Art School:

by Steven Henry Madoff (Introduction), Ernesto Pujol (Contributor), Thierry de Duve (Contributor)

Leading international artists and art educators consider the challenges of art education in today's dramatically changed art world. 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—its increasing professionalization, the pervasive power of the art market, and fundamental shifts in art-making itself in our post-Duchampian era—combined with a revolution in information technology, raise fundamental questions about the education of today's artists. Art School (Propositions for the 21st Century) brings together more than thirty leading international artists and art educators to reconsider the practices of art education in academic, practical, ethical, and philosophical terms. The essays in the book range over continents, histories, traditions, experiments, and fantasies of education. Accompanying the essays are conversations with such prominent artist/educators as John Baldessari, Michael Craig-Martin, Hans Haacke, and Marina Abramovic, as well as questionnaire responses from a dozen important artists—among them Mike Kelley, Ann Hamilton, Guillermo Kuitca, and Shirin Neshat—about their own experiences as students. A fascinating analysis of the architecture of major historical art schools throughout the world looks at the relationship of the principles of their designs to the principles of the pedagogy practiced within their halls. And throughout the volume, attention is paid to new initiatives and proposals about what an art school can and should be in the twenty-first century—and what it shouldn't be. No other book on the subject covers more of the questions concerning art education today or offers more insight into the pressures, challenges, risks, and opportunities for artists and art educators in the years ahead. Contributors
Marina Abramovic, Dennis Adams, John Baldessari, Ute Meta Bauer, Daniel Birnbaum, Saskia Bos, Tania Bruguera, Luis Camnitzer, Michael Craig-Martin, Thierry de Duve, Clémentine Deliss, Charles Esche, Liam Gillick, Boris Groys, Hans Haacke, Ann Lauterbach, Ken Lum, Steven Henry Madoff, 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.