Mel Chin, TWO ME. To be on view at the Toledo Museum of Art. Mel Chin’s TWO ME invites the public to elevate and pose as living monuments. Visitors ascend ramps to one of two 17 ft tall pedestals, inscribed simply with the word “Me.” Individually, each visitor attains monumental status when reaching the top. Together, across both platforms, visitors create a “We,” as in “We the People.” Chin’s artwork balances the longing for individualism and foundational spirit of coexistence embedded within American culture. Image courtesy Mel Chin.
SculptureX 2018: Igniting Change
9th SculptureX Symposium presented by Bowling Green State University, Contemporary Art Toledo, Owens Community College, Toledo Museum of Art, and the University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
September 28-29, 2018
Now entering its ninth year, SculptureX (i.e. sculpture exchange) is a teaching and networking resource aimed at promoting collaboration among art teaching institutions within the region and to increase appreciation of visual arts programs of sculpture in its broadest meaning. The fundamental goal of SculptureX is to encourage and foster the intellectual pursuit of compassionate thinking, while discovering new forms and definitions of visual communication and understanding. The Sculpture Center serves as the nexus of SculpturX.
ScupltureX 2018: Igniting Change
This year’s symposium and its associated exhibitions explore Social Practice, which has long been a powerful means of challenging existing norms and conditions. Often expressed through community engagement, performative installations, political encounters, and environmental activities, Social Practice in art is sometimes ephemeral, often experiential, but always evolving. SculptureX 2018 investigates some current manifestations of this important discipline.
The keynote address for the symposium delivered by Mel Chin, an internationally acclaimed artist known for his use of sculpture, video, and land art, among other mediums to spread political awareness and expose social injustice. Chin’s appearance in Toledo comes on the heels of a groundbreaking multi-site exhibition in New York, entitled All Over The Place. His sculpture, Two Me, will be on display at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Monroe Street entrance beginning in September, 2018.
A second keynote address delivered by Laurie Jo Reynolds, an award-winning artist, policy advocate, and researcher who has dedicated two decades of work to addressing the negative representations of people in prison.
Other featured artists include Jova Lynn, Saul Ostrow, Jimmy Kuehnle, Kate Levy, Shanna Merola, Bobby Anspach, Lisa Austin, and Lauren Sammon.
Programming for the two-day event includes the keynote addresses by Mel Chin and Laurie Jo Reynolds, presentations by noted artists from around the region, evening networking events, and guided tours of Toledo Museum of Art, University of Toledo Center for the Visual Arts, and six exhibitions. Discover the arts of Toledo.
Friday, September 28 programming takes place at the University of Toledo Center for the Visual Arts & Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Museum of Art: Glass Pavilion, University of Toledo’s Art Gallery, and River House Arts/Secur Art Center with Contemporary Art Toledo.
Saturday, September 29 programming is at Bowling Green State University’s Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts, Bowling Green State University’s Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, Bowling Green State University’s Arts Village, and the Walter Terhune Gallery, Center for Fine and Performing Arts of Owens Community College.
More information and registration here.
Organizers: Paula Baldoni of River House Arts, Brian Carpenter of the University of Toledo, and Charles Tucker of Bowling Green State University
Host Organizations: Bowling Green State University/School of Art, Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts/Owens Community College, Toledo Museum of Art, and Center for Visual Arts/University of Toledo
