ATTENTION

THE 2021/22 VISITING ARTIST, SCHOLAR, AND DESIGNER PROGRAM SERIES

Taking notice can make the invisible suddenly visible, as if by magic. And artists and designers are expert magicians. Their methods and work direct the audience’s attention to the mundane, the overlooked, the misunderstood, and the disregarded, recreating the artist’s experience of discovery in the viewer. This creative discipline of mindful and open observation requires intentionality and practice because, despite our best efforts and technologies, humans have focus limits. When we faithfully give our attention to something, we are simultaneously and necessarily diverting our attention from something else. The boundaries of our active perceptual bandwidth are strained and stressed in an environment of constant bombardment by things vying for our focus. And what we pay attention to is not always our choice – it can be pressured, controlled, misdirected, and manipulated by external forces. Noticing, then, is both a purposeful act of care and deliberate refusal. 

Catalyzed by a year of reckonings that helped redefine our values and relationships, and inspired by art’s transformative ability to take notice, this series pays attention to attention.

EXPLORE THE ATTENTION SERIES ARTISTS + DESIGNERS:

MIRELLE PHILLIPS | Tue. Sept. 14, 2021

IAN CHENG | Tue. October 5, 2021

JILL MAGID | Tue. Nov. 9, 2021

CHERYL D. MILLER | Tue. Jan 18, 2022

HILTON ALS | Thurs. Feb 10, 2022

RAEL SAN FRATELLO | Tue. March 8, 2022

EVENT INFORMATION

ATTENTION Series Artist/Designer Talks will be held in person with a live-streamed option (unless otherwise noted). If health and safety protocols prevent us from hosting in-person events we will transition the events to an online platform. As always, we will continue to offer vigorous and timely contemporary art conversations for our visiting artists/designers/scholars, our students, and our community while also prioritizing everyone’s well-being. To learn more about RMCAD’s current COVID-19 policies please go here. We thank you for your patience and understanding in this shifting landscape. 

ADDITIONAL RMCAD COMMUNITY EVENTS

In addition to the Artist/Designer Talks, RMCAD students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to interact with our distinguished guests during Next Day Q+A Sessions, workshops, studio visits, and more. These events will take place the day following the Artist/Designer Talk (unless otherwise noted).