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SOTA

SOTA

By Jasa McKenzie & Sarah Kuenzler

SOTA: State of the Arts is a podcast exploring contemporary art of the Twin Cities and beyond! We discuss international art news, critical topics affecting the art world today, and interview local artists. Hosted by art historian Sarah Kuenzler and curator Jasa McKenzie.
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Installation Remix // Jes Reyes

SOTAFeb 24, 2020

00:00
58:49
Art in Rural Places

Art in Rural Places

Hello, SOTAns! Did you know that both of your hosts are from very rural places? This week, we're tapping into our rural roots to discuss how art can make an economic impact on the USA's small, rural towns. We lay out some common facets of rural culture then, bring in some exciting examples of rural towns that have successfully made art a pinnacle of their economy. Although this podcast centers around the Twin Cities, let's not discount the dynamic possibilities of our rural neighbors!

References:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/five_ways_the_arts_impact_rural_economies

https://www.ozy.com/the-new-and-the-next/can-the-arts-save-rural-america-from-the-recession/277323/

https://www.governing.com/gov-institute/voices/col-growing-economic-importance-arts-rural-america.html

Dec 16, 202030:26
The Nonprofit Industrial Complex
Dec 08, 202044:46
Decolonize Art History: "Orientalism"

Decolonize Art History: "Orientalism"

Hello, SOTAns! Orientalism. We know–we're cringing with you. Many of us haven't heard this term since our Art History 101 class (which has also ALSO historically been problematic, as so we have discussed before). But, let us not pretend that it didn't exist or what colonial BS lead to its subject matter and its name. In this episode, Sarah guides us through its definition and traits while also calling out it's totally Western-Centric, exoticized existence. Join us while we break it down, and going forward we can help break the colonialism in art history all the way down.

Dec 01, 202030:19
Accessibility in Curating

Accessibility in Curating

Greetings, SOTAns! This week, we're going over some basics of accessibility in curating. Jasa recently took a class on this subject from the Node Center of Curatorial Studies and wants to pass this golden info along to all her SOTA friends. Join us for some entry-level concepts, ideas on how to make the arts more accessible, and of course some anecdotes and mispronunciations. Do you have some tips on how to make art spaces more accessible? We would love to hear from you!

Nov 11, 202049:16
What is Conceptual Art?
Nov 03, 202020:56
The Postponed Philip Guston Exhibition
Oct 27, 202030:52
Graffiti: But is it Art?

Graffiti: But is it Art?

Greetings, SOTAns! The answer is yes. Yes, graffiti is art. Someone who tells you otherwise probably has subconscious (or totally conscious) biasies. *Record scratch* But, let's go back to the beginning. We will tell you a bit about how this "non-art" stance got started and then satirize the institutional conception of "high" art. The Five Pillars of Hip Hop make a cameo. Then, we have some awesome examples of graffiti in museums and the larger art world. Join us! 

Oct 21, 202030:03
Fair Pay for Museum Customer Service

Fair Pay for Museum Customer Service

Hello SOTAns! We hope you've had a lovely month and we are so glad to be back with our first-ever season! We've lined up some great content to keep you entertained and informed all the way through the rest of the year. Isn't it SOTA crazy that we're (thankfully) nearing the end of 2020?

This episode, we are drawing from personal experience to illuminate the wide range of tasks that museum customer service staff has to master. We bet you'll be surprised at all the duties these workers have to juggle, even while working in a very precarious position. We advocate for living–not minimum–wage and brainstorm ideas for additional ways museums can be friendlier work places for their front-of-house staff. Have you ever held one of these positions? Have thought about how to improve them? Let us know!

Oct 13, 202046:12
Fancy Shmancy Artspeak

Fancy Shmancy Artspeak

Salutations, SOTAns! This week, we are talking about accessibility in language and how that relates to the art world. It's no secret that the art world is full of complicated philosophy and five-dollar words. We talk about why that is and how that may be a barrier for some when approaching the art world. We also touch on International Art English, which is a dialect all of it's own, which is known for its pretentiousness and inaccessibility. But, perhaps it's more accessible than originally thought? Join us for our conversation and share with us your thoughts!

References:
https://www.canopycanopycanopy.com/contents/international_art_english

Sep 15, 202037:27
The Magical Philanthropic Fairy Part III
Sep 02, 202020:56
The Magical Philanthropic Fairy Part II
Aug 25, 202028:56
The Magical Philanthropic Fairy
Aug 18, 202022:38
City Pages "Best of" 2020
Aug 11, 202031:04
UK Monument Controversy

UK Monument Controversy

Hello SOTAns! This week, we discuss the public art work statue A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) by Marc Quinn and collaborator/subject, Jen Reid. This piece was erected by the artist in place of a toppled monument that depicted a slave trader in Bristol, UK. Although the sculpture was quickly removed by the city, controversy around this piece still lingers. Did Quinn (a white male artist) exploit Reid's likeness (a woman of color)? Was their collaboration genuine? Did the artist take away an opportunity for a BIPOC artist? Tune in for our recap of the story and discussion. We would love to hear your thoughts!

References:

Slave trader’s portrait removed from Bristol lord mayor’s office
A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) 2020
Black Lives Matter Monument Replaces Statue Of Slave Trader In England
A joint statement from Marc Quinn and Jen Reid
Edward Colston's statue stood for 125 years. The Black Lives Matter statue that replaced it stood for about 25 hours
Black Lives Matter sculpture of Jen Reid removed from Colston plinth
Removing the statue of Black Lives Matter activist Jen Reid was a mistake
Who is Jen Reid? The Black Lives Matter activist whose statue replaced Edward Colston’s in Bristol, before it was taken down
Windrush memorial artist: ‘Marc Quinn’s Jen Reid statue colonised the Colston plinth and hijacked the BLM movement. It’s a con’
Decolonising Art History: Statue of Black Lives Matter Protestor Jen Reid removed
Jen Reid statue removal 'to be paid for by artist'
'Hope flows through this statue': Marc Quinn on replacing Colston with Jen Reid, a Black Lives Matter protester
Marc Quinn: 'Our Blood came from a sense of outrage' | British GQ
Britons toppled an enslaver’s statue. A guerrilla artist replaced it with a Black Lives Matter protester.
All Nature Flows Through Us: A Conversation with Marc Quinn
Marc Quinn’s Bristol statue is a vainglorious stunt
Marc Quinn on Contemporary Art

Aug 04, 202035:13
Minnesota Monument Equality//BIPOC Minnesotans
Jul 28, 202031:25
Guerilla Girls: Then and Now
Jul 21, 202046:27
Museum accountability//Employee responses

Museum accountability//Employee responses

In this episode, Jasa and Sarah focus on humanities institutions that have been called out publicly by current and (recently) former staff. These institutions, SFMOMA (who deleted a comment criticising the museum’s lip-service allyship), NOMA (who was called out on its institutional racism in and open letter from current and former staff), the Toledo Art Museum (who claimed to have no political stance whatsoever), the Palm Springs Art Museum (who was critiqued for their “rhetoric and neutrality”), and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, whose employees created a petition on change.org in an attempt to save jobs.

Jul 14, 202046:26
Institutional Racism in Museums

Institutional Racism in Museums

Hello everyone! In this episode, we examine the institutional racism present in larger and older museum institutions (Minneapolis Institute of Art, Chicago Art Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Art Museum, for example). Have the Diversity and Inclusion initiatives by museums succeeded? Sarah outlines three points of contention which Museums might use to examine their internal systemic racism, and how they might combat it successfully. Step 1 - Museums should examine (publicly) where their funding originated, how that shaped the physical collection. Step 2 - examine the museum’s staff racial diversity. Step 3 - What percentage of the overall collection has been created by artists of color, and how are those works presented?

Links:

Mia Receives Funding for Empathy and Diversity Initiatives

Philadelphia’s legacy art museums work to attract a woke generation with frank talk and better amenities 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan - the Cleveland Museum of Art

These Chicago Museums Are Being Paid To Diversify Their Board

Some of the Benin works are being returned! - British Museum to return Benin bronzes to Nigeria

DePaul Art Museum focuses on diversity, inclusion

This is the piece by Holland Cotter mentioned - Museums Are Finally Taking a Stand. But Can They Find Their Footing?

This Art Was Looted 123 Years Ago. Will It Ever Be Returned?

And then there’s this - Why western museums should keep their treasures

British Museum is world's largest receiver of stolen goods, says QC

Jul 07, 202053:54
Noah Purifoy and the Watts Riots
Jun 30, 202025:38
Anti-Racist Street Art // A History of Juneteenth

Anti-Racist Street Art // A History of Juneteenth

*Note: This episode contains historic descriptions of violence against African Americans by White Americans.

Greetings, SOTAns! Thank you for embarking on this journey with us.

This episode is a two-parter: first, Sarah and Jasa discuss the numerous street murals being created honoring George Floyd, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and encouraging policing reform. The University of St. Thomas Professors have created a Street Art Database which will document and celebrate the street art being created.

In the second part, we take a break from art-related topics to discuss the history of Juneteenth. Sarah takes us through the first Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas, and explains what this day meant for former slaves and slaveowners in the final days of the American Civil War.

Street Art Links:

George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art Database
George Floyd street art being preserved in gobal data base

Juneteenth:
For your information, not referenced during the podcast:

Links, in order of mention:

Jun 23, 202032:51
Antiracism & the Art World

Antiracism & the Art World

Hello SOTAns,

This week, we're doing things differently again. We understand that this time is taking up a lot of people's energy–mentally, emotionally, physically. In this time of ongoing protests, while also battling a global pandemic, we did not want to put more on anyone's plate by asking them to use their energy for our podcast. (However, our platforms remains open to anyone who it may benefit.) We, your hosts, are both white and we are taking time to read antiracist literature and educate ourselves on systemic racism that is prevalent in daily life in our country and has been through history. To keep in line with our mission as an arts podcast, we talk about how these educational resources can be applied to the art world. Jasa leads us in a conversation based off readings from the book How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and combines it with statistics of racial disparities in the art world–including commercial galleries, museums, auctions, and biennials. We understand that this may be further exhausting for some audiences, so feel free to sit this one out if so and/or let us know if you have a recommendation for topical subjects.

We're thinking of you, Twin Cities/Minnesota/Midwest. Take good care.

Your Hosts,
Jasa & Sarah

References:

How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. You can search WorldCat to find a copy near you.
An Essential Reading List for Black Liberation, Brought to You by the Schomburg Center - Hyperallergic
It’s Official, 80% of the Artists in NYC’s Top Galleries Are White - ArtNet
-Student Population at Yale University - College Tuition Compare
An Estimated 85 Percent of Artists Represented in US Museum Collections Are White, a New Study Claims - ArtNet
The ‘Winner Takes All’ Art Market: 25 Artists Account for Nearly 50% of All Contemporary Auction Sales- Venice Biennale Artists by the Numbers - ArtNet

Jun 16, 202039:07
Solidarity from SOTA

Solidarity from SOTA

Hello everybody,

This episode will be different. The Twin Cities has become ground zero for a necessary movement towards dismantling systemic racism, and we cannot carry on as normal. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer is despicable and tragic beyond words. We side with BIPOC-led revolution, support protestors, Justice for George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, and dramatic and complete reform of social and governmental systems. Now is the time for us to listen. In this episode, we encourage our audience to educate themselves and listen to BIPOC voices, support them, and follow their lead on how to help make change. Take care of yourselves and each other, everyone.

Jun 09, 202010:19
Higher Education in the Arts: How High?

Higher Education in the Arts: How High?

Hello SOTAns! We're switching up our usual format starting this week. We will now be posting shorter episodes where we dive into one topic at a time. We'll be exploring how the art world works, subjects of debate in contemporary art, and delving into a little art history! Even better, we will now be posting once a week to help entertain and educate you during your shelter-in-place time.

Have a suggestion for a topic? An art world query? Let us know!

This week, we're talking about higher education in the art world. The MFA--do you really need it? Why is the art world so intertwined with academia? What degree do I need for what job and how will it help me? We have asked ourselves these same questions many times. And, now we will dig into them! This short chat just skims the surface. Let us know your thoughts on higher education in the arts!

May 18, 202044:41
Artist Relief Grants

Artist Relief Grants

Hello SOTAns! We hope you're all keeping well as we are still trudging through the world in the time of coronavirus. In this episode, we cover how the news is kind of...all the same, and mostly discouraging at that. However, an uplifting trend is that there have been a multitude of artist relief grants that are coming from foundations, institutions, non-profits, etc. We talk about different trends in the type of those grants and speculate on the different pros and cons that come with them.

Interviews are on pause for right now, since we're in the age of social distancing. But, we will have them back as soon as it's safe to do so!

Take care, everyone!

May 06, 202032:18
Support Art during Crisis // Artists React

Support Art during Crisis // Artists React

Be well, SOTAns! We hope you are all staying safe and during this unprecedented time. This week, we wanted to highlight just a few of the ways you can stay involved with your beloved art community and support local artists during the pandemic. This is not an exhaustive list, but we hope that it's helpful in some way or another! We are keeping our entire creative community in mind during this time and will continue to post content to keep us all connected and to uplift local artists.

The interview this week is actually a virtual panel discussion between local artists Erin Sandsmark, Dustin Steuck, and Larsen Husby, all of whom have been past SOTA interviewees, discussing their reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on their practices. Go back and listen to their episodes for even more info on this amazing artists!

Resources to Support Artists
SooVac MN Art Mart
Minnesota Council on Nonprofits - The Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund
Springboard for the Arts' Personal Emergency Relief Fund
MRAC Emergency Relief Fund
Central Minnesota Arts Board - The Artist Emergency Assistance Program
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council - Small Grant: COVID-19 Emergency
The Arts Partnership - Arts Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund

Be Involved with Museums Online
THE M @ HOME
The Walker - visit online to explore themes and artworks in their Living Collections Catalogue and contemporary issues on the Walker Reader.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) online marketplace
The Des Moines Art Center virtual tours 

What Local Artists Are Doing
Trina Fernandez IG project
Erin Sandmark online sale
Arnee Margh commissions for textile work
Alana Hawley - virtual art crawl
The Northrup King Building Art Sprawl
Amy Rice coloring book

Apr 06, 202001:20:25
Art in the Time of Coronavirus // Jacob Docksey
Mar 27, 202038:45
Outdoor Artscapes // Trina Fernandez
Mar 11, 202045:32
Installation Remix // Jes Reyes
Feb 24, 202058:49
Retrospectives // Roshan Ganu
Feb 10, 202046:16
Participation Elements in Exhibitions // Jess Hirsch
Jan 27, 202053:37
Art World Job Search // Alyssa Baguss
Jan 13, 202050:52
Outtakes 2019!

Outtakes 2019!

Hello SOTAns!

We hope you are enjoying your holidays if you celebrate! We are and, in fact, we're on a break right now. But, not to worry! We've prepared for you a hilarious blooper and outtakes reel from 2019. This is just for fun and won't have any educational content. However, we will be back in January 2020 with more great things to come. Happy New Year!

Dec 30, 201928:13
Queer Forms // Teréz Iacovino
Dec 16, 201950:35
Women in Museum Collections // Donny Gettinger
Dec 02, 201940:42
The Most Open Museum // The Anti-Automatism Laboratory
Nov 17, 201953:54
Alternative Exhibitions // CCA
Nov 03, 201951:10
Art Halloween Happenings // Andy Ducett
Oct 20, 201946:40
State Fair Fine Arts // Ifrah Mansour
Oct 06, 201955:38
Kelly O'Brien Bonus Interview
Sep 30, 201908:42
Christi Furnas Bonus Interview
Sep 23, 201908:24
Alison Hiltner Bonus Interview
Sep 15, 201907:12
Andy Warhol at SFMOMA // Regan Golden
Sep 06, 201954:21
Neurodiversity in Museums // Kelly O’Brien

Neurodiversity in Museums // Kelly O’Brien

In the news, we discuss how the artists of the Whitney Biennial leveraged their very presence in protest of Warren Kanders (of Defence company Safariland) continuing to sit on the Board of the Institution. Kanders officially resigned his position at the Whitney in late July.

We discussed how Museums can better equip themselves to appeal to a neurodiverse audience, and what the benefits are for institutions who make small changes to be more inclusive.

Finally, Sarah interviewed the talented and dynamic sculptor Kelly O’Brien.

‘It’s Just the Beginning’: Art World Responds to Warren B. Kanders’s Resignation from Whitney Board

Warren Kanders Quits Whitney Board After Tear Gas Protests

Kelly O’Brien Sculpture

Instagram @kosculpture

Sep 05, 201947:35
Hearts of Our People // Jacob Aaron Schroeder
Sep 05, 201935:43
Local Mental Health & Art Resources // Christi Furnas
Sep 05, 201936:11
SOTA Pride Program
Sep 05, 201950:02
What is Digital Art? // Amy Rice
Sep 05, 201940:20
Stonewall @ 50 - the history of the LGBTQ+ movement
Sep 05, 201915:01
Getting Wiley with Gauguin // Danelle Cloutier

Getting Wiley with Gauguin // Danelle Cloutier

Hello SOTAland!

We are thrilled about this episode! We are switching it up this week, with Sarah serving up the critical discussion while Jasa presents an exciting interview. In the news, we dive right into addressing the budget the Democratic party has recently unveiled, benefitting the NEA and proposing to raise their funding significantly! Unsurprisingly, there are rough waters ahead in this budgetary debate.

Sarah presents a segment that we’ve dubbed Getting Wiley with Gauguin! She highlights painter, Kehinde Wiley’s, new portrait series, depicting subjects of people in the community of Tahiti’s third gender. She contrasts Wiley’s powerful portrayals from the well-known paintings of Tahiti by art historical figure, Paul Gauguin, and the related, sordid history.

In conjunction with the first edition of SOTA Projects, Jasa interviews Canadian audio engineer and journalist, Danelle Cloutier. Danelle’s work blends captured audio with music and experimental sounds. The sound art experience she is presenting to the public with SOTA, titled Terraforming, uses NASA audio recordings from space to explore the feeling of existential loneliness.

Remember to join us on June 16th, beginning at 9pm for the Terraforming experience! The location is TBD so, follow our blog and social media for updates! We will be gathering, lying on blankets, and gazing at the stars while listening to the sound art. Feel free to bring a blanket, headphones, and friends!

References:

“Dems boost National Endowment for Arts funding after Trump proposes eliminating it” – The Hill

National Endowment for the Arts Website

Getting Wiley with Gauguin:

Original article:

Detailed portraits of Tahiti’s Third Gender…

Artist Kehinde Wiley’s Latest Paintings Are a Progressive Riposte to Paul Gauguin’s Primitivist Portraits of Tahitians

Kehinde Wiley’s ‘Tahiti’ Exhibition Confronts the Legacy of Paul Gauguin

Kehinde Wiley’s website

Gauguin’s history:

‘The art world tolerates abuse’ – the fight to change museum wall labels

Rare Photographs Could Show Paul Gauguin in Tahiti

Paul Gauguin Receiving Fresh Spotlight In Two Widely Varying Exhibits

Is it wrong to admire Paul Gauguin’s art?


Sep 05, 201958:58
Biennials & Art Fairs // Christopher Corey Allen

Biennials & Art Fairs // Christopher Corey Allen

Hello SOTA listeners! It’s SOTA-nice to see you. Just kidding! We are always ecstatic for you to be joining us.

The news this episode is about US! We have a Big Announcement! Next month, SOTA Projects will be launching! SOTA will be infiltrating the physical dimension, bringing pop-up exhibitions and happenings around the Twin Cities. Be sure to add your email at the bottom of this page to get notifications for when we announce programs to the public! Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest announcements as well. Please, visit our new SOTA Projects page for more information and check back at our calendar below for event listings.

Now, onto the art–why we’re all here. You can look forward to Jasa dealing out the DL on biennials and art fairs–What are they? How do they function in the art world? What’s the difference between them? All shall be answered, friends! Sarah gives a lively review of the exhibition ‘Ardkore, A Thing Like You and Me by local multimedia artist Christopher Corey Allen at Hair and Nails gallery in Minneapolis.

Go, and be artful!

References:

International Biennial Foundation Website

Christopher Cory Allen’s Website

Hair + Nails

Sep 05, 201951:34