Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism.

We cover artists from around the globe whose work explores and realizes social change. Our goal is to provide a narrative about these activist efforts while simultaneously participating in them. Maintained by The Groundswell Collective since 2007.

Institute for Aesthetic Research

Chris Kennedy wrote this post at 12:50 pm on October 20th, 2009.

(Artist and Groundswell guest blogger Chris Kennedy makes projects for the land and for situated communities. His ongoing projects include Artiscycle, Groups and Spaces, and the Institute for Applied Aesthetics.)

Hmm…so many institutes, schools and research-based projects as of late! A recent project called the Institute for Aesthetic Research by Daniel Lichtman and David Baumflek is holding some events at Exit Art in New York this month and next. Sounds like some good discussions and exchanges will come from this….but I can’t help but wonder – what if anything comes from these projects if they are temporary or event-based….how can we move beyond art as an event-economy in many ways – can the idea of this “Institute” be something long term and meaningful for an actual situated community – can that community be found in NYC? Cultural production outside of the realm of neoliberalism…what does that mean? Still good stuff though…

From Exit Art: As part of America for Sale, artists Daniel Lichtman and David Baumflek will host The Institute for Aesthetic Research (IAR) – a program of public events, talks and discussions focused on Art, Economics and Institutional Critique. They will attempt to translate the traditional role of the “think tank” into the sphere of cultural production and visual art. As the traditional think tank situates itself between the academy, special interests and government, the IAR will consider how to place itself critically within the circuits of distribution and legitimization of aesthetic objects and ideas. The IAR will itself be an experiment in the dynamics of cultural-political discourse. These five weekly meetings will culminate in a collectively-produced publication that explores the possibilities of cultural production in contestation, or outside the realm of Neoliberalism. (Image: University of Trash)

Related posts:

  1. IssueLab’s Research Remix Contest: CFW
  2. Artiscycle, by the Institute for Applied Aesthetics
  3. Yael Bartana’s “Wild Seeds” at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art
  4. The Last Supper
  5. Art Work: A National Conversation About Art, Labor, and Economics


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