Artist Labs are four-day intensive of workshops and discussions designed to foster the integration of history and contemporary art into an artist’s practice. Intended for self-motivated artists, regardless of the stage in their career, who want to develop a practice of working with history, historic sites, collections, and archives to create and present art that embeds itself in non-traditional spaces and speaks to a general community about contemporary issues.
Before the lab, accepted artists receive a package of information about planning their trip and readings to prepare for the Lab. Artists will be asked to prepare and submit a 5-7 minute slide presentation of their art practice prior to arrival.
During the lab, through interactive sessions, collections research, and site visits with a historian, artists explore their process and practice; present a slideshow of their work; receive supportive, critical, curatorial feedback about their ideas; and discuss contemporary issues. In the evenings, we have time for informal conversations.
Artist Labs are not specific to a particular medium and are open to any visual artist.
Collage Labs, produced in concert with Kolaj Institute and Kolaj Magazine, include specific discussions about the medium including the challenge of creating large work and issues of appropriation, copyright, and fair use and explore how the artist’s choice and understanding of material shapes the narrative of the artwork.
Photography Labs include a specific track that addresses unique issues relating to photography such as the difference between documentary and creative work; the use of film, digital, and hybrid processes; and strategies for investigating a place with limited time and under varying conditions. With opportunities to shoot at various times a day, participants will go on guided tours and explore how to use the best of 180 years of photographic technology and blend it with the site and subject to find new ways of telling stories. The role of photography in contemporary art is an underlying theme.
After the Lab, artists will leave with a network of peer support; an idea for a project; and the task of turning that idea into a project proposal and a sample work. With the support of facilitators, artists produce a statement of practice and a proposal for a body of work or project that connects history to current social, economic, and environmental issues, and that when exhibited activates spaces in new, distinct and purposeful ways. Proposals are sent to partnering organizations for review and potential implementation.
CURRENT ARTIST LAB
March-April 2021 | Online/Virtual
Artist Lab: Art Meets History in New Mexico
details
UPCOMING ARTIST LABS
The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic may effect the schedule of labs. In the event that a lab needs to be rescheduled, we work closely with the enrolled participants to reschedule.
Rescheduled | New Orleans, Louisiana
Collage Artist Lab at Tulane University Special Collections
Note: The Call to Artists is closed. details
Proposed | Sanquhar, Scotland
Sanquhar Artist Lab at MERZ Gallery
Send an email to receive a notice.
Proposed | Sanquhar, Scotland
Sanquhar Photography Lab at MERZ Gallery
Send an email to receive a notice.
Proposed | New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans Photography Lab
Send an email to receive a notice.
PAST ARTIST LABS
September 26-30, 2019 | Ferrisburgh, Vermont
Rokeby Artist Lab at Rokeby Museum
details
June 2020 | Online/Virtual
Pandemic Artist Lab with Tulane University Special Collections
details
August 2020 | Online/Virtual
Artist Lab with Tulane University Special Collections
details