Jina Valentine

This course will introduce students to the visual languages, graphic trends, and methods used in contemporary social movements 1960s to present. In collaboration with archivists around Chicago, we will view, discuss, and archived ephemera and create works in response to this research. The thematic structure of this course is situated around ideas of the radical archive. In its simplest form this refers to the aggregation of materials, practices, languages, information. We will also examine how radical (democratic or disruptive) archiving conceptually relates to more performative, gestural, or ephemeral forms; the ways an entire studio practice, a human life, or a single object can be considered an archive.
The 'Disobedient Objects' exhibition at the Victoria + Albert Museum provides the jumping-off point for this class. Readings + artists discussed include: Sharon Hayes, Julie Ault, Emory Douglas, Lucy Lippard, Gregory Sholette, Group Material. Archives visited + discussed include: Interference Archive; Gerber/Hart Library of LGBTQ history, SNCC Archives, ACT UP Chicago records.
I¿ve compiled a list of archived collections available at local libraries and universities. From that list choose three collections you would be interested in engaging with. We¿ll narrow it down to one after negotiating with the whole class.
After you¿ve chosen an archival collection, you will be creating additional works, ephemera, artifacts that would fit more or less seamlessly into that collection. Consider, if there are multiple authors/artists:
Where do you fit in? What aesthetic cohesion is there between materials? What language is used in the messages? Materials? Processes? Distribution? Is the archive considered a closed set or are there things missing? What are the implications of 'updating' a collection / closed set?' Students are able to choose from a list of four dozen Chciago-based archives on various themes. After visiting 1-2 archives as a class, they are able to make appointments to visit archives independently, call objects for study and documentation, and work to create something/s in response... either a proposed inclusion or an updating of an existing item.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.