Schedule
Weeks 1 — 3: (Improper) Study
The first few weeks are a close examination of case studies of a diverse range of collaborative curatorial, exhibition, and expanded practices. These cases create context for artistic practice that develops, benefits, and requires new framings, venues, resources, and rubrics. (Please Note: We will also look at cases throughout Weeks 4 through 8, which will themselves be responsive to the emerging ideas in the collective discussions.
Case studies will include: site-specific exhibitions, online shows, artist-run spaces, pop-up shows, one-off publications, performances, workshops, and art-businesses. Through reading and research, this module will develop an understanding of prior works and the possibilities for non-traditionaland collaborative art practices.
Week 1 - September 30
🌀
Welcome and Overview
💻 In Class
Introductions.
Notes on a Theme: Orientation.
Course Overview: Goals, Methods, Framework.
Overview of the syllabus & expectations.
-
🖊️ In-Class Collective Writing:
Collective Writing Day One, Google Doc-.
📝 Assigning of First Writing Prompt, and overview of Reading #1, Michael Warner’s Publics and Counterpublics.
Week 2 - October 7
🌀
“A Public is Poetic World-Making.” (Michael Warner)
💻 In Class
- Lecture on history of collaborative practices in contemporary and media art.
What are some existing models?
What new ways of working are available to media artists?
How does collaboration in art making work against the dominant neo-liberal framing of what it means to be an artist?
- Discuss writing and Michael Warner’s Publics and Counterpublics.
📝 Assigning a Second Writing Prompt and Reading #2, The Classroom is Burning, by KUNCI Study Forum and Collective.
Week 3 - October 14
🌀
💻 In Class
- Lecture & discussion on what is involved in organizing a collaborative event.
Finding a venue; developing relationships; creating a collective theme or statement; envisioning a public.
- Discuss writing and Reading #2.
📝 Assigning a Third Writing Prompt on ideas for the event.
Weeks 4 and 5: Plan (Forming an Argument and Position Together)
Working as a group, conceptualize a public-facing event that will take place at the end of the term. The plan should include delegation of roles and responsibilities, identification of potential spaces and partners, and determination of necessary budgeting and resources.
Week 4 - October 21
🌀
Distillation Towards an Argument and Proposal.
💻 In Class
- Mini-lecture distributed throughout and case study.
- Discuss writing prompt number three.
- Each student introduces their ideas and analysis of group brainstorm. Distillation to ‘statements’.
- Class begins to narrow list of event content ideas to three options and prepare to present one idea to go forward with. The entire class will work on one project so it is important to work together to get everyone on board by next Monday in class.
- Discuss venues and outreach for next week.
- Delegate roles in developing the event timeline/proposal.
Questions to be answered: Who write the description; who will develop material and logistical requirements, and create the timeline? Who will identify potential grants from the department, university, or locally?
FOR NEXT WEEK:.
-Prepare to collectively present the rough schema for your top idea - the concept you feel most strongly about. Prepare 5-10 minutes outlining the idea and why you believe this is the strongest concept and idea to express your values and interests as a group as you’ve discussed. Use pictures or diagrams, if you like, and key phrases and concepts.
-Secure a venue.
-Develop a communication style and check in frequently with one another.
-Complete the planning timeline.
-Continue to delegate all roles and responsibilities, and use the Master Sheet to track these roles, responsibilities.
Week 5 - October 28
🌀
Delegation and Planning to Succeed.💻 In Class
- Mini-lecture and case study.
- Each student: 5 Minute Presentation of one of three ideas.
- Discussion; vote.
- Work in class on finalizing a proposal.
Weeks 6—10: Production Mode
Execute the plan to produce the event according to the shared proposal.
Week 6 - November 4
💻 In Class
🌀 We will meet in class to discuss, plan, and produce, and disperse as needed.
November 11: Veteran’s Day: No Class
Week 7 - November 18
💻 In Class
🌀 We will meet in class to discuss, plan, and produce, and disperse as needed.
Week 8 - November 25
💻 In Class
🌀 We will meet in class to discuss, plan, and produce, and disperse as needed.
Week 9 - December 2
💻 In Class
🌀 We will meet in class to discuss, plan, and produce, and disperse as needed.
Week 10
🌀 Event launches during Week Ten of the fall quarter. Instruction Ends December 6. Event could take place December 7 - 13.