SCAD Presents deFINE ART 2011, a Program of Fine Art Showcasing Lectures, Exhibitions, Performances and Public Events

Honoring and Featuring Marina Abramovic

Series of public programs featuring Alfredo Jaar, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Sarah Lewis, Sarah Thornton, Gary Tinterow and  Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid

Feb. 22 - 26, 2011

SCAD Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Savannah College of Art and Design presents the second deFINE ART program, the showcase of leading artists, art professionals, SCAD students, faculty, alumni and special guests in Savannah and Atlanta, taking place Feb. 22-26, 2011. deFINE ART features lectures by prominent figures in the art world, special exhibitions, commissions, student showcases, performances and other events, which will be viewed at venues throughout the university's locations in Savannah and Atlanta. deFINE ART 2011 will also honor performance artist Marina Abramovic for her groundbreaking work and influence on contemporary art. Abramovic will give the keynote lecture at SCAD locations in Savannah and Atlanta and will have a solo exhibition at the university's Pinnacle Gallery in Savannah that includes three videos and an iconic photographic series.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110209/DC44704)

As a signature feature of deFINE ART, leading art world professionals will present a series of public talks about their areas of expertise and a variety of other topics.

Gary Tinterow, Engelhard Curator in Charge of Nineteenth-Century, Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will give a talk, "Building the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art," focusing on the history of the collection of modern and contemporary art and the museum's evolving attitudes about its permanent display.  

Sarah Thornton, contributing writer for The Economist and author of the bestselling book "Seven Days in the Art World," will present "Seven Days in the Art World…and Counting," exploring the diverse subcultures that share a belief in contemporary art. Her book, a funny series of nonfiction narratives, reveals the inner workings of the institutions that contribute to an artist's place in art history. Since finishing her book, Thornton has continued to travel and research, exploring the lives of artists and the dynamics of the art market in many different countries.  

Sarah Lewis, independent curator and critic, will discuss "What are We Failing to See?: Tales of Curating and Writing," covering concepts and new media works behind "The Dissolve," SITE Santa Fe's 2001 International Biennial that she co-curated. Lewis will also present highlights from "Rise," her forthcoming book about the benefits of failure for creative pursuits of all kinds.  

Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid, the acclaimed experimental hip-hop musician, author and conceptual artist, will present his latest large-scale multimedia performance, "Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica." This special public performance – part acoustic and part multimedia portrait of the continent – will also take place in both Atlanta and Savannah.

In addition, deFINE ART 2011 will feature a series of exhibitions in the SCAD galleries and in special outdoor locations. Among these are "Pulse Spiral," an interactive light installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in Savannah; a special outdoor screening of "Muxima," a cinematic elegy to the people of Angola by Alfredo Jaar, currently a Distinguished Visiting Faculty member at SCAD Savannah; a site-specific installation of work by visiting artist and noted SCAD alumnus Michael Scoggins (M.F.A., painting, 2006); "The Spirituality of Place," a group exhibition featuring works by Mark Bradford, Andy Goldsworthy, Mona Hatoum, Kimsooja, Yoko Ono and Do Ho Suh in Savannah; "Momentary Suspension," a solo show featuring a new site-specific cut paper installation and drawings by Andreas Kocks in Atlanta; "The In-Between," a solo show of commissioned sculptural installations by JuYeon Kim in Atlanta; "Six In One: SCAD in New American Paintings" in Savannah and Atlanta, a group exhibition of work by SCAD students and alumni who are included in the 88^th edition of "New American Paintings," the national juried exhibition-in-print journal; and a student photography exhibition "Tilting the Lens: A SCAD Documentation of Sham Shui Po," featuring selections from a documentary project chronicling the rapid transformations taking place in the Sham Shui Po neighborhood of Hong Kong, home to SCAD's newest location.

The mission of deFINE ART is to establish an annual series which highlights SCAD's School of Fine Arts and is on a par with the nationally-recognized spring SCAD Style program. deFINE ART seeks to celebrate the achievements and outstanding caliber of the SCAD School of Fine Arts that is actively shaping and giving rise to new artistic expression, dialogue and innovation. SCAD School of Fine Arts disciplines include painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Organized by Laurie Ann Farrell, executive director of exhibitions at SCAD, in collaboration with numerous departments throughout the university, deFINE ART represents one of SCAD's many initiatives to expand the learning environment beyond the boundaries of the classroom and studio.

Further information about deFINE ART 2011, including a calendar of events and a full list of participants, can be found at www.scad.edu/defineart.

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SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design