A symposium on contemporary art criticism and culture.

Thursday, November 11 – Friday, November 12

Elvehjem Museum of Art, Madison

Hosted by respected art critic Michael Brenson, the Fall 2004 Arts Institute Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence, and organized by the Elvehjem Museum of Art, this symposium will create a forum to discuss issues of critical authority, influence and identity. What kinds of power do critics have? How do critics gain and wield power? What are the effects on art and culture when critics become voices of institutional authority? How do critics affect society?

The symposium will begin with a keynote address in which Brenson will consider the issue of critical power and define why the authority of the critic and the complex interests served by that authority are urgent cultural issues at the beginning of the 21st century. In the morning session, "Models of Critical Power," three distinguished critics, Debra Bricker Balken, Katalin Timár and Katy Siegel will offer meditations on the positions and impact of Clement Greenberg, Rosalind Krauss and Dave Hickey, three exceptionally gifted and influential critics. The respondent for the first session will be art historian Ann Reynolds. In the afternoon session, "Criticism in History," artist Barbara Kruger, curator-critic Okwui Enwezor and museum director Ted Potter will discuss ways in which criticism have shaped not only the careers of artists and the thinking of curators but also the broad understanding of historical moments in art. For the second session, the respondent will be performance artist and professor of women's studies and visual culture Laurie Beth Clark.

Schedule

Hosted by Michael Brenson, Critic and Fall 2004 Arts Institute Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence

Thursday November 11

5:30 p.m. Keynote Address by Michael Brenson, L160, Elvehjem Museum of Art
6:30-8 p.m. Reception, Paige Court, Elvehjem Museum of Art

Friday November 12

9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. MODELS OF CRITICAL POWER, L160, Elvehjem Museum of Art

Debra Bricker Balken, Critic and Curator
Katalin Timár, Critic and Curator, Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest
Katy Siegel, Critic and Art Historian, Hunter College
Ann Reynolds, Critic and Art Historian, University of Texas

12-1 Lunch

1-3 p.m. CRITICISM IN HISTORY, L160, Elvehjem Museum of Art

Ted Potter, Director, Anderson Gallery, Virginia Commonwealth University
Okwui Enwezor, Curator, Critic and Artistic Director of Documenta XI
Barbara Kruger, Artist
Laurie Beth Clark, Professor, UW-Madison Art Department

3:30-4:30 p.m. Discussion

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (608) 263-2246.