If you were at the NCECA Keynote address like I was chances are you are still buzzing with ideas, new knowledge and a hope for a better future that Theaster Gates inspired us all with. Here’s a quick video to get you started. If you’re like me you might just get stuck in youtube for the rest of the day watching Theaster.
movie day: Theaster Gates Soul Manufacturing Corp.
by Carole Epp | Mar 26, 2014 | Uncategorized | 5 comments
I'm writing a paper on Theaster Gates for an art history class I'm taking called "Visualizing Race". Do you know if his NCECA lecture is available anywhere? I've watched a ton of his videos on YouTube, he's so amazing!
Hi Teddy!
It will be online in the future we are told but first all of the paperwork and politics of getting things such as this online need to be undertaken. There are issues of content ownership etc that are currently being worked on. As soon as I am aware of it being posted somewhere I will provide a link, but I have no idea of the timeline. Sorry,
Carole
Hi: Typically I am a reader not a comment leaver. (Sorry Carole) but having watched a couple videos of Theaster, I have to say that this man has some brilliant ideas on art and community and its impact on society as a whole.
One of the statements he made hit me, when asked about his many varying accomplishments and what title he uses to describe himself he said "he is a believer in transformative acts"
Thanks Carole for your commitment to this community of believers.
Tim
Thanks Tim, for commenting and for your thoughtful words. That quote of Theaster's is so inspiring and seems to truly show who he is at the core. He is a great example of a wonderful way to live. I feel like we would have a conversation on that idea alone – the idea of transformative acts in our community. Hmmmmm.
To return to this conversation – that's precisely why I'm researching Theaster. I'm a ceramics student, but also extremely involved in social justice issues. I'm searching for ways to make transformative change and build a more loving community at my college – and eventually in the wider world. He has truly been inspirational to me. I'm at a place where I think what's most important is the impact I make in the world, not how I make it. As in, I don't know the future of my art, because I can more clearly see the importance of being a teacher or in education reform, whereas it obviously takes a long time for art to develop. Everyone tells me to be patient 🙂 But I hope to eventually work in Theaster's model of multiple "titles" all for the singular purpose of bringing people together to create something beautiful.
And thanks Carole, for creating this space, I regularly check the blog and your instagram – always enjoyable!