Speaking Engagement: Art, Design and Architecture in Our Space - DCFA One Day Symposium

photo courtesy: Arnaldo JJ

I recently sat on the panel Design in Our Space with Moderator: Ms. Lisa Allen Agostini, Designers Adele Todd, Robert Young and Lesley Ann Noel as part of The Visual Arts Unit of the Department of the Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine hosting of a special one day symposium, entitled Art, Design and Architecture in our Space: New Perspectives on Art and Design Practice in the Caribbean held at the Institute of Critical Thinking, UWI, St. Augustine on October 6th 2010.

About the event:

This event evolved from the 2009 UWI Sculptural Project, which was spearheaded by artist Dean Arlen and proposed the installation of seven sculptures designed by several young Trinidadian artists. One of the seven sculptures was installed on the St. Augustine campus and has subsequently opened the discussion around public art and design in Trinidad & Tobago. The 2010 symposium aims to initiate a dialogue on issues that affect the practice of art, design and architecture in Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

The following is my abstract and downloadable presentation...

Abstract: Unconventional Visibility and Innovation

In the absence of more contemporary art ventures like the former CCA7, and the current Alice Yard artspace (initiatives which created space and worked towards developing a discourse around contemporary art) and the predominance of conventional galleries (where emphasis has been placed on more traditional forms of work such as portraiture, landscapes and abstracts, in fact, anything that will sell quickly) the emerging contemporary artist has had to become a self –facilitator in the quest to present work here in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a sense because the emerging contemporary artist is denied access to the more conventional artspaces ( which cater to a small and select art buying public) he is presented with an opportunity to engage a much wider public; both in terms of the kind of work created and where it is exhibited. The recipe for this could be to break from the norm, appropriate unconventional spaces, and engage the wider public while recognizing that the wider public may not typically be an art viewing one. To accomplish this goal INNOVATION is required.

In addition, the ‘working contemporary’ artist as a valuable individual in society should find a way to make his contribution or some component of it ownable as a desirable object. The value of this is two-fold: 1) the discussion of the idea presented goes beyond the boundaries of the show, 2) there is genuine commercial viability to what the artist does.

Presentation:
Mac users click here to download a Keynote version of my presentation:
ZIP FILE http://artzpub.com/alt/pdf/ART%26DESIGnprez.zip
PC/Mac users click here to download a Powerpoint version of my presentation:
ZIP FILE http://artzpub.com/alt/pdf/ART%26DESIGnprez.ppt.zip