By Emily Gove, KW|AG and KPL Community Programmer
Over four Wednesdays in April and May, more than 90 attendees joined us for our new lunchtime lecture series in partnership with the Kitchener Public Library, Contemporary Art 101.
Each 30 minute lecture introduced visitors to a different aspect of the world of contemporary art. KW|AG Executive Director Shirley Madill helped illuminate the process of looking at art, using both historical and contemporary examples. School Programs Coordinator Kate Carder-Thompson taught grown-ups the basics of introducing kids to art galleries. Curator Crystal Mowry showed us the work of many contemporary Canadian artists working in video, including Kristan Horton’s Cig2Coke2Coff2Milk, where each of the listed pieces of packaging is transformed into the next (check the link out—it’s really cool!). Finally, I got in on the action and presented a talk on socially engaged art, including Mammalian Diving Reflex’s Haircuts by Children project, which gave public school students professional lessons in hairdressing, then an opportunity to give free cuts to willing participants.
KPL was on-site, with books available to sign-out. Thanks to funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we were also able some exciting new titles for KPL’s collection, and the following books are now available for sign out at KPL’s Main branch (85 Queen St. N.). Click on a title for more information and to request a hold:
-A is for Art Museum by Katy Friedland
-But is it art? An introduction to art theory by Cynthia Freeland
-It Chooses You by Miranda July
-Learning to Love You More by Harrell Fletcher & Miranda July
-Living as Form: Socially Engaged Work from 1991-2001 edited by Nato Thompson
-Participation edited by Claire Bishop
-Social Acupuncture by Darren O’Donnell
-Video Art by Michael Rush
A big thank you to Shirley, Kate and Crystal, and to all who spent their lunch hour with us! Be sure to join us again in the fall, when we’ll be presenting another lunchtime series with KPL, in conjunction with our Ecotopia exhibition Thursdays October 4 – November 29, 2012. Stay in the loop by visiting the Talks page of our website or signing up for KW|AG’s eNewsletter.
