Blog
“The picture has to be as real as possible”: AP TOUR with Mary Giancoli
Artist Mary Giancoli accompanied Clinton Middle School students to The Associated Press on January 24th.
The kids were challenged at first with questions about their views on photography. Here are some of the things they said:
“Photography, it’s a way to catch reality…”,
“It’s a way to express myself in a different manner…”,
“It’s a way to look at how life is, but in a different way…”,
“There’s a meaning behind photos…”.
Meeting with the Associated Press photographers, the world’s oldest and largest news gathering organization, helped the students further understand the world of photography. Senior HR administrator Xavier Williams gave them a tour of the facilities where they had the opportunity to meet two of the agency’s photographers, Bebeto Matthews and Donald King, who inspired the kids with stories of their harrowing and moving experiences.
Field trip to the FLAG Art Foundation
Clinton Middle School students took a field trip to the FLAG Art Foundation on December 20th.
First they learned from art handlers how you pack, protect, ship, and install works for a show, then they saw the installation “Fallen” by Jane Hammond, where she created a special leaf for each soldier who died in Iraq.
It was a fitting way to close the year, pondering concepts of loss, memory and hope.
An Evening of Protest and Social Engagement with Pablo Helguera
This past Tuesday night we held an event in the famed Orozco Room at the New School to share our recent project, produced in collaboration with Pablo Helguera: “El Club de Protesta (The Protest Club)” and introduce Pablo’s new book “Education for Socially Engaged Art“.
The evening started off with an introduction to José Clemente Orozco’s frescoes by the New School’s Art Collection curator Silvia Rocciolo. We then moved into a conversation between Melissa Rachleff and Pablo about his history and practices of “socially engaged art”.
The audience was presented with a screening of a short video that documented The Protest Club and then was given a chance to speak with Pablo before he led a few sing along protest songs that had been part of his workshop curriculum for his recent project. A stimulating discussion ensued regarding the definition and implications of socially engaged art.
The pairing between these 80 year old murals and Pablo’s recent project revealed a distinct evolution in art practices geared towards social change. Orozco created his work in relative isolation over the course of 47 days. In contrast, Pablo’s “El Club de Protesta” required relationship building and mentorship to guide and elicit the expression of participants artistic visions of social change. Regardless of difference in form and content, both inspiring works of art resonate today.
We thank the New School for being such a tremendous host and all of the attendees for your curiosity and support.
US Custom House – Screening
An Album: Hudson Guild – Screening at the US Custom House
Kimsooja
We had the privilege of showing An Album: Hudson Guild in the historic tax collector’s suite at the old US Custom House this past weekend for the ninth annual openhousenewyork event. This magnificent, ceremonial place, adorned with oak panels designed by Tiffany Studios was a remarkable setting to experience such a captivating work of art.
Please enjoy this selection of images from the screening:
Project Round Up
When You’re Looking At Me, You’re Looking At Country
Xaviera Simmons
Four fantastic days of getting to know new people and taking intimate portraits in public have just come to end and it was altogether a touching experience. There was near picture perfect photography weather each day: slight overcast. On Saturday and Sunday this weekend we spent time at Chelsea’s Elliott houses. We used the Hudson Guild entrance and courtyard as our studio space, and were pleased to have a significant number of people come prepared with props and even costumes to help define their selves in collaboration with Xaviera. On Monday and Tuesday, we spent the afternoons at Chelsea’s Fulton Houses, adjacent to their community center. We used the sidewalk along 17th street in hopes of making the project more casual and accessible. The mood was positively vibrant, and the personalities abundant.
Here is a selection of images highlighting this project:
There were some wonderful stories and moments shared through individuals, families with their children, and even visitors to both areas who were simply interested in what the project was about. We look forward to sharing two wonderful, simultaneous exhibitions based on this project with the community with the aim to strengthen their ties amongst one another.
From February 9th – March 27th, 2012, the portraits will be on display at both the Elliot and Fulton house Hudson Guild galleries. The participant portraits will be integrated to encourage inter-housing visitation by each housing community.
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Photos by Adam Kaynan
Thoughts on the final concerts — El Club de Protesta
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El Club de Protesta reached its conclusion with two final concerts at the Hudson Guild Theatre this past Friday and Saturday, August 19th & 20th.
This inspiring project, conceived by artist Pablo Helguera, provided a channel for the community to voice concerns, both personal and systemic, about our contemporary world. It then gave them an opportunity to brave stage fears, first at the High Line and then at the Hudson Guild Theatre. Originally the project was to culminate in the performance of traditional protest songs solely by professional musicians using lyrics partially devised during workshops. However, under the guidance of Helguera and musical director Carlo Nicolau, the workshop participants at the Hudson Guild Theater were encouraged to not only discuss and debate the traditon of the protest song, but also to create their own work, resulting in inspiring material that generated six original songs musically arranged with the help of the musicians.
The concerts revealed that the spirit of protest music lives on!
Here is a selection of images highlighting this weekend’s concerts at the Hudson Guild Theatre:
Thank you again to everyone who supported and collaborated on this project–
Pablo Helguera, Hudson Guild, The High Line, the musicians: Carlo Nicolau, Eleanor Dubinsky & Sebastian Cruz and the participants: Robert Soret, Susuan Lippman, Sue Machlin, Helen Rosenbaum, Amy McCarthy, Donna Panton, Manuel Martagon, Sonia Rivero, Joe Rosenbaum, Lynn Berg & EB Bennett.
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Photos by Don Gibson & Adam Kaynan
Concert – El Club de Protesta – High Line
Last Tuesday’s concert at the High Line was a great success, thank you to all who came out to show their support!
For everyone who could not make it out: here are some select songs from El Club de Protesta Concert – July 19, 2011 – The High Line, New York and some photos as well.
There are still two remaining concerts for El Club de Protesta. They will be held at the Hudson Guild Theatre: August 19th, 8:00pm and 2:00pm August 20th. We hope to see you there!
Video by Don Gibson, Editing by Adam Kaynan
Photos by Marco Monti
Workshops are underway!
The Protest Club workshops have begun! Our first meeting is tonight at the Elliott Center, 441 W. 26th Street from 6 – 8pm. Please let us know if you would like to join us!
Below is a list of where each of the other workshops will take place:
Tuesday, May 17 Fulton Center, 119 9th Avenue
Tuesday, June 7 Elliott Center, 441 W. 26th Street
Tuesday, June 21 Fulton Center, 119 9th Avenue
Tuesday, July 5 Elliott Center, 441 W. 26th Street
Tuesday, July 12 Fulton Center, 119 9th Avenue
All workshops are scheduled for 6 to 8 pm. Please check with the front desks at both locations each time you come to find out exactly what room the workshop will be in on that night. Rooms may vary from week to week.
Click here for more info about the project.
Also, stay tuned for updates on how the workshops are coming along!
Fan favorite T-Shirt!
Fan favorite T-Shirt!
Men and women’s shirt styles available.
Email – adam@moreart.org
for details on how to get one for yourself or as a gift!
Artist Talk Back – Kimsooja
Screening: “An Album: Hudson Guild” by Kimsooja in the Barney Auditorium at NYU, Steinhardt.
From L to R (Micaela Martegani, Kimsooja, Mary Jane Jacob)
April 15, 2011
Director and Founder of More Art, Micaela Martegani, and Author, Curator Mary Jane Jacob (Professor of Sculpture and Executive Director of Exhibitions at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) speak with Kimsooja about the concepts, themes and techniques of her new work “An Album: Hudson Guild” and how it relates to to her past work “A Needle Woman” and personal life. There is also insight into the relationships with the portrait subjects and the history between More Art and the Hudson Guild.
Thanks to Melissa Rachleff Burtt, Clinical Associate Professor of Arts Administration at NYU for hosting the event.
Video by Adam Kaynan
