An A-List of Visiting Artists: A Preview of VAP 2004 |
By Michelle Zis |
The
SAIC auditorium just may be the best venue in town. Each semester the Visiting
Artists Program (VAP) hosts an impressive lecture series of A-list artists and
scholars. Beginning her fifth year as VAP director, Romi Crawford possibly has
the best gig in town. Crawford describes the process of developing the theme
of each lecture series as a complicated collaboration with many faculty members.
One of Crawford�s main objectives is to work as an advocate for the different
departments, making sure that the lecture series is an eclectic mix of scholars
and artists working in various media.
There are no rules when it comes to inviting a particular artist or scholar.
Two years ago, Crawford approached Gagosian Gallery asking if their artist Ellen
Gallagher would speak at the Minimalist series. They replied, �Gallagher doesn�t
do that sort of thing.� Since Crawford and Gallagher were acquaintances when
both women attended Oberlin College, Crawford decided to email the artist directly.
Gallagher affectionately replied that she would be happy to speak at SAIC. �It
is really a bizarre program in that there is no set formula. We are dealing
with human beings. There are so many personalities involved. There is a personality
that loves to do this kind of thing and there is a personality that loathes
it and they are not going to do it unless it is for somebody they know,� says
Crawford.
When asked which previous VAP lecturers revealed high-maintenance, humorous,
or eccentric personalities, Crawford laughed but would not divulge any art world
secrets. In order to maintain a certain level of professionalism, Crawford avoids
the possibility of anything embarrassing happening by taking each guest speaker
to the same quiet restaurant near school. She does not encourage heavy drinking
or dancing into the wee hours in the morning because the visitors are expected
to do studio critiques the following day.
Studio visits from an artist or scholar are the best way a SAIC student can
utilize VAP. Crawford explains that some students take great advantage of VAP
and attend all the lectures while others at least attend the better-known speakers.
The SAIC Visiting Artists Program |
Those students who do not frequent the SAIC auditorium will truly miss out
this fall semester. The season starts off with a visit from conceptual political
artist, Emily Jacir, who divides her time between New York and the West Bank.
The final lecture is reserved for performance artist and writer Coco Fusco.
With a variety of intriguing artists in between, the VAP series is designed
so that continuous dialogue links the five lectures. Crawford is always pleased
when students engage the speaker. �The idea is to question, to explore. They
are supposed to be crazy, open forums for dialogue and discussion of art.�
F Newsmagazine
September 2004