"...this exhibition aims to disrupt, break down and re-evaluate linear histories. In examining the remnants of time, an eternal present emerges, a collective cultural memory appears, and chronological time becomes replaced with a mnemic delineation of time."

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Reading Corner: What is the 21st Century version of the Grand Tour or the Cabinet of Curiosity?


Link to blog concerning the notion of curiosity: http://thinkingshift.wordpress.com

Excerpt from Alistair Reid's poem on curiosity;

Curiosity
may have killed the cat; more likely
the cat was just unlucky, or else curious
to see what death was like, having no cause
to go on licking paws, or fathering
litter on litter of kittens, predictably.

Nevertheless, to be curious
is dangerous enough. To distrust
what is always said, what seems
to ask odd questions, interfere in dreams,
leave home, smell rats, have hunches
do not endear cats to those doggy circles
where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives, good lunches
are the order of things, and where prevails
much wagging of incurious heads and tails.

Face it. Curiosity
will not cause us to die–
only lack of it will.
Never to want to see
the other side of the hill
or that improbable country

where living is an idyll
(although a probable hell)
would kill us all.

Only the curious have, if they live, a tale
worth telling at all.

Sunday, 21 March 2010

"Show Me The Money" Presentation Slides

Show Me The Money
Presentation slides for "Show Me The Money" (see review below) which took place on the 9th March in the Wee Red Bar located within Edinburgh College of art. PodCAT (podcast) coming soon!

Reading Corner: 'The Cultures of Collecting'

The Cultures of Collecting by John Elsner, Roger Cardinal

Very interesting anthology of essays concerning the cultures of collecting, a major inspiration for our show, in particular Mieke Bal's piece, 'Telling Objects; A Narrative Perspective on Collecting.' (link below)

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8ImNb0Gflh0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA97&dq=telling+objects+a+narrative+perspective+on+collecting&ots=3c05PICRrG&sig=QLNRrojIZzN9bmEHXvjMqH-OKgI#v=onepage&q=telling%20objects%20a%20narrative%20perspective%20on%20collecting&f=false

After The News: Design and Communication

Saturday, 20 March 2010

Review: "Show Me The Money"






Amidst candle-lit tables, copious amounts of juice and chocolate cake, and intimate seating arrangements within the snug environment of the Wee Red Bar, a forum was held on the 9th March to discuss the topic of financing exhibition. the dichotomy of a potentially dry subject such as finance coupled with an informal atmosphere invited quite a few guests who were all keen to learn about and provide input on ways in which both private and commercial galleries finance exhibitions shows.

A brief introduction was given by the head of finance on the MA curatorial team regarding the proposed financial strategies put forth for their upcoming exhibition at the Talbot Rice Gallery. The aforementioned chocolate cake actually served not just a gastronomic purpose, but more importantly was used to represent the ways in which the finances are to be divided up among the different areas of the curatorial planning process.


As this culinary educational tool was passed around the room, Angela Beck from the Embassy Gallery offered her input on hierarchical structures when dividing an exhibitions budget. A dialogue evolved amongst the guests and rested on the issue of paying artists, and whether this was ethical, practical or mandatory.


Direction then shifted to the direction of the Scottish Arts Council. There appeared to be a tension and apprehension within the audience over where the SAC is heading. Many were concerned how this new direction will affect individual artists and organisations.


The evening concluded with informative input from Richard DeMarco, as he gave his opinions on curating from the ground up. As an artist, collector and curator, DeMarco had some insights to pass onto the MA students, and hopefully the audience of gallery managers, tutors and eca students took away helpful knowledge as well.


A big thanks to all who came along to this talk and making it such a success.

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Event: "Show Me The Money" 09.03.10




We present the first in a series of discussion forums raising issues pertaining to our upcoming curated exhibition at the Talbot Rice Gallery in June 2010. A specifically curated setup within the Wee Red Bar (located within Edinburgh College of Art) aims to create an environment for a multi dialogue conversation. Please join us and our panel of guest speakers in this relaxed atmosphere for the generation of new ideas. Titled "Show Me The Money" this inaugural conversation aims to explore variant approaches to financing exhibitions.

Event:
"Show Me The Money" in conversation with MA Contemporary Art Theory, Tuesday 9th March, 5:30pm, Wee Red Bar (eca)

To attend this event please email:
contemporaryarttheory@yahoo.com