“Who Can Write About Performance Art?”
Thursday, April 24, 2014, 6:30pm
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
New York City
How many histories do you need to know in order to write exciting criticism about art at the axis of dance and visual art, theater and performance, and every iteration in between?
Performa is pleased to announce “Who Can Write About Performance Art?,” a lively informative panel discussion and forthcoming series of instructional workshops investigating the myriad knowledge and skills necessary to write thoughtful and insightful art criticism at the axis of dance and visual art, theater and performance, and every iteration in between. Panelists Claire Bishop, RoseLee Goldberg, Adrian Heathfield, John Rockwell, Hrag Vartanian, and David Velasco will contribute their own expertise in writing about performance in an evening that specifically focuses on the ways and means that writers approach their writing, to be as flexible in crossing these various borders as are the artists who create multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary works. Specifically, panelists will discuss their backgrounds and interest in performance—do they come from art history, theater history, or literature?—share how they first came to write about performance, and express their ideas about the responsibilities of writing about work that demands a knowledge of several disciplines at once. Participants’ contributions are informed by their diverse perspectives and experiences in art criticism, ranging from publishing texts in international monthly art magazines, daily newspapers, and websites, to extensive, book-length scholarly publications.
“The inspiration for ‘Who Can Write About Performance Art?’ sprung from conversations with writers and artists about the challenges involved in covering performance. Critics are often specialized in one area, such as dance, but have a limited background in visual arts, which might be the starting point of a particular work. It’s an ongoing conversation and an exciting one, especially since we’re looking at increasing numbers of artists working in performance, and more and more museums committed to presenting them,” commented RoseLee Goldberg, Performa’s Founding Director and Curator.
About the Performa Institute
The Performa Institute is a year-round think tank that fosters learning, critical discourse, and deeper engagement in performance by directly supporting its scholarly investigation. The Performa Institute showcases a range of in-depth programs for the presentation and exploration of ideas and the exchange of research and knowledge, with a focus on the study of history and on forging a new intellectual culture surrounding contemporary art. It asks artists, curators, writers, and scholars to function as educators across disciplines to explore innovative visions for the future of art and ideas in New York City and around the world. The Performa Institute is made possible thanks to support from Toby Devan Lewis, Lambent Foundation, Ford Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, New York Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Department of Art and Art Professions.
About Performa
Founded in 2004 by art historian and curator RoseLee Goldberg, Performa is the leading international organization dedicated to exploring the critical role of live visual art performance in the history of the twentieth century and to generating new directions for the twenty-first century, engaging artists and audiences through experimentation, innovation, and collaboration. Performa’s unique commissioning, touring, and year-round education programs, involving all disciplines, forge a new course for contemporary art and culture, and culminate in the Performa biennial in New York City every other November. In 2005, Performa launched the first-ever biennial dedicated to visual art performance, Performa 05, which was then followed by Performa 07 (2007), Performa 09 (2009), Performa 11 (2011), and Performa 13 (2013).
Free admission with reservation
Press inquiries: Franck Bordese, franck [at] performa-arts.org / T +1 212 366 5700
