Grad (Ohne Titel) (2008)

PowerPoint Presentation for
Sticks without Walls: Art Vanderlay Projects, 1/6 4th Syromyantichesky Per, Moscow

12th November 2007-12th January 2008

Artist Alexandr Petrovsky was the director of this innovative project that combined sticks leaning against walls with rigorous debate. For this event, Petrovsky hosted over 70 national and international artists. A keynote address was given by Georg Stipell whose internationally renowned work has helped to expand the notions of stick based art practices for over a decade.

The artists involved in Sticks without Walls challenged our traditional ideas of what sticks are and do. These artist's stick based projects mediate the contemporary frameworks of sticks as service, as social sticks (e.g. clothes poles), as activism (for holding up banners), as interactions (communal toothpicks), and as relationships (erotic sticks). This conference was situated in the space between theory and sticks, where participants and audiences engaged with sticks. The topics explored included: What would new relational models of sticks, theory, and writing look like? What is the social role of the stick leaning against a wall? What happens when people really connect with each other or with sticks? What could we do in our daily lives to form meaningful connections and build bigger better more leaning sticks? What should sticks do? Can sticks provide an alternative? Can sticks provide an answer?

The three-week conference focused on stick-based practices- post-Bourriaud: striving for sticks that desire for something real to happen--not just the imitation of something real. The goal of Sticks without Walls was to bring together identikit-minded individuals (artists and audience) to confer on sticks leaning against walls and forge lasting connections. This was an intense, immersive, around the clock experience. It was a conference, an exhibition/performance venue, a mini-residency, and a workshop. Participants partook in experiences that connected them with each other: artists, art institutions, audiences, and arts communities. Each out-of-town presenter was billeted with a member of the local community. Participants made meals together, shared meals together, and were encouraged to thank their hosts by leaving a stick leaning against something that isn't a wall.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• neil
• mulholland
• sticks