Friday, February 29, 2008
Non-engagement vs. engagement
The response via e-mail concerning my last post has been wonderful. I'd like to find out more concerning people's views on how 1708 can best interact with local media and the local Richmond community. At what points specifically between total non-engagement and total engagement should we expend our energies?Is relegating our responses to internal e-mails and this blog closer to the former or the latter? Aren't we supposed to be challenging people and expanding their thoughts concerning contemporary art?Is this blog the best means to do so? If there are no responses to this post, my guess is no.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Well, I'll jump in...
Justin, you are the first person to pose questions on the blog. It takes a leap of faith to put thoughts out there and wrangle in print, in public. The option to post anonymously can make taking that leap easier.
I would love for our engagement with our local media and audience to be more lively, more multi-faceted. Brad's post on all the people's reactions to Jillian's show was just a joy and I'm delighted that he wrote about this evidence of the public's engagement with the show. This Style weekly review is a perfect opportunity to open up the dialog even more. People have all kinds of impressions, opinions, associations about 1708 and what and why we do, but I think "we" are like a server with hot appetizers, never truly asking the served what he or she really thinks. Like my favorite curator at UR says, you ask for an opinion you'll get one!
Well, we got one - what will we do with it?
I have a million things to do this weekend, including the de-installation of Jillian's show.
I'm going to take a break from this particular set of issues.
I can say, however, that the flurry of e-mails so far has been very educational... much more so than a series of meet and greets would be.
It takes awhile to see how social and political ecologies are set up...and what priorities individuals in a group may have...
I had always assumed that every 1708 member's first priority was to support artists.
I could never post anonymously.I believe too strongly in the merits of making mistakes in public. I understand, however, that it is a personal imperative instead of an institutional one. As a member of this particular institution I can take that whole into account. That is why I first submitted my 5 minute bromide to the collective for review.
Like I write in the beginning, I'm incredibly busy now. Everybody rest easy...and try to help with the de-install if you can.
Oh, and Fiona...I guess it's just you and me, kid. ;-)
Not true .. I am here now (well on Friday also but the blog wasnt work'n for me then) ... Justin, there is a real need for group interaction here - your insights to the group dynamics are right on!! Its refreshing to, feel at least, that we are getting these ideas out in the open!!! What is our mission within (and outside!) the mission!!! Of course, as a concerned artist, VCU instructor of media/video/imaging/time arts, you should feel free to respond to Style in any way you see fit. This is an item that we addressed just this week in the Exhibitions meeting - who's job is it to follow-up on and with press? Now, what IS that job? What is our repsonsibility?
THANK GOD FOR THE NEW URGE QUARTERLY!!! (Coming to print in March, wow that's now!) ...
And let's keep our eyes open for Ginger Spivey's review in Art Papers ...
Post a Comment