Extra-curricular: Of Lectures and Lesson Plans
Photo documentation from education program at Documenta 12 © Documenta gmbh
In contemporary art, buzzwords like “relational aesthetics” and “altermodernism” (or any terms bearing the prefix “post-”) have gained critical currency over the years. And nowadays, it seems “pedagogy” is the term foremost in everyone’s mind—the ur-discourse of late, if you will. This week, the project “Extra-curricular: Between Art and Pedagogy” delves into the heart of related discussion. Organized by Maiko Tanaka, curator-in-residence at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery and previous co-curator of “Toronto Free Library,” this two-part symposium aims to explore new models for pedagogy in contemporary art practice. Events for the first part of the symposium, “Between Institutions,” are already underway, including “classes” conducted by Guangzhou-based artist Xu Tan as part of his ongoing project Keywords School. A keynote by Carmen Mörsch, who worked on Documenta 12’s education programs, has also been featured, as have panels on art, curating, education and audience development. Panel participants include artists Amos Latteier, Darren O’Donnell, Srimoyee Mitra and Daisuke Takeya, as well as curators Christine Shaw, Kim Simon and Andrew Hunter. Slated for beginning of March, the second part of the symposium, “Beyond Institutions,” will feature the installation Model for a Public Space by Toronto architect and artist Adrian Blackwell, as well as activities organized in conjunction with Utrecht-based artist Annette Krauss’ visiting artist residency. The promise, overall, is for at least one or two lessons learned—even if they are, quite happily, unplanned and unexpected ones. (7 Hart House Circ, Toronto ON)
Xu Tan Keywords School (Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm) 2008 Courtesy the artist and Vitamin Creative Space
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