Right at the start of the spring semester, CBPA curator Jessica Cochran called on the many talents of InterArts grads to help in cataloging, preparing, and installing the current gallery exhibition Structures for Reading. From February 2–9, Cochran led a one-credit workshop for InterArts MAs and MFAs, where they worked as a team to receive and catalog the work from artists around the world; worked on description labels, condition reporting, and installation; tackled related readings on the exhibition’s concept; and participated in discussions on the process of curatorial practice. The exhibition explores the book as an evolving cultural object and commodity, and highlights artworks that house, modulate, or mediate books and/or texts in new or speculative ways.
“InterArts exhibition-related courses are vital to our students’ professional growth and artistic development. I was excited to provide and help guide this hands-on opportunity, which encouraged collaborative, real-world application of both critical thinking skills practical skills, such as art handling, cataloging, shipping, and insurance issues,” says Cochran. “For the duration of the workshop, the participating students maintained a high level of conceptual inquiry related to the exhibition’s theme of reading. As a group, they shaped the outcome of the exhibition, which will be seen by hundreds of visitors from the campus community and beyond.”
Structures of Reading runs from February 15 through April 6, and is free and open to the public. The exhibition includes works by Jessica Bardsley (Chicago), Tony Cruz (Puerto Rico), Moyra Davey (New York), Matthew Girson (Chicago), Eva Kotátková (Prague), Sebastian Schmieg (with Silvio Lorusso) (Berlin), Liz Sales (New York), and Newly commissioned works by Sterling Lawrence (Chicago), Gareth Long (New York), Judith Leemann (Boston), Johana Moscoso (Chicago), Sebura+Gartelmann (Chicago).
There is an opening reception with many of the artists and workshop participants on Friday, February 22, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. A concurrent panel discussion exploring the topic will be held on February 28 at 6:00 p.m.
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