In the Historical Present
July 8–October 6, 2019Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery
Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
2 West 13th Street, ground floor
The inspiration for this exhibition is The New School’s Centennial. In the Historical Present looks back and takes stock of this institution’s legacy, attending to the dynamic yet often
hidden and dormant possibilities inherent in the school’s many pasts. The exhibition envisions the archive as a site of latent moments that might become scripts and scores for possible futures. Through commissioned artworks, pieces from The New School's
art collection and archives, and artist-led engagements and performances, In the Historical Present invites viewers to conceive of the institution itself as a script — a set of procedures, methodologies, and discursive practices that unfold
over time.
Artists: Daniel Bejar; Black Lunch Table; Sheila Bridges, AAS Interior Design '93; Lucia Cuba, MFA Fashion Design and Society '12; Domestic Performance Agency; Nikita Gale; Jonathan Gardenhire, BFA Photography '14; Camilo Godoy, BFA Photography
'12 and BA Education Studies '13; David Hammons; Matthew Jensen; Sue Jeong Ka; Glenn Ligon; Sable Elyse Smith, MFA Design and Technology '13; Caroline Woolard; Shevaun Wright; Yonkers International Press
Curators:
Macushla Robinson, MA Liberal Studies ’17
Anna Harsanyi, BA Liberal Arts ’08
Programs and Special Events
All programs are held in the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center (2 West 13th Street) unless noted otherwise.
Wednesday, September 11
2:00 p.m. | WORKSHOP
Yonkers International Press: The Book is
Someone to Touch
Explore movement and dance techniques while reflecting on the ways bodies comes into contact with material archives and books.
Thursday, September 12
5:00 p.m. | EXHIBITION TOUR
Exhibition Tour: In the Historical Present
Join curators Macushla Robinson and
Anna Harsanyi for a tour of the exhibition and conversation about the artworks and archival materials.
Friday, September 13
7:00 p.m. | OPEN MIC
Open Mic with Performances by American Artist and Justin Allen
Join artists and New School alumni American Artist and Justin Allen for a participatory open platform that invites participants to share their own work and process.
Monday, September 16
3:30 p.m. | WORKSHOP
Camilo Godoy: Diplomacy Movement Workshop
Orozco Room (66 West 12th Street, room 712)
Join Camilo Godoy in a movement workshop that explores the power dynamics of the Cold War era and how they intersected with the choreography of José Limón. The event is held in the room in which
the Orozco panels were installed in 1930.
Wednesday, September 18
4:00 p.m. | WORKSHOP
Yonkers International Press: The Book is
Someone to Touch
Explore movement and dance techniques while reflecting on the ways bodies come into contact with material archives and books.
Friday, September 20
7:00 p.m. | OPEN MIC
Open Mic with Readings by Aisha Jordan and Allen Strouse
Join writers and New School alumni Aisha Jordan and Allen Strouse for an open mic. Bring your work to share and hear others present their ideas, works in progress, or finished pieces.
Monday, September 23
12:30 p.m. | ROUNDTABLE
Black Lunch Table: People's Table
Join us for lunch at the People's Table, a community discussion of sociopolitical issues affecting historically disenfranchised populations.
Tuesday, September 24
12:30 p.m. | ROUNDTABLE
Black Lunch Table: Artists' Roundtable
Join us for lunch at the Artists' Roundtable, an affinity space in which Black artists, curators, and arts administrators can discuss issues related to our specific experience.
Wednesday, September 25
5:00 p.m. | WORKSHOP
Archiving Relations
Join artist Sue Jeong Ka, librarian and activist Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz, and a librarian from the New York Public Library at Rikers Island for a workshop on archival practices related to social justice and civil rights.
Thursday, September 26
7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | PERFORMANCE
Camilo Godoy: Diplomacy
Orozco Room (66 West 12th Street, room 712)
A performance exploring the power dynamics of the Cold War era and how they intersected with institutional support of art and dance. Godoy reconstructs
this history through movement and reading of texts in the Orozco Room, itself the site of political and historical juxtapositions. Two performances: 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 1
12:00–6:00 p.m.
Black Lunch Table
Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon
Of all Wikipedia editors, 91 percent identify as white and 77 percent identify as men. This edit-a-thon offers participants training in editing Wikipedia, with the goal of creating and improving upon articles about Black artists. A list of artists to add or edit will be provided,
with a focus on Black artists who have worked within or are connected to The New School’s community and are underdocumented on Wikipedia.
Wednesday, October 2
12:00–6:00 p.m.
Black Lunch Table
Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon
Of all Wikipedia editors, 91 percent identify as white and 77 percent identify as men. This edit-a-thon offers participants training in editing Wikipedia, with the goal of creating and improving upon articles about Black artists. A list of artists to add or edit will be provided, with a focus on Black artists who have worked within or are connected to The New School’s community and are underdocumented on Wikipedia.
Thursday, October 3
12:00 noon | EXHIBITION TOUR
Exhibition Tour: In the Historical Present
Join curators Macushla Robinson and Anna Harsanyi for a tour of the exhibition and conversation about the
artworks and archival materials.
2:00 p.m. | WORKSHOP
Wearables For/To Protest by Lucia Cuba
Join artist Lucia Cuba to make your own garment emblazoned with a slogan or story addressing the issues most important to you.
7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. | PERFORMANCE
Camilo Godoy: Diplomacy
Orozco Room (66 West 12th Street, room 712)
A performance exploring the power dynamics of the Cold War era and how they intersected with institutional support of art and dance. Godoy reconstructs
this history through movement and reading of texts in the Orozco Room, itself the site of political and historical juxtapositions. Two performances: 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Friday, October 4
12:00 noon | EXHIBITION TOUR
Exhibition Tour: In the Historical Present
Join curators Macushla Robinson and Anna Harsanyi for a tour of the exhibition
and conversation about the artworks and archival materials.
5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. | PERFORMANCE
Camilo Godoy: Diplomacy
Orozco Room (66 West 12th Street, room 712)
A performance exploring the power dynamics of the Cold War era and how they intersected with institutional support of art and dance. Godoy reconstructs
this history through movement and reading of texts in the Orozco Room, itself the site of political and historical juxtapositions. Two performances: 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 5
12:00 noon | EXHIBITION TOUR
Exhibition Tour: In the Historical Present
Join curators Macushla Robinson and Anna Harsanyi for a tour of the exhibition and conversation about the
artworks and archival materials.
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Domestic Performance Agency: Closing Reception
To mark the close of the exhibition, Domestic Performance Agency presents a performative edible spread using fungi developed in collaboration with artists and New School faculty along with readings from the group's publication, CookBook Domestic Performance Agency.
9:30-10:30 p.m.
Yonkers International Press
A performance of movement and dance using the material archive as a site in which to investigate ways moving bodies come into contact with printed matter.
Sunday, October 6
12:00 noon | EXHIBITION TOUR
Exhibition Tour: In the Historical Present
Join curators Macushla Robinson and Anna Harsanyi for a tour of the exhibition
and conversation about the artworks and archival materials.