Explore a spectrum of contemporary art through gallery tours, suggested readings and a studio visit with a guest artist. This dynamic course will facilitate the understanding and interpretation of contemporary art by introducing students to some of the themes, issues and structures of current art practices. The emphasis is on visiting galleries exhibiting the most challenging art in Toronto, while class discussions and suggested readings will clarify the defining characteristics of modernist, postmodernist and contemporary art. The stylistic and material diversity of the contemporary is surveyed in this course. Practices ranging from traditional media, like painting and sculpture, to new media, like digital works and installations, are considered and contextualized, while numerous artistic modes such as appropriation, conceptualism, pluralism, identity art, and relationalism are examined. Lively discussions during and after gallery visits, lectures, visiting artists and readings will also be a key component of this course.
Over the years the class has made studio visits to speak to artists like Evan Penny, Stephen Andrews, Heather Nicol, Diana Meredith, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Nayland Blake, and Catherine Heard.
Spring 2020:
8 Weeks: Base Tuition: $335 + Guest Artist Fee: $60 = Total: $395
Notes: Notes: No experience necessary. Any entrance fees or transportation costs are the responsibility of the student. Spring Itinerary will involve a studio visit (artist to be announced). Public Galleries: Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Power Plant, Ryerson Image Centre, Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art, Koffler Gallery, Museums at U of T, OnSite Gallery. Artist Run Centres: A Space, Mercer Union, YYZ, Gallery 44, Open Studio, TPW, Gallery 1313. Private Galleries: Angell Gallery, Erin Stump Projects, Division/Arsenal Gallery, Daniel Faria Gallery, Clint Roenisch Gallery, Olga Korper Gallery, MKG127, Paul Petro Gallery, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Cooper Cole Gallery, Franz Kaka Gallery, Georgia Scherman Gallery, Birch Contemporary, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Feheley Gallery, Jane Corkin Gallery, Patel Gallery, Dianna Witte Gallery. Collective Galleries: Red Head Gallery, Propeller Gallery.