CURATORIAL ACTIVISM AND INTERVENTION POST #4 - Madison Padilla

READ:

Chapter 2 PROCESS, The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

1. "The creative process is something that every artist develops and masters over the course of many years, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach."

I agree that everyone operates differently. People have individual methods when it comes to being creative. It really is more important to find the correct method that clicks for you personally rather than following a set standard. 

2. "We need to practice, mess around, and make mistakes."

This quote reminds us that mistakes are important for learning how to do things correctly. I find that making mistakes pushes me towards better ideas and improving myself through my errors. Getting out of your comfort zone is a great method for being creative.

Towards a Curatorial Activism | Dr. Maura Reilly

1. "On closer examination, you’ll notice that there is no contemporary Aboriginal art, and that there are only a few women artists and just two artists of colour on display."

This quote demonstrates who gets priority in a gallery, including the works that are left out. It was actually a bit shocking to read. There being a huge lack of Aboriginal art shows how narrow the field of the art world is even today.

2. "What I do know is that, as we venture forward into this new century, it is imperative that art institutions examine not only their putative subjects but their ideological biases as well."

This quote makes a lot of sense because it is imperative to question these old systems that have kept certain people excluded for a long time. Art institutions need to consider their influence and older works of history to be truly inclusive.

Part 1 Questions:

1. What is an art intervention? 

An art intervention is a way of using art to engage with the world and force conversations that may be ignored otherwise.

2. How can artists create messages for an audience that inspire change in a community? 

Artists are able to do this by focusing on public installations that people are able to interact with. This achieves pulling out emotional responses in people, which, in turn, moves people to action more effectively than facts do. 

3. How can we use processes/habits to help design an art intervention strategy?

A great strategy for design can actually be achieved through "messing around" and making mistakes. By paying attention to our surroundings, like city spaces, we can spark creativity and find ways to challenge people's thinking.

4. What is curatorial activism? 

Curatorial activism is the process of organizing art exhibitions to challenge social norms and present works created by members of marginalized groups that have historically been left out.

5. How can art spaces and exhibitions function to expand art activism? 

Art spaces and exhibitions are able to act as areas for conversation and education. These places are able to become tools for public awareness and systemic change.

Part 2 Idea:

For my art intervention, I would like it to be displayed by creating a poster of some kind. Last week, I chose Olafur Eliasson's installation artwork of "Dreamscape," or "One-Way Colour Tunnel." He is a contemporary artist and a master of immersive experiences through large structures and sculptures. Following his work, I am interested in addressing mental health in my community. I want to use color and geometric shapes with human silhouettes to portray how the world is constantly changing. The goal is to spark conversation regarding empathy and how we all see the world through different filters and perspectives. This is just a possible idea. I also included one of my own works as well that I thought aligned closely with the concept.