OpenInvo Studio. unexpected education.

Demystifying Contemporary Art

Instructor: Diana Shpungin
(full day)

This workshop is a discussion of key elements and theories in contemporary art. Beginning with understanding form, subject, and concept, the basis for looking and thinking visually is explored. Issues that are brought to light by viewing images are the concepts of the new, the timeline, progress, and the original. We will discover the "cultural elite" and break down the misconceptions about art being exclusionary. Questions surrounding appropriation, minimalism, and turning the sentiment, "My kid could make that!" on its head are key in this workshop.

Objectives and Skills Acquired:

• Learning to be open minded and receptive to others' thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints
• Uncovering key complex critical-thinking skills
• Becoming visually literate – by the end of the day, participants should be able to look at almost anything and understand it
• Applying newly learned visual communication skills to practical areas of daily life and work
  
  

Diana Shpungin

Diana Shpungin is a contemporary artist who received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and is currently ABD in the completion of her PhD in Communication at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Diana has eight years of experience in a classroom setting. She currently teaches at Parsons the New School for Design and has taught and guest lectured at numerous other universities and art schools. Diana's artwork has been exhibited extensively in international venues such as London, Tokyo, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Milan, and Paris, and has been reviewed in publications such as Art in America, the Village Voice, the New York Times, Time Out New York, Time Out London, and Le Monde.