WORD MATTERS
Word Matters – June 2007
‘Spinning a Line’ and ‘Crafting a Visual Language’, sought to explore current levels of dissemination of writing and practice, and the contribution of the individual to writing on art. Reaching no definitive conclusions, Word Matters is a discussion, an exploration, into text as label and as access; text as catalogue and as critique; as interpretation and as an accompaniment; text as description and as narrative; and text as gossip and performance. It is a debate about the limitations and the possibilities of words, and an observation of the contemporary art world and its on-going conversations.
‘Spinning a Line’ – 12 June, 2007 David Bate, Stephanie James, Lee Triming, and Laura McLean-Ferris. Chaired by Jim Hunter
‘Crafting a Visual Language’ – 26 June, 2007 Stephanie James and Professor Simon Olding
Chaired by Jim Hunter
WORD MATTERS TOO – June 2009
WORD MATTERS TOO invited writer Gemma Seltzer, author of Memory Colours for the publication Jordan Baseman: Dark is the Night, to join a discussion on the role and presence of narrative in contemporary art, with a focus on the artworks presented in ArtSway’s New Forest Pavilion. A publication contained the edited transcript from this event, led by Gemma Seltzer and Stephanie James, with audience contributions. The ensuing dialogue is an exploration into the narrative possibilities born from the meeting of the visual with language. It offers a glimpse into the different interpretations offered by those whose craft and training is rooted in the visual arts compared to others who work with words and language.
WORD MATTERS 3 – June 2011
Who needs art anyway? - Perspectives on Collecting Contemporary Art
This seminar contributed to discussions around the collecting of contemporary art. Why collect? as an individual or as an institution. What are the drivers for collecting, what are the strategies? How is collecting mediated? What are the current trends? Where is the 'public value' and how is it realised? Private collections or public, are either really visible? What is the impact of the current financial situation, if any?
Professor Jim Hunter, Chair and Deputy Principal AUCB; Stephanie James, The Gallery AUCB; Stuart Evans, Collector and recently Head of Collections at Tate; Paul Hedge, Director of Hales Gallery; Gayle Chong Kwan, Artist; Kate Jones, Matthew Jones, John Jones Frame Design and Mark Segal, Director of ArtSway