William James McGuinness

Does art make a difference? Can it shape society? Can it change the world? Socially engaged art affirms that everything we do has an impact, however small or imperceptible, and that the world – as opposed to having an independent existence somehow beyond our influence – is actually a collaborative work of art, constantly evolving and expanding through our collective co-creation of it. This course explores how understanding ourselves to be actors in the world, citizens local and global, may change how we conduct our lives and practice our art. Moving beyond the confines of the studio, gallery, and museum, we will consider work by practitioners such as Prison + Neighborhood Art/Education Project, Los Angeles Poverty Department (LAPD), Pedro Reyes, Ai Wei Wei, and others as a pathway to understanding the social and political implications of own our work. Boldly assuming co-authorship of the structures that inform our shared existence, we will look at how art-making becomes world-building, how culture becomes justice, how creativity becomes social change. Students can expect to read, write, walk, talk, think, and breathe in this course, where we will imagine and realize art projects that directly engage and change the world.