Art in a Democratic Society Lecture Series (FA2021)

As a part of the ART 285: Art in a Democratic Society course at St. Norbert College, Associate Professor Brandon Bauer is hosting a lecture series that was supported by the Faculty Mini-Grant Program through the Norman Miller Center for Peace, Justice, and Public Understanding.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, September 13th – Aram Han Sifuentes

Aram Han Sifuentes is a fiber and social practice artist who works to claim spaces for immigrant and disenfranchised communities. Her work often revolves around skill sharing, specifically sewing techniques, to create multiethnic and intergenerational sewing circles, which become a place for empowerment, subversion and protest.

Lecture Link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/606656249/cc9ae39619

Tuesday, October 5th – U.S. Department of Arts and Culture

Founded in 2013 The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) is a “people-powered department” (not a federal agency) committed to supporting individuals and organizations in mobilizing creativity in the service of justice. While social issues may be grounded in politics and economics, the USDAC believes that to change the world we need to change the story. Images, language, and attitudes affect our ability to understand and act on the challenges we face as a society.

Lecture Link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/623734181/35e19637b4

Tuesday, November 16th – Valeria Mogilevich

Valeria is a designer and educator working at the intersection of education, design, and community engagement. She specializes in demystifying policy, authentic engagement strategies, collaboration, experiential education, and working with immigrant communities. Valeria has collaborated on visual “explainers”, curricula, community engagement strategies, and public artworks with grassroots organizations, government agencies, and cultural institutions.

Lecture Link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/646607880/a555db5690

Tuesday, November 23rd – Matthijs de Bruijne

Matthijs de Bruijne’s practice is a result of direct political involvement. In recent years it has taken the form of collaboration with trade unions and other labor organizations. In 2010 he was invited by the Dutch Union of Cleaners to work as an artist helping this worker’s led organization to visualize their messages in a clear manner and by creating a recognizable identity for this union in the Netherlands. Since 2020 he has been creating the archive of this union which will be gifted to the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam.

Lecture Link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/649194271/dbcbebdc41

Thank you to Grace Liska-Verdu for the poster!

css.php