Spring Symposium May 9, 10, 11, 2008
New work launched May 3 through May 11
Mentoring Artists for Women's Art and The University of Winnipeg Institute for Women's and Gender Studies invite you to join us for a weekend of socially engaged art and dialogue. This interdisciplinary symposium will consist of participatory and critical discussions, screenings, installations, interventions and performances. We will create a dynamic space for artists, activists, curators and cultural workers to gather to share new work and to discuss the ways in which art can be, and is being mobilized to build various kinds of communities. We will explore the range of socially engaged art practices and the different kinds of communities that art builds. Is community art subversive? How does art engage with some of the most pressing issues of our times, such as poverty, the impacts of colonization, gender and racial inequalities, and the need to develop compassionate and caring communities of belonging? How does art engage the public in community issues and civic responsibilities? What can art build?
The Winnipeg Foundation and the Winnipeg Arts Council have joined this project by funding new work by nine Winnipeg artists. The work of Pat Aylesworth, Liz Garlicki, Cheyenne Henry, Kristin Nelson, Suzie Smith, Kathryn MacKenzie, Kerri-Lynn Reeves, Nicole Shimonek and Becky Thiessen will be launched during the week of May 3. These artists will create work representing a range of community, interventionist, cultural animation and new public genre art practices. The critically acclaimed, dynamic performance duo, Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan, will be performing their new work, "Unruly" on Saturday night. Toronto artist, writer and activist Robin Pacific will be addressing the complications and challenges of community art practices throughout the weekend. Her work includes community art, cultural animation and mapping, painting, multimedia, public art and installation. Joining us from Mexico City is internationally recognized artist Minerva Cuevas. In search of an interface to activate social change, Minerva Cuevas's work is based on interventions and political action linked to creative and artistic fields. Minerva Cuevas will be joining us at the symposium as well as creating new work while she is in Winnipeg. We will launch her new work on Saturday at MAWA.
This project is curated by Roewan Crowe, Academic Director of The University of Winnipeg's Institute For Women's and Gender Studies. The symposium is being generously supported by the Winnipeg Arts Council, The Winnipeg Foundation and sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through a partnership with the University of Winnipeg's Institute for Women's and Gender Studies of the Global College.
Join us in Winnipeg this spring!
University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue
Registration fee $65.00 for the weekend.
Includes all meals and Saturday night performance.
Full and partial bursaries are available - Contact [email protected]
