proposed Cuts

Sad Francisco

Bay to Gaza Mutual Aid Collective

392 - Solidarity Forever! (with Leo Dugan)

 This week Kate has a conversation with Leo Dugan from the Creativity Explored United bargaining team!

the music in this episode is by Deseos Primitivos

Union Strong!

Creativity Explored United instagram

creativityexploredunited@gmail.com - if you want to get in touch!

391 - Funeral Dirge

We talk about the election results, a couple events we went to, a protest that kate went to, and safe injection facilities. Decriminalize drugs!!!! Huge spoilers for I Love Boosters, the new Boots Riley movie!

The music in this episode is from the I Love Boosters (Original Motion Picture Score)

Remember phone books?

Supervised consumption explained: types of sites and services

Supervised injection facilities in Canada: past, present, and future

 The Law (and Politics) of Safe Injection Facilities in the United States

Supervised Injection Facilities and International Law

New Strategies Are Needed to Stop Overdose Fatalities: The Case for Supervised Injection Facilities

Circumstances of First Injection Among Illicit Drug Users Accessing a Medically Supervised Safer Injection Facility

Changes in injecting practices associated with the use of a medically supervised safer injection facility

Situating the Continuum of Overdose Risk in the Social Determinants of Health: A New Conceptual Framework

The public health impacts of supervised injection sites in Canada: Moving beyond social acceptability and impacts on crime

Fabulosa Books

What Is Reverse Tolerance and Why Does It Matter in Recovery?

Bay Area Artists Connect

390 - What's Up With the Sun? (with Ebti)

 This week we have the great honor of talking to artist, Ebti! We talk about translation, theater, death, cats, light bulbs, and whether or not the sun is gay! 

Sign this open letter to support the workers at the SFAC!

Music in this episode is by Meshell Ndegeocello

Languages!

Ebti!!!

389 - June 2026 Voter Guide

 This week we finally made our voter guide! YES ON D, SAN FRANCISCO!

The music in this episode is by SPELLLING

do it!

388 - Not the Voter Guide

 This week we start on the voter guide but then we delay it because Maysoun needs to do more research. So we talk about some shows and some emails and some voicemails. Plus we're back on Horse Muffin Bird again, because Maysoun accuses Kate of being a sniveling worm. It's a weird episode.

The music in this episode is by Australian lesbian, Courtney Barnett

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine
A Flag With Teeth — Participant Form

387 - Pigeon Army

This week Kate and Maysoun went to a rally at city hall! We petition the birds to stop the surveillance state. Maysoun went to a show! We did it all!

 The song in this episode is by Cain Culto, Xiuhtezcatl & Snow Tha Product

take to the skies!

386 - VIP Preview

This week Kate and Maysoun hang out with billionaires. Kate makes a public apology. Maysoun tries to explain the SF charter, whatever the hell that is. Plus we tell you to go to a clown show.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Loss of dignity!

 Sugar Mud - A Surreal Comedy - BUY TICKETS

Arts for a Better Bay Area (ABBA)

Urbanist think tank SPUR unveils plans to revamp S.F. charter

SPUR recommendations

385 - Yes on Prop D

 This week Maysoun is back! Kate talks shit about SFMOMA again. We also discuss a pair of shows by Trina Michelle Robinson. Plus Maysoun settles several controversies.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Cats and dogs living together!

Yes on Prop D!

384 - Finishing the Hat

  This week artist Sarah Heinemann guest hosts while Maysoun is abroad! We discuss therapy, the SF art scene, group chats, Maysoun's secrets, and so much more.

The music in this episode is by spacemoth

Look! I made a hat!

383 - Horse, Muffin, Bird

This week we take some listener feedback! Max Blue wrote in! We talk about community organizing. We also talk about a hurtful game called Horse-Muffin-Bird. 

Muffin Muffin Muffin

 Witch art at SoEx

Arts for a Better Bay Area

Further Triennial