Acts of Resistance Fall 2024: WHAT IS ART ACTIVISM?

Monday, September 23, 2024

WHAT IS ART ACTIVISM? - Joe Chris El Helou

1- "As a child, Ahmed didn't understand the politics of racism and Islamophobia, but he was hurt, ashamed, angry, and knew this treatment was wrong."

This statement highlights Ahmed's emotional experience with racism and Islamophobia during his childhood, even if he didn't fully grasp the complex political and social dynamics behind it.

2- "Once the truth has been told, everything will change and we will all live happily ever after."

This statement reflects an idealistic belief that revealing the truth can lead to resolution and harmony. It suggests that once the underlying realities whether personal, societal, or historical are acknowledged and addressed, misunderstandings and conflicts will dissipate.

WHAT IS ART ACTIVISM

Artistic Activism is a dynamic practice combing the creative power of the arts to move us emotionally with the strategic planning of activism necessary to bring about social change. Art Activism do different work in the world

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FINAL PRESENTATIONS on 12/18

If you did not present your final project on 12/4 you must attend our final class meeting to present your project on 12/18 at 2:10pm SHARP!!

_________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 12/4

FINAL INTERVENTION PROJECT (30% of course grade)

Must be on the blog BEFORE class.

Read the assignment below carefully.

Post your project to the blog before class on 12/4 and create a 3 minute presentation "pitch" of your project. You may create a 3-4 slides to present your project in class (optional).

PROJECT Using all of the methods and issues we have discussed in class, design an art activism project <intervention> that addresses a socio-political topic you have chosen that you are inspired to share, perform and/or distribute to an audience. Your project can be an elaboration or extension of your previous interventions but must be worthy of a FINAL project. Your must amp up the ambition and the execution of the intervention! STEP IT UP!

Your art and activism projects must use the methods and ideas we learned in class of engaging an audience to raise awareness about your chosen topic. Revisit our class textbook and use the methods we read to help design your intervention. Your projects must live in the world outside of our class in some way and be available to a larger audience. Your project can use any medium or method: performance, website, photograph, painting, zine, interactive installation, podcast, music, video, event, workshop or any other forms we have discussed but MUST connect clearly to a project or projects from our class discussions and assignments. Find artists from our readings (or elsewhere) that help inspire your project and include them in your research. Revisit our class textbooks, readings and videos to push your project.

For your final you must create a written post about your project research and process, and present the project in a brief presentation "pitch" to the class in person.

WRITTEN POST on blog ~600 words, 3 quotes from the class readings, ~4 inspirational artists/projects and 5 resources (articles, books, essays, etc.) that informed the project.

Create a written POST for your final project on the class blog that explains your project and includes a link (embedded) to the project. Prepare a succinct and exciting summary of the project that is clear and makes the class want to look further at your project and potentially share the project, promote it and even get involved in it. You must connect your project to the class readings and include 3 quotes from the class readings with citations. Explain how these ideas connect to or inspired your project.

In your writing summary please be sure to answer these questions:
*What is your project? Why you have chosen this topic and form of outreach?
*What is your message for the audience?
*How did you reach an audience (ie "publish" the project)? How did the audience engage with the project? What feedback have you received?
*How does this project fit into your professional aspirations and your portfolio?
*What artists or other projects have influenced or inspired your own project? List 4+ artists that connect with your project with brief explanations of why they connect or inspired your own project.
*What research has helped you inform this project? List 5+ resources that informed or inspired your project in a resource list at the end of your project summary.

PRESENTATION in person Be prepared to present your projects to the class in ~3 minute presentations in the classroom VA B25. You will use the post you create to present to the class. You can also bring props and copies of your project to share with the students in class - if applicable.

YOU MUST post several images (screen shots etc) on the project post. You can show these images as part of your presentation. Please include a link to your project if online, be sure it is public so it can be accessed from the blog. For those who create videos, you can choose what section of videos you will play (if longer than 3 minutes) to try to stick to the 3min time limit. You may choose to create a short slide presentation to better explain your project during your presentation. These should be online and linked from the final project post. Remember you are ”pitching” the project to the class. Prepare a clear and exciting presentation. These must be edited and functioning before class begins.

Practice what you will say!

GO BIG! Get outside your comfort zone. Do the research. Be creative. Be bold. Think about what you are passionate about. Make it connect to your goals. Make it for you! Make it awesome!

______________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 11/27

FINAL INTERVENTION PROJECT DRAFT POST DUE 11/27

Work on your final project. Build on your performance and poster projects and begin to flush out your FINAL INTERVENTION project. What are you making? The project must be in progress before 11/27. Research, plan and begin to implement your final project. Read carefully through the assignment below and begin to outline your written portion. List your research, inspiration projects and quotes on the draft post. List your research (thus far) in your DRAFT post. Read through the written portion assignment below carefully and be sure you are addressing these questions in your project. You must post a DRAFT of your final on the blog before 11/27.

Students will present works in progress in class.

__________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 11/13

READINGS: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, from The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

2 quotes for each chapter and short response for each quote

>bring these to class no need to post on the blog

Khan Academy Performance Art An Introduction webpages (look through the various sections of this online course) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/conceptual-and-performance-art/performanceart/a/performance-art-an-introduction
2 examples of performance art (artist, title) that stand out to you with a short response for each artwork >bring these to class no need to post on the blog

DUE WEDNESDAY 11/20

PERFORMANCE ART INTERVENTION (15% of grade)
Take inspiration Chapter 3 and 4 of The Art of Activism and from the readings and performance art videos we watched. Choose a performance art piece by one of the artists from the book, videos or class discussion. These can include Yoko One, Shaun Leonardo and Marina Abromovic or other artists from our assignments. Building on the performance you began designing last week, plan a performance intervention with at least one other participant. It can be in front of a group or in public. You must present the performance to the class as a video of the performance you made. You must plan and create the video yourself but you can get help from others or work as a team. Think of the intervention as a personal expressions of your own politics or passions. The content can be made as various interventions in public that work as a series or as a single performance that can be repeated with instructions. Think about the message of the performance and how others might feel performing with you. Give them instructions. Look to Fluxus artists and Performance art resources we reviewed to get you out of your comfort zone.

Choose one artwork from the textbook or videos and write a brief description of the artwork on the blog with an image of the work/movement/group. Then choose a performance artist from the videos we have reviewed and write a brief description of a performance artwork. What message does the work try to convey to the audience? How do these activist artworks connect to your performance intervention? Post an image of the performance or of the artist to the blog with your description. Please include your 4 quotes and responses from the textbook readings below your two artworks.

To include in your post:
1 of your instructions pieces inspired by Yoko Ono
1 artwork from the textbook readings with a brief description including artist, title and message
1 performance artwork from the videos with a brief description including artist, title and message
4 quotes and response from the textbook readings

_________________________

NO CLASS 11/6

For those who need the day to rest, regroup and reflect.

Review materials below and we will continue with our work next week.

DUE WEDNESDAY 11/6 NO CLASS

ELECTION!! GO VOTE on or before 11/5 (get an "I Voted" sticker if you can)

PERFORMANCE ART ACTIVISM POST

Using the small instruction pieces we wrote and performed in class and the readings and videos for homework below, begin to create a definition of performance art. Note some of the performances we watched in the videos and performances you have seen or read about.Then imagine and design a performance art piece of your own. Think about the audience, the setting and the message of your performance. Describe it in detail and write a script or instructions for the performance. Sketch or include images if these can be helpful. Post this plan to the blog with the quotes from the reading assignments. ~1-2 paragraphs + quotes

READ:

Widewalls | Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter

https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/yoko-ono-art-story
2 quotes and a short response to each quote

Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy

https://hispanicexecutive.com/shaun-leonardo/
2 quotes and a short response to each quote

WATCH:

Art as Activism: Diana Ocholla

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1iPX3eO3EA&ab_channel=OpenGlobalRights

Performance, Ethos and everyday activism| Ladies of Midnight Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BfScWQIjwA&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

Shaun Leonardo | art21
https://art21.org/watch/new-york-close-up/shaun-leonardo-the-freedom-to-move/

Already watched in class:

An Introduction to Performance Art | TateShots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z-YZ3A4mdk&t=2s

The Case For Performance Art PBS Art Assignment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmMTKdUAokM

Yoko Ono

Who is Yoko Ono? | PBS Art Assignment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU0E_ab36Q

Cut Piece performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sa1y-PAAzE

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DUE WEDNESDAY 10/30 (wear a costume if you want!)

GALLERY RESPONSE ESSAY (DUE 10/30)

(10% of course grade)

This Is What I Know About Art

{in the exhibition Lente Latine/Latin Lens }

Please post both parts of the full essay assignment to the blog with your images.

Part 1 - Curatorial Activism defined

In a short essay use the readings in the class thus far to help form an analysis of the book, This Is What I Know About Art, by Kimberly Drew and the essay Towards Curatorial Activism by Dr. Maura Reilly. How do these readings connect to the themes and issues we have been discussing? How can authors, historians and curators also be activist? Use some of the other projects and readings we have seen so far to connect to their activism and their work. What moments in the Kimberly Drew book felt particularly pivotal and meaningful to you? Share these in your essay. Explain why these moments where important. How did these lead to Drew's activism? What quotes from her writing stuck out to you and why?

Part 2 - Art Example

Using Kimberly Drew's story as inspiration, think about ways that the art in the exhibition Lente Latine/Latin Lens connects to our discussions and readings of art activism and curatorial activism. Choose two works in the exhibition that connect to our readings of art activism. Describe the two artworks (be sure to include the details about the artist, title, medium etc) and how these works can be seen as activist. What messages can these works be conveying that connect to our discussions thus far? Include at least two images of the works you selected in your essay.

Be sure to use the readings: Kimberly Drew Book, Maura Reilly, bell hooks, Susan Sontag, and our Art of Activism textbook chapters to help analyze the works for this essay. Cite the quotes (author, page) from the readings in your essay. Edit your work and be sure to include the sources at the bottom of your essay in a short works cited. Use a few images of examples to illustrate your writing.

~600 words

3+ images with captions and 4+ quotes from class readings

Citation + works cited

Exhibition information for Lente Latine/Latin Lens

Entitled, Lente Latine/Latin Lens, the exhibition explores diverse perspectives, stories, and artistic expressions within the Latin American community and its diaspora. All artists are based on the East Coast of the United States.

The exhibition is part of NJCU’s robust Hispanic Heritage Month programming on campus from September 15-October 15, 2024, and celebrates significant contributions of Latinx creators to American culture. The exhibition will remain on view until October 31.

Curated by the photographer Natali Bravo-Barbee, the exhibition highlights these artists’ exploration of their ancestral roots, cultural identity, and diasporic communities through varied photographic techniques.

Featured artists (with their cultural origins) are Manuel Acevedo (Puerto Rico), Carlos Alejandro (Catalonia/Puerto Rico), Lizzy Alejandro (Puerto Rico), Jacqueline Herranz Brooks (Cuba), Monica Flores (Mexico), Juan C. Giraldo (Colombia), Orestes Gonzalez (Cuba), Cesar Melgar (Peru/Colombia), Qiana Mestrich (Panama/Croatia), Josefina Fernandez Moran (Argentina), William Riera (Cuba), Gabriel Garcia Roman (Mexico), and Dakota Santiago (Hondouras/Puerto Rico/Spain). Many of these artists will be attending the opening reception and will talk with attendees about their work.

>> BELOW ASSIGNMENTS DUE 11/13 but you can begin reviewing these material for class discussion on 11/6

READINGS: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, from The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

2 quotes for each chapter and short response for each quote

Khan Academy Performance Art An Introduction webpages (look through the various sections of this online course) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/conceptual-and-performance-art/performanceart/a/performance-art-an-introduction
2 examples of performance art (artist, title) that stand out to you with a short response for each artwork

PERFORMANCE ART INTERVENTION DUE 11/13 (15% of grade)
Choose one artwork from the textbook and write a brief description of the artwork on the blog with an image of the work/movement/group. Then choose a performance artists from the videos below and write a brief description of a performance artwork. What message does the work try to convey to the audience? Post an image of the performance or of the artist to the blog with your description. Please include your 4 quotes and responses from the textbook readings below your two artworks.

To include in your post:
1 artwork from the textbook readings with a brief description including artist, title and message
1 performance artwork from the videos with a brief description including artist, title and message
4 quotes and response from the textbook readings

+++++++++++

_________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 10/23

READ: Chapter 2, Process by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

3 quotes and short response for each quote

REVIEW:

Towards a Curatorial Activism | Dr. Maura Reilly

https://www.maurareilly.com/pdf/essays/CIAFessay.pdf

2 quotes and short response see below

What is Curatorial Activism? by Dr. Maura Reilly | ArtNews

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/what-is-curatorial-activism-9271/

2 quotes and short response see below

CURATORIAL ACTIVISM POST

In a short written response including 3+ quotes from the readings by Dr. Maura Reilly and 2 quotes from The Art of Activism, Chapter 2, Process answer the following questions: What is Curatorial Activism? What can we do to improve art and art history? How can exhibitions be activist? What messages can they tell in their theme or inclusion of artwork? Post your answer including quotes from the readings to the blog.

+++++++++++++

_______________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 10/16

THIS IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ART POST

Choose 3 quotes from the book, This is What I Know About Art, and write a short response for each quote. Choose one artwork that you found either from reading the book or from Kimberly Drew's Tumblr blog (linked above) and explain why this artwork is interesting to you. Post an image of the artwork, your quotes and responses to the blog. In one last step, create a title and theme for an exhibition in which this artwork might be included.

READ:

Towards a Curatorial Activism | Dr. Maura Reilly

https://www.maurareilly.com/pdf/essays/CIAFessay.pdf

2 quotes and short response see below

What is Curatorial Activism? by Dr. Maura Reilly | ArtNews

https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/what-is-curatorial-activism-9271/

2 quotes and short response see below

___________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 10/9

Apologies for delay in posting the assignment. Due to some last minute schedule changes, I have changed our assignment (back to Kimberly Drew). Read as much as you can of the Kimberly Drew book, This is What I Know About Art, for our class discussion on Wednesday. Bring the book to class!

READ:

The entire book This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew

3 quotes and a short response for each quote (bring your book and notes to class!)

Nothing due on the blog

Look through Kimberly Drew's blog: https://blackcontemporaryart.tumblr.com/

WATCH:

On Facebook NOW THIS | How Kimberly Drew Amplifies the Work of Black Artists
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisEntertainment/videos/how-art-curator-writer-kimberly-drew-amplifies-the-work-of-black-artists/874745016235800/

Coffee With Kimberly Drew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm6AU71F9oQ

THIS IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ART POST (assignment to do in class)

Choose 3 quotes from the book and write a short response for each quote. Choose one artwork that you found either from reading the book or from Kimberly Drew's Tumblr blog (linked above) and explain why this artwork is interesting to you. Post an image of the artwork, your quotes and responses to the blog.

LISTEN (optional):

Kimberly Drew: Art and Activism | LGBTQ&A 30min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrKmyKe8Otw

______________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 10/2

INTERVENTION 1: POSTER/INTERACTION/WEARABLE

Inspired by our readings from the Art and Activism textbook and the readings on art, photography and memes as well as the videos linked below, think about a way that you can insert or use activism and art in your own professional journey. Choose an issue that you have been activated to participate in raising awareness. Look to current events for a clear example of something that needs to change. Choose something that you feel particularly passionate and knowledgable about. Think about a community you would like to create the intervention to support or motivate. Find art projects that might help address that problem or use a strategy that you may want to use as well. This is part of your research.

Create a physical poster(s), interactive installation OR a wearable object or outfit that acts as protest art. How can we use signs and posters or wearables to inspire advocacy in others? Use the art examples from our readings thus far movement to inspire your own protest art piece. You must create a physical project and share it in some way with others - a community - an audience. Place it in a public place, carry it as a sign of resistance and awareness, put it on your car, draw on the sidewalk, put it outside for others to read, etc. Have a clear message and idea for how it will be seen by others. Test out your strategy. Show your results.

Take good images of your poster(s) and its place in public and post it on the blog with a brief explanation of the sign, your intentions and your thoughts about signs and protest. Use the readings to help you connect your intervention to the history of protest. Include at least two quotes from the readings. You must include at least one image of your intervention in public.
~400+ words, 2+ quotes (with citation), 2+ images (with captions)

BRING YOUR PROJECTS TO CLASS TO PRESENT IN A SHORT PRESENTATION ~3min.

________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 9/25

READINGS:

Introduction and Chapter 1 >> from our textbook!!

The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

2 quotes and short response for each quote

WHAT IS ART ACTIVISM? POST - choose an artwork

Using the Chapter 1 reading from The Art of Activism textbook, answer the following question in a brief response. What is Art Activism? Choose one example from the readings thus far and explain how this work is an example of art activism. Include an image and information about this artwork in your short response on the blog. +++ Add your quotes to the blog post.

________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 9/18

ART AS ACTIVISM POST - choose an artwork

Choose one of the artworks from the various readings below that strikes you. Post an image of the artwork you chose to the blog with a brief description of the artwork. Why did you choose this work? What is it about? How is the artwork activist?

+++Post the 6 quotes from the readings (below) and your short responses for this week with the post of your chosen artwork.

READINGS:

1. WHY ARTISTIC ACTIVISM? | Center for Artistic Activism

https://c4aa.org/2018/04/why-artistic-activism

2 quotes and short response

2. An Introduction to Activist Art | The Collector | by Stefanie Graf

https://www.thecollector.com/introduction-to-activist-art/
2 quotes and short response

3. The 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art Since World War II

The New York Times Style Magazine

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/t-magazine/most-influential-protest-art.html

2 quotes and short response

OR *if you cannot access the NYTIMES article above please read this one below instead

Artists Using Their Creativity to Drive Activism | Global Citizen

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/artists-activists-using-creativity-for-change/

2 quotes and short response

WATCH:

Cases for Political Art | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfXad3HVox4&list=RDCMUCmQThz1OLYt8mb2PU540LOA&start_radio=1&rv=RfXad3HVox4&t=30

__________________________

DUE WEDNESDAY 9/11

SELF INTRODUCTION POST ON THE BLOG

Share a short description of yourself, your ambitions, and your artistic adventures. Post it to the blog. Be sure to share art, design, social justice, political causes and creative practices that you may already be exploring. Add one selfie or other photograph (you made) to the post.

+Add the 6 quotes and responses from the readings below onto your blog post.

READINGS DUE: Choose 2 quotes from each reading listed below (6 quotes total for the three readings) and write a short reaction/response to each quote

1- Understanding Patriarchy by bell hooks

https://imaginenoborders.org/pdf/zines/UnderstandingPatriarchy.pdf

2 quotes and short response

2- What Memes Owe to Art History | Artsy https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-memes-owe-art-history

2 quotes and short response

3- Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art | VICE https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbzxa3/memes-are-our-generations-protest-art

2 quotes and short response

WATCH:

Art As Activism: Statements of Democracy | Untold History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6jDZaREk74&ab_channel=UntoldHistory

Guerrilla Girls – 'You Have to Question What You See' | Artist Interview | TateShots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uKg7hb2yoo

Complain creatively. | The Guerrilla Girls | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i5cEhd6Vt8

GET THE BOOKS!

The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert, OR Books, New York 2021

This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew, Penguin Workshop, New York 2020

_________________________

LINK TO CLASS SYLLABUS

The course material and discussions can often be provocative and challenging. We must therefore be careful to be respectful of each other and of our viewpoints.

Discussion guidelines We must come to class prepared and ready to discuss the readings. Please keep discussions focused on the readings and class materials and keep examples relevant and appropriate. If you have not done the readings you are not to participate in the

RESOURCES/LINKS

Actipedia Creative tactics that help bring about change.

https://actipedia.org

Center for Artistic Activism C4AA helps people use their creativity and culture to effect power.

https://c4aa.org

Guerrilla Girls anonymous artist activists
https://www.guerrillagirls.com