Art School:

by Steven Henry Madoff (Editor)

The last explosive change in art education came nearly a century ago, when the German Bauhaus was formed. Today, dramatic changes in the art world--itsincreasing professionalization, the pervasive power of the art market, andfundamental shifts in art-making itself in our post-Duchampian era--combined with arevolution in information technology, raise fundamental questions about theeducation of today's artists. Art School (Propositions for the 21st Century) bringstogether more than thirty leading international artists and art educators toreconsider the practices of art education in academic, practical, ethical, andphilosophical terms. The essays in the book range over continents, histories, traditions, experiments, and fantasies of education. Accompanying the essays areconversations with such prominent artist/educators as John Baldessari, MichaelCraig-Martin, Hans Haacke, and Marina Abramovic, as well as questionnaire responsesfrom a dozen important artists--among them Mike Kelley, Ann Hamilton, GuillermoKuitca, and Shirin Neshat--about their own experiences as students. A fascinatinganalysis of the architecture of major historical art schools throughout the worldlooks at the relationship of the principles of their designs to the principles ofthe pedagogy practiced within their halls. And throughout the volume, attention ispaid to new initiatives and proposals about what an art school can and should be inthe twenty-first century--and what it shouldn't be. No other book on the subjectcovers more of the questions concerning art education today or offers more insightinto the pressures, challenges, risks, and opportunities for artists and arteducators in the years ahead.ContributorsMarina Abramovic, Dennis Adams, JohnBaldessari, Ute Meta Bauer, Daniel Birnbaum, Saskia Bos, Tania Bruguera, LuisCamnitzer, Michael Craig-Martin, Thierry de Duve, Cl?mentine Deliss, Charles Esche, Liam Gillick, Boris Groys, Hans Haacke, Ann Lauterbach, Ken Lum, Steven HenryMadoff, Brendan D. Moran, Ernesto Pujol, Raqs Media Collective, Charles Renfro, Jeffrey T. Schnapp, Michael Shanks, Robert Storr, Anton Vidokle

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Education, Theory

373 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2009

Reviews

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with lots of books about pedagogy written from the perspective of famous artists, this essay mistakes remarks on teaching for actual pedagogy. A book that reminds you how much more you'd rather watch Tim Gunn's praxis than read a steaming pile of banter, gossip and anecdote masquerading as theory.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Anyone who wants to be apart of an intelligent conversation regarding art education (higher education) and ways to improve it should read this book. Anyone in an MFA program, or anyone who cares about the ways artists develop before being part of the art market should read this. Just read it.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for a useful comparison of how art is being taught at the secondary level, if you are an art educator for instance, this is NOT the book for you. Mostly criticism and conceptual concerns about 'education'.

[Anna]

I attended the panel discussions at The Cooper Union regarding the future of the art academy and came away filled with questions, even as to the mixed-use nature of my artistic identity or role, as it is currently iterated. I can only think that provocation on this level is a good thing.

[Nico Macdonald]

Found in Tate Britain bookshop.