Projects with words. Bus shelter art. Social Practice. EVERYDAY VIDEO POETICS » Blog Archive » Thoughts on Ethics, Process, and Learning Curves in Socially Engaged Art Practice. Thinking about what it means to do the work that I’m doing.
What is it that happens in ‘socially engaged’ art practice that makes me want to do it? In thinking about my experience so far with Flushing International High School, it’s important for me to sit down and write some thoughts out, for perspective and also clarity with myself on my methods, motives, and what I’m learning in this process of making art that is ‘socially engaged.’ Here I am – this person with a bunch of ideas about a project with immigrant youth; not an immigrant myself (at least not first-generation, as these students are), an outsider who lives on the other side of the country, coming in suddenly for three weeks in December and January. I enter the space, not knowing anyone except for my friend who teaches there and who had done so much already to help promote and support the project – but how much could anyone do given that I couldn’t even be there for this?
Research. Organisations. Socially engaged projects.