Sachs Research: Imaginary Modernisms

1 Course Unit

Over the course of the 2017-2018 school year, but officially as Spring 2018, credited course, I am inviting a group of 6-8 MFA students to participate as a group in a project focused on research, dialogue and the essential "possibilities" available to any artist to participate in the constant rewriting and redefining of art history. Students will participate in a body of research and readings leading to my upcoming participation in Rice University's Campbell Lecture Series in March 2018 and an associated publication with the University of Chicago Press. The lectures are divided into three distinct parts over three nights, all of which focus on alternate approaches to modernism. Part I investigates the "Literary" theory of architecture by Bruno Taut and Paul Scheerbart. Part II is concerned with the painting practices of Hilma af Klint and Blinky Palermo. And Part III discusses the music of Sun Ra and Pauline Oliveros. Students participating in Imaginary Modernisms will meet and work with me in a series of scheduled and structured activities. beginning with a visit to Philadelphia in November for personal studio visits with each of the 6-8 students, not as a critique but to get to know you and your work a bit. Participation includes three trips to New York, each for two days. These 2-day trips will each involve one day at my studio in Brooklyn, to discuss the readings and research, as well as to observe the development of ongoing sculptural artworks being created in my studio, and a second day of self-guided visits to exhibitions and performances that I will suggest, with an optional meeting together for lunch or dinner. Readings for these meetings will be sent to you in advance of trip. Participating students should be prepared to read various texts along with me for the 5 month project duration. This is an essential part of the project and this should be a pleasurable process, so those do not have time to add a medium amount of reading to their schedules, followed by group discussion, should probably not apply. The only other requirement will be preparing for an exchange with undergraduate students at Rice University in March. For our trip to Houston in March, there will be three nights of lectures, one participatory performance, one exhibition opening reception, plus visits and interaction with curators at the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Core Program (an important option for MFA students post graduation.) Spring 1 Course Unit