A Conversation About Critical and Curatorial Practices in a Changing World

Featuring Thelma Golden, Hou Hanru, Susan Hefuna, Vasif Kortun
and David Ross

Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 7pm
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23 Street, New York City
Free and open to the public

School of Visual Arts (SVA) brings together an acclaimed group of critics, curators and artists for Modernism and the Global Diaspora, a panel discussion on the changing terrain of contemporary art in light of internationalism. The panelists will offer perspectives on the transformative affect of the global economy on the contemporary art world and the impact of the recent proliferation of exhibition spaces and biennials around the globe. They will look at what new forms of art-making may have resulted from these dynamic changes and what new critical attitudes have emerged.

Moderated by SVA faculty member David Ross, former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the panel includes: Thelma Golden, executive director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem; Hou Hanru, director of exhibitions and public programs at the San Francisco Art Institute; Susan Hefuna, an artist based in Egypt and Germany; and Vasif Kortun, director of the Platform Garanti Contemporary Arts Center in Istanbul.

Modernism and the Global Diaspora is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Octet: Codes and Contexts in Recent Art,” a survey of works by 66 faculty, students and alumni of the BFA Fine Arts Department at SVA, which presents a multi-generational response to current trends in contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition will be on view at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26 Street, New York City, from November 24 - December 23, 2009. “Octet” was previously on view at the Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation Pera Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

With a faculty of approximately 100 active artists, critics and curators, a distinguished roster of guest lecturers and various exhibition opportunities, the BFA Fine Arts Department at SVA offers direct and multifaceted engagement with the largest art community in the world. From coursework in anatomy, figure drawing and color theory, to interdisciplinary workshops in digital and photo-based media, the curriculum provides the broadest possible means of expression.
 
The SVA Theatre is a state-of-the-art facility for the presentation of lectures, film screenings and performances at the School of Visual Arts, New York. In addition to class meetings and cultural programs organized by the College, the theater hosts myriad events produced by cultural organizations and community groups whose work is consistent with the College’s mission. The 20,000-square-foot space houses two separate auditoriums, one with 480 seats and the other with 265, that are equipped with the latest in lighting, sound and projection capabilities.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the faculty has been comprised of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.

Media Contact: For more information and images please contact Keri Murawski, publicist, at 212.592.2164 or e-mail kmurawski@sva.edu.