Culture Frontart in the public interest
In looking forward to Suzanne Morlock‘s Culture Front Live! presentation on Thursday, September 27, I’ve been immersing myself in the concept of New Genre Public Art. If that classification makes you go “huh?” or worse yet makes you want to stop reading, I urge you to persevere! Ironically, though the term New Genre Public Art is less than descriptive and not particularly inviting to the general public, what it stands for is ART THAT CONSIDERS AND ENGAGES THE PUBLIC.
Suzanne Morlock is doing that right now with her Knitting Project which engages citizens in the making of public art. Her fellow knitters will shape the direction and outcome of the project. Morlock plays an instigator role, rather than a dictatorial role. The process is as important as the final product, if not moreso.
The woman who wrote the book (literally) on New Genre Public Art is also named Suzanne. A professor at Otis College Graduate Program in Los Angeles, Suzanne Lacy is a performance artist and the author of Mapping the Terrain: New Genre Public Art.
In this video of Lacy, she talks about the kind of work and artists she means when she says “new genre”:
- Public projects that add ethical and social dimension to public art practice.
- Artists who are concerned with art’s impact as citizens in the world.
- Work that steps outside the box, operates publicly, and attempts to make a change.
For readers who want a more academic understanding of New Genre Public Art, check out this video from the International Radius of Art Conference.
INSTIGATE: The Artist in the Community, an interactive presentation with Suzanne Morlock takes place Thursday, September 27, at 5:30 p.m. at The Rose. (please note, The Rose is not currently serving food, only fabulous drinks. Grab a slice from Pinky G’s and come upstairs to join in a round of Community Art Speed Dating with Suzanne!)
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I love that there is more and more conversation in the country (and here, too; thanks, Meg!) about the idea that art is not a luxury but a vital component of our daily lives. An emerging recognition (recollection?) that art–including creative practices and the creativity they require and beget–is sort of the glue that holds communities together.
The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise & Public Policy adds to the discussion by championing the idea that art is a necessary component of civic life. Art creates better citizens, inspires entrepreneurship, builds businesses, develops new skills and relationships, and, in the process, enhances all aspects of public life–not just aesthetically. And recent research indicates that art (among other things we sometimes think of as “frivolous,” like concerts and farmers markets and block parties) build stronger communities and can make the difference in the ability of a community to weather a disaster like a hurricane, flood, or a fire.
More info…
The Curb Center: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/curbcenter/
Creative Practices: http://curbcreativecampus.org/project/boot-camp/