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.