Are you passionate about politics? Do you think art has power? In this class we will explore the intersection of political movements and independent art collectives. We will seek to understand the motivations of the group, and the formal artistic techniques they employ to reach their goal. You will gain confidence in analyzing art as well as understanding of political ideologies. Additionally, we will discuss together how we can use art as a tool to affect our own political change. Finally, supplies will be provided to create your own art piece.

Do you love unusual, experimental art? Ever wished to learn more about Performance Art? This course will be an introduction to Performance Art! We will explore different facets of the medium, centering upon two to three artists or performances per lecture. The course will be very interactive, I want to hear your thoughts and ideas. We will watch video recordings drawn from archives, discussing in depth their social and cultural contextualizations. Join for a fun time!

Surrealism is a cultural movement derivative of post-WWI Europe that sought to free the subconscious mind through imaginative and nonsensical expression. André Breton’s First Manifesto of Surrealism spoke of the “omnipotence of dream”, claiming that the resolution of two contradictory states; dream and reality, would open the mind to true freedom of thought. Following the philosophical publishings of Breton and others, surrealism expanded into the art world, and later into the realm of digital media. In this course we will explore the relationship between irrationality and logic within creative expression. Day one will serve as an introduction to surrealism. On day two we will focus on surrealism in traditional art. On day three we will explore surrealist expression within digital media. On day four we will dig deep into the political and social implications of surrealism–speaking about intersectionality within the movement. On day five materials will be supplied to create your very own surrealist masterpiece. (No art background is required, expectations are low!) On day six we will reflect seminar-style on surrealism within the art world.

Pierre Balmain once described fashion, or rather dressmaking to be the architecture of movement. Indeed, in both art forms, we witness identical concerns for proportions and volumes as well as the desire to find the right balance between creativity and functionality. Through the pieces of Hussein Chalayan, Iris Van Herpen, Thierry Mugler, Rei Kawakubo, and Pierre Balmain, the interchangeability and close parallels between the two mediums, and how knowledge in one influences creative decisions in another are evident. In this class, we hope to draw particular connections between architecture and fashion—the incorporation of geometric perfection, the contradiction and confluence of fluidity and structure, and the defiance of gravity. At the same time, we hope to provide a space for students to utilize what they have learned in a hands-on experience: creating one fashion piece (accessories/shoes/etc. accommodated) that references architectural concepts.