2020 Nasher Prize Dialogues

The Nasher Sculpture Center is pleased to announce two virtual presentations in association with Nasher Prize Dialogues: the 2020 Graduate Symposium and a Conversation with artist Michael Rakowitz and Jin-Ya Huang, Founder of Break Bread, Break Borders.

These two presentations are focused on the art and practice of 2020 Nasher Prize Laureate Michael Rakowitz. Since his career began in the late 1990s, Rakowitz’s dynamic body of work has involved intensive research, resulting in an array of objects, environments, films, and publications that seek to reclaim, reposition, or refocus complicated aspects of material and cultural histories or events. He has a special interest in refugee and migrant populations, particularly from the Middle East. Often durational in nature, his projects frequently enlist the participation of collaborators or the public to create objects or events, making the work as much participatory as it is material.

Nasher Prize Dialogues: Graduate Symposium
October 27–30, 2020

Six graduate students from across the globe present scholarly work related to 2020 Nasher Prize Laureate Michael Rakowitz in this digital symposium. Student presentations take place in a series of lunchtime talks Tuesday–Thursday, moderated by Dr. Nada Shabout, Director of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Initiative (CAMCSI) at the University of North, culminating in a roundtable discussion on Friday, with remarks from keynote Speaker Carolyn Christov-Bargargiev, Director of Castello di Rivoli, Italy.

Tuesday, October 27, 12–1pm CDT:
Austin Bailey, University of Texas at Dallas: “A Cartesian Theater of Western Imperialism: The Politics and Poetics of Michael Rakowitz”
Brandon Sward, University of Chicago: “The Politics of Translation”

Wednesday, October 28, 12–1pm CDT:
Eliza Harrison, Williams College: “The Culture of Loss in the Digital Age: Michael Rakowitz’s The invisible enemy should not exist and the Politics of Reconstruction”
Ava Hess, University of California, Los Angeles: “’They Destroy, We Rebuild’ Resettling Syrian Art in the American Museum”

Thursday, October 29, 12–1pm CDT:
Sarah Bernhardt, University of Oxford: “Participation and Promise, the Culinary Interventions of Michael Rakowitz”
Amalia Nangeroni, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy: “Michael Rakowitz’s Projects of Reappearing”

Friday, October 30, 1–3pm CDT:
1–2pm Roundtable Discussion moderated by Dr. Nada Shabout
2–3pm Keynote Presentation by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev

Note: You will need to register separately for student presentations taking place on October 27, 28, and 29 and the roundtable and keynote address taking place on October 30.

Register for student presentations here.

Register for the roundtable and keynote here.

Nasher Prize Dialogues: Conversation with Michael Rakowitz and Jin-Ya Huang, Founder of Break Bread, Break Borders
December 9, 2020, 7pm CST

Nasher Prize Laureate Michael Rakowitz and artist Jin-Ya Huang discuss the difficulties and opportunities of food and community-centered social practice artwork in the time of social distancing.

Earlier this year, the two artists came together to create a community meal in Dallas, free to all, catered by Huang’s non-profit kitchen—Break Bread, Break Borders—which employs and empowers refugee women. The conversation will be moderated by Nasher Curator Catherine Craft.

Register here.

All Nasher Prize events are free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.

Registrants will receive an email closer to the event date confirming registration and containing the link to attend Nasher Prize virtual events.

Nasher Prize Dialogues: Graduate Symposium is sponsored by Marguerite Hoffman and Thomas Lentz, Elizabeth Redleaf, Alan and Adrian Sada, Albertina Cisneros and Juan Pascual, and Lisa Dawson and Thomas Murstad.

Nasher Prize Dialogues is sponsored by Hartland and Mackie Family, Janelle and Alden Pinnell / The Pinnell Foundation, and Christen and Derek Wilson.