Home > LECTURES & LITERATURE > Theaster Gates “An Epitaph For Civil Rights and Other Domesticated Structures” LECTURE

• Tweet
• Outlook
• ICAL
• PRINT
• Email
• Feedback

• RSS

• Official Website

Theaster Gates “An Epitaph For Civil Rights and Other Domesticated Structures” LECTURE

Presented by Fabric Workshop and Museum at Fabric Workshop and Museum

June 20, 2011

Comment on Facebook

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) in collaboration with Art Sanctuary, the Asian Arts Initiative, and Taller Puertorriqueño is proud to present a lecture by Theaster Gates, "An Epitaph For Civil Rights and Other Domesticated Structures," that will be held at The Fabric Workshop and Museum on Monday, June 20th at 7:00 pm. A reception will begin at 6:00 pm.



Theaster Gates (Chicago, IL) is an artist, musician, and “cultural planner,” as well as Director of Arts Program Development at the University of Chicago. The artist has described his practice as being “transformative,” converting spaces, institutions, traditions, and perceptions through his performances, installations, and urban interventions.



In blending performance art, urban planning and design, and traditional fine art making, Gates presents a platform for communities to understand how to successfully sustain themselves. This approach enables Gates to present challenging issues in new ways to engage a community. Gates is committed to the restoration of poor black neighborhoods by converting abandoned buildings into cultural spaces that allow not only new cultural moments to occur in unexpected places, but raise the city’s expectations of where “place-making” happens and why. Using art as a tool for social change gives Gates an opportunity to practice urban planning without having to be part of an institution, and allows him to share his spirit and love with the community.



Theaster Gates received his B.S. from Iowa State University in 1996 in Urban Planning and Ceramics; a M.A. from University of Cape Town in 1998 in Fine Arts and Religious Studies; and in 2006, a M.S from Iowa State University in Urban Planning, Ceramics, and Religious Studies. Currently a Loeb Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Gates has received awards from the Joyce Foundation and the Graham Foundation. He has performed and exhibited at the 2010 Whitney Biennial; the Milwaukee Art Museum; Brunno David Gallery and Pulitzer Museum of Art in St. Louis; the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston; Seattle Art Museum, WA; and Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit, MI. Theaster Gates is represented by Kavi Gupta CHICAGO I BERLIN.



To reserve your seat, please call 215.561.8888 or email michele@fabricworkshopandmuseum.org.



The event is supported by the Fabric Workshop and Museum and, in part, by the following: a professional development grant to Art Sanctuary from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative; the Asian Arts Initiative; and Taller Puertorriqueño.



About The Fabric Workshop and Museum

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) is the only museum of its kind, offering internationally renowned artists the resources to create new work in experimental materials. Artists come from all media—including sculpture, installation, video, painting, ceramics, and architecture—and use FWM’s facilities and technical expertise to create works of art that they could not create on their own. Research, construction, and fabrication occur on-site in studios that are open to the public, providing visitors with the opportunity to see works of art from conception to completion. FWM’s permanent collections include not only complete works of art, but also material research, samples, prototypes, and photography and video of artists making and speaking about their work. Access to the creative process provides visitors with a point of entry into understanding challenging works of contemporary art. FWM offers an unparalleled experience to the most significant artists of our time, students, and the general public.





About Art Sanctuary

Art Sanctuary, founded in North Philadelphia, uses the power of black art to transform individuals, unite groups of people, and enrich, and draw inspiration from the inner city. They invite established and aspiring artists to help create excellent lectures, performances, and educational programs.



About Asian Arts Initiative

The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in Philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, addresses our social context, and imagines and effects positive community change.



About Taller Puertorriqueño

Taller is committed to its mission of preserving, developing and promoting Puerto Rican artistic and cultural traditions, as well as to the quality representation of other Latin American cultures and our common roots.



Primary photo: Theaster Gates, "Civil Tapestries," 2011, decommissioned fire hoses and wood, 48" x 123" x 4", photo courtesy of Kavi Gupta CHICAGO I BERLIN



Image 1: Theaster Gates, installation view of "An Epitaph for Civil Rights and Other Domesticated Structures," 2011, Kavi Gupta CHICAGO I BERLIN, photo courtesy of Kavi Gupta CHICAGO I BERLIN