Make Things (Happen)

Make Things (Happen) Now Open!

Impressions from the Social In Practice opening, plus news from contributing artists who are Making Things Happen.

Activity sheets freely available in Make Things (Happen) at Social in Practice at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, NYC.

Activity sheets freely available in Make Things (Happen) at Social in Practice at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, NYC.

Thanks to everyone who made it to the Nathan Cummings Foundation for the opening of Social in Practice on Thursday.

The breadth of the artists in the show is impressive. Curated by Deb Willis and Hank Willis Thomas, the exhibition includes diverse, socially-engaged photographers. There’s a lot of work, and it’s beautifully installed in NCF’s spacious offices. I’m going to return—there’s much to take in!

I’m so happy with the positive responses to Make Things (Happen). Many viewers took activity sheets home—can’t wait to see their results at #mkthngs and #mkthngshppn.

Social in Practice is on view at the Nathan Cummings Foundation at 475 Tenth Avenue, between W. 36th & 37th Streets (in the same building that used to house Exit Art), 14th floor. Viewable by appointment Mondays through Fridays now until October; email exhibits@nathancummings.org.

Make Things (Happen) allows me to share the work of compelling artists and their practices. I’ll post occasional digests of their current goings-on, to help contextualize their activity sheets for your participation.

Still from Julie Perini’s video “The White Lady Diaries” (2013) (Source: Hyperallergic.com via JuliePerini.org).

Still from Julie Perini’s video “The White Lady Diaries” (2013)// Source: Hyperallergic.com via JuliePerini.org.

In addition to experimental video work, Portland, OR-based Julie Perini examines whiteness. Safe and Sound?, a documentary on the race and police brutality developed by Perini and others, and her White Lady Diaries short videos were recently featured in “Seeing Past Portland’s Whiteness” by Alicia Eler on Hyperallergic (March 24, 2014).

I have met white people who feel like it would be politically incorrect for them to speak about race whatsoever. But that’s not true—as Julie exemplefies with her activity sheet, Instructions for White People Fighting White Supremacy in the United States #1.

Maurice Carlin, Performance Publishing: Regent Trading Estate. Photo Gwen Jones. Source: MauriceCarlin.com.

Maurice Carlin, Performance Publishing: Regent Trading Estate. // Photo Gwen Jones. Source: MauriceCarlin.com.

It’s the last weekend to see Salford, UK-based Maurice Carlin’s epic site-specific printmaking project, Performance Publishing: Regent Trading Estate. The estate is situated behind Islington Mill, the massive mill-turned-artist-studios/alternative-art-school/music venue/alternative-art-experiment Carlin co-runs. Viewing hours are Sunday and Monday 12-6pm; or see the lovely photos on MauriceCarlin.com.

Fittingly for a founder of an alternative art school, Carlin’s activity sheet, Primary Sources, describes experimental procedures for developing artworks. Give it a try!

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