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Conceptual art in prison
A recent exhibition called Windows from Prison connects students and artists with prisoners. Inmates who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area were asked: "If you could have a window in your cell, what place from your past would it look out to?" The New York Times' Lens Blog gives a good overview of the exhibition with lots of examples of the photographs in Windows Without Prison Bars. A more detailed description of the project is given here by one of the organizers, Mark Strandquist.The premise behind this project has roots in conceptual art and, in particular, the artist considered the founder of the conceptual art movement, Sol LeWitt and his art by instruction. Art by instruction remains alive today through an exhibition called do it, which has been circulating for over twenty years and was initiated by the Independent Curator's International. The do it project involves several artists sending instructions to gallery attendants, curators or directors who then produce the work. Curator Hans Ulrich Obrist talks about the project in Artsy Editorial. While very different in original concept, Windows from Prison and do it are projects that rely on following instructions as a way to create a final artwork.
A review in the Guardian of Windows from Prison ( Beyond Bars) includes images and excerpts of texts from the prisoners. And perhaps equally as important, Windows from Prison provides an opportunity to think about and discuss a much forgotten segment of the U.S. population; there were two million prisoners in the U.S. in 2012. It is easy to say (as the comments in the Guardian article above are quick to reveal) that prisoners commit crimes and should be punished. The U.S. has the largest per capita number of prisoners in the world (as of 2012, there were 702 prisoners for every 100,000 people), and while the crime statistics have declined, prison population has increased. Part of the problem is that prisons are big business in need of a constant stream of "customers" . Here is an article on this topic: The Prison Industry in the United States: Big Business or a New Form of Slavery and a three-minute video that highlights some of the problems with the incarceration system: Exactly Where America's Prison System Went Wrong, in One Short Simple Video.
The focus of the exhibition is on the photographs and text. However because of the nature of the subject matter, the work indirectly addresses some of the problems inherent in the US prison system, starting with the fact that people who are incarcerated are sent very far from where they lived, hence not having the opportunity to have visits from family or friends. The exhibition premise gave them a rare and specific chance to connect with what they remember as "home".
Windows From Prison addresses the legacy of conceptual art, while bringing to light ideas around memory, nostalgia and imagination, as well as using text as a way of communicating. As potential viewers of this work, we can't help but wonder what would we want a picture of if given the opportunity to commission such a thing. For me, what I thought of a wooden swing at my aunt's country cottage in the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal. I was surprised that such an obscure yet very detailed image came to mind. I can remember the swing very clearly, being on it and not having a worry in the world. What image would you commission to look at in your prison cell?
 "I can see my sister and I running down the hallway then sliding the remaining way in our socks. At the age of 12, and my sister 6 at the time, seeing the world through innocent eyes. This hallway was a safe haven. This hallway was filled with much laughter and fun. No worries. I miss this place."
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SATURDAY AFTERNOON ART CLUB
August 9, 12pm-5pm
Join us for our first Saturday Afternoon Art Club (SAAC) this coming Saturday, August 9.
The SAAC is an opportunity to work on your own art projects with a group of like-minded people. There will be a facilitator on-site but there is no instruction.
There is a drop-in fee of $15 payable upon arrival.
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DRAWING AS MEDITATION
Sunday August 10, 10am-5pm
Simple line drawing is an excellent way to relax and focus, and consequently, a perfect way to develop a daily meditation practice. This workshop covers two approaches to drawing as meditation. The first part will involve close observation of natural forms and really learning to slow down and draw what you see. For the other component, you will learn to make intricate rhythmic marks that will look like something between a doodle and a complex fabric or wallpaper design. Both methods involve "mindfulness," where the focus is on being aware of the present moment. This workshop would be of interest to you whether or not you have experience with meditation and if you are simply looking for a way to relax and experience the joy and focus that drawing can bring. Suitable for beginners.Tuition: $125.00 (all materials included)Images
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GOUACHE AND PASTEL
Sunday August 10, 10am-5pm
This one-day workshop will introduce you to working with gouache and pastels on tinted and black surfaces. Gouache is opaque watercolour paint compatible with chalk pastel drawing. This workshop is a great way to combine painting and drawing; the gouache is used to create beautiful washes of saturated colours, and the chalk pastel makes intense lines of colour. There will also be an opportunity for experimentation using dried flowers as a drawing tool, and using the painting palette to make monoprints to create unusual surface textures. You will work on a few small projects to discover the possibilities involved as the gouache and pastel complement each other, resulting in a dynamic surface that contains both drawing and painting. Tuition: $125.00 (all materials included)
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PAINTING: ABSTRACTING NATURE
August 12-15, Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm
You will use nature as a point of departure for the development of abstract forms and compositions in this four-day workshop. Relying on a series of exercises and projects, you will abstract nature using various approaches such as simplified shapes, pattern and colour. You will learn to use diverse paint surfaces, and to develop an understanding of figure/ground, negative space and image scale. It is recommended to work in acrylic.
Cost: $365 (24 hours of instruction)
Don't worry if you don't have all the supplies on the list as we have lots of extras at school (paint, brushes, medium, gesso, paper, etc.)
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ARCHITECTURE AS ABSTRACTION
Sunday, August 17, 10am-5pm
The focus of this workshop is on using architecture as a source for developing dynamic compositions and interesting drawings. Projects include a constructivist-inspired abstract drawing, working from black and white constructed collages, and using architectural drawings as a source.
The workshop also covers some practical aspects of drawing, such as shading, working with values, developing compositions through tracing and layering, as well as working with watercolours. Suitable for beginners.Tuition: $125.00 (all materials included) Images
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ONE PAINTING A DAY
August 26-29, Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm
In this workshop you will make four paintings, one painting per day, using what you see around you as subject matter. The instructor will lead you through the process of making preliminary sketches, developing a colour palette, as well as techniques such as brush handling, paint mixing and application. The focus will be on paying attention to what you see in front of you and the process of making a painting. Suitable for beginners.
Tuition: $365.00
Supply list
Don't worry if you don't have all the supplies on the list as we have lots of extras at school (paint, brushes, medium, gesso, paper, etc.)
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VISA FALL WORKSHOPS ON-LINE NOW
All workshops are on Sundays (Sept-Nov) and run from 1-4pm.
Cost: $65 (all materials included)
Fall Workshop Schedule
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Summer Schedule Updates
Please note that there have been some schedule changes to our printed flyer due to instructors' schedules and various commitments over the summer. Changes of note are:
Drawing as Meditation is now on Sunday, August 10 (instead of August 3)
Architecture as Abstraction is on Sunday, August 17 (instead of August 10)
One Painting a Day is now on Tuesday-Friday, August 26-29 (instead of August 19-22)
Drawing: Geometry as Design has been cancelled.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
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For more information contact Linda or Melissa in the office |
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