Contemporary
Curation
Introduction
Throughoutthisyear,youhavelearnedthatartisnotsimplyamethodofself-expression,butareflectionofoursociety(thetimeandplaceinwhichwelive).Youhavelearnedaboutartists,bothdeadandalive,andthereasonstheymadetheirwork.Wehaveseenartistswhoseworkisaboutactivism,socialjustice,narrative,communication,identity...thepassageoftime...genderissues...nostalgia...andeverythingelse.Youhavestudiedtheaestheticqualitiesofsuccessfulworkandlearnedhowformfollows
function.Youmyfriendareastudent of art!
It is time to apply that knowledge and share it with your world!
Task
Rochester’sFirstFridaysislookingforacurator,intouchwiththecontemporaryartworld,andyouthculture(aka,you).Acuratorisnotacreatorbutafacilitatorforboththeaudienceandtheartistsandamessengerwhodeliversideasfromcontemporarysociety.
Usingallthatyounowknow,youwillconceptualize,research,promote,andpresent
acontemporaryartshowcuratedbyyou!
Process
1. ConceptDevelopment2. Research3. Selectartistsandartworks4. PlanExhibition5. CraftCurator’sEssay6. Presskit7. GalleryOpening(Presentation&Discussion)
RefreshmentsprovidedbyMissSaidian!
8. Exhibitionreviewofoneothercurator’spresentation
Evaluation
ConclusionTheprocessyouhavefollowedincuratingyourshow,fromconceptualizationtoyourgalleryopeningisundertakeneverydaybycuratorsatmuseums(notjustartmuseums!),andgalleriesaroundtheworldandrighthereinRochester.
Thisprojecthasgivenyouatasteofwhatarealworld“artjob”islike(andyoucanuseittogetyournaggingparentsoffyourback!).Evenifyoudon’twanttobecomeacurator,theimportanceofstayinguptodatewiththeliving,breathingartworldwillbeinvaluableinyourcareerasafutureartist/creativeprofessional!
Also,ournextartworkwillbecreatedaroundthethemeyouchosetoresearch!
How can I come up with this?!
Formanycuratorsthisisthefunandcreativepartofthejob.
Thinkoftheideaandoverallthemeforyourexhibition.
Whatisthepurposeofyourexhibition:asurveyshow,ashowcaseofnewtalent,across-culturalexchange,anillustrationofathemeortopicalissue?
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Exhibition Planning
Whereistheexhibitionsite?Isitinatraditionalgalleryspaceorisitinalternativevenuessuchaspublicparksandshoppingarcades?Willittravelaroundbytaxi?Howwillyoushowthework?Willyouneedprojectors?AudioEquipment?Willyouinvolvetheaudiencesomehow?
Don’tlimityourselftotypicalideasofagallery!!
Rememberthepurposeofyourexhibitionwhendecidingondisplayandvenue!
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Curator’s Essay
Writingwellisanecessaryskillforanartcurator.Publishingaessayoftheexhibitionisoneofthetasksinvolvedwhencuratinganartshow,plusitisgreatdocumentationandpromotionaltoolthatcanleadtofutureprojects. AcopyofthisshouldbeincludedinyourPressKit.
Youressayshouldoutline:• Theconceptofyourexhibition• TheArtistsyou’veincludedandwhytheywerechosen• Eachartworkandwhyithasbeenincluded• Yourinspirationsandexhibitiongoals• Sources
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Press Kit
PressKitContents:• Curator’sEssay• ListofArtists• CDofhighqualityimages• Quickoverview(oneparagraph)explainingyourconcept
Thiskitshouldn’tbesloppyworddocuments,butwelldesignedandbrandeditems-Youareanartist!Seeexamples&checkoutBehance’spresskitsearch.
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Idea Resources• PossibleThemes• HyperAllergic:playful,serious,andradicalperspectivesonartandcultureintheworldtoday
• MoreIssues
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Themes/TopicsThisisNOTacompletelist,butherearesome“bigideas”togetyoustartedthinkingaboutwhatyourshowwillbe
about.Whatareyoupassionateabout?!
• Dreams/Nightmares • Heroes/Villains • Identity • Aging • Power • Social Justice • Ritual
• Change • Relationships • Celebration • Spirituality • Family • Materialism • Diversity
• Culture • Community • Activism • Body Image • Gender Roles • Stereotypes
to previous slide to Resources
Art Resources
• TheArtAssignment:introducesyoutothemostinnovativemindsinarttoday
• HowtolearnaboutContemporaryArt
Considerintriguingjuxtapositionsbetweenartworks.Createaninterestingdialogueamongst
theworksandtheaudience.
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Press Kit Examples
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Thejoboftheartististopointatthings.