March 06, 2008
Camden Arts Center - London
Curator Jenni Lommax gave a talk tonight at the Glasgow Trade Hall, hosted by the Common Guild. She has been the director of the Camden Arts Center based in London for the past 20 years - very inspiring to hear from a director who is absolutely passionate about contemporary art, coupled with a sincere vision for the mandate and direction of the her center.
What I found most interesting is how not only the gallery exhibition space is the focus for creation and presentation of art, but that art leaks out from the various sites and accompanies all of the transitions along the way. For example how during a period of renovations they continued a program by squatting off-site exhibition spaces, a photographer had residency documenting the renovations, a string of Felix Gonzalez lights led the way through the city, drawings on the walls of the center, and the construction site itself became an art interface...
Another key point that Jenni stressed, was the importance of keeping the mandate at the heart throughout the evolution of the center, especially in development. There was a question asked towards the end about business, and businesses in the center - coffee shops to bookstores. Jenni really stressed the importance of keeping the center without franchize, about being honest about what the center will actually generate financially, and sticking to the guns as to its importance.
Camden Arts Center - London
Curator Jenni Lommax gave a talk tonight at the Glasgow Trade Hall, hosted by the Common Guild. She has been the director of the Camden Arts Center based in London for the past 20 years - very inspiring to hear from a director who is absolutely passionate about contemporary art, coupled with a sincere vision for the mandate and direction of the her center.
What I found most interesting is how not only the gallery exhibition space is the focus for creation and presentation of art, but that art leaks out from the various sites and accompanies all of the transitions along the way. For example how during a period of renovations they continued a program by squatting off-site exhibition spaces, a photographer had residency documenting the renovations, a string of Felix Gonzalez lights led the way through the city, drawings on the walls of the center, and the construction site itself became an art interface...
Another key point that Jenni stressed, was the importance of keeping the mandate at the heart throughout the evolution of the center, especially in development. There was a question asked towards the end about business, and businesses in the center - coffee shops to bookstores. Jenni really stressed the importance of keeping the center without franchize, about being honest about what the center will actually generate financially, and sticking to the guns as to its importance.
