ARTS1201: Art + Change: The Transformational Power of Art

Art+ Change: The Transformational Power of Art is an introduction to the complex and varied artist-centered approaches to the social, ethical, political, and environmental challenges of our times. As an emerging form of art, contemporary socially engaged art is not a monolithic practice and goals amongst practitioners exhibit a wide range of approaches. Artists may work towards changing dominant systems in order to foster more positive outcomes; other artists strive to acknowledge and call out complexity and contradictions of those same systems. While artists working in this field, commonly called social practice work, investigate a broad set of topics and media approaches, with varying motivations and intentions, what they share is a foregrounding of the subject and content that informs the work. This course examines the way engaged social art practice can lead to sustained connections and shared visions within communities and institutions; can create a more just and equitable culture; and can address many pressing environmental and social issues of our day. The class investigates the role of the art as a catalyst for social change. We will approach this through questions and dialogue, acknowledging that many of the tensions and contradictions cannot be resolved but are still worth the effort to recognize and address. This course combines a research-based learning environment with a strong studio- based component. Through readings, presentations, field trips, experiential and sensory opportunities, case studies, video presentations, and class project initiatives, we will explore the spectrum of contemporary strategies to a socially engaged approach to art. Students will create hands-on and a culminating collaborative creative project and will learn to identify themes, develop ideas individually, and collectively and execute these ideas through multiple ways of knowing and making of art projects. Through a variety of media, students will be encouraged to explore issues and address themes that they are passionate about. Students will be assessed through their participation in discussion, through their writing, and the quality of their creative projects

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