Report on Polymer 2.0 Symposium
Wingspread…………..a single word that both names the venue and describes the accomplishments of our October symposium, “Polymer 2.0: The Field at the Beginning of the 21st Century” in Racine, Wisconsin. Three years ago we were here celebrating the fact that polymer art had become a medium of choice for entry into the permanent collections of major museums across the country. This year 67 participants celebrated another breakthrough; establishment of the first university-level art course devoted exclusively to works in polymer. After meeting with Professor Diane Levesque and admiring the work of several of her current students, symposium participants visited 2 polymer art exhibitions. These exhibitions revealed a new elevated level of excellence for the medium. The weekend continued with discussions about goals to be achieved before our next return to Wingspread which Bruce Pepich, Executive Director of the Racine Art Museum, announced could take place “two or three years from now.”
In upcoming posts you will be able to read reviews of both exhibitions. Below find an agenda of events from Polymer.2 symposium. The wrap-up session notes provide a window into our discussions. There you could discover future activities that you may wish to become involved with.
Polymer 2.0: The Field at the Beginning of the 21st Century
Sponsoring Organization: The Racine Art Museum in cooperation with the Johnson Foundation
Dates and Place held:
The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, Racine WI
October 17-19, 2014
Mission Statement: To define a vision and an agenda that would expand the influence and presence of polymer as an art medium.
Event Chair: Lena Vigna, Curator of Exhibitions at the Racine Art Museum
Presenters and Topics:
Polymer 2.0 Agenda: courtesy of Lena Vigna, Curator of Exhibitions, Racine Art Museum
Wrap-up Session Notes: courtesy of Lena Vigna, Curator of Exhibitions, Racine Art Museum
Keynote Speaker: Perry A. Price, Director of Education, American Craft Council
conversing at Wingspread
Attendees: List of Polymer 2.0 Participants: courtesy of Lena Vigna, Curator of Exhibitions, Racine Art Museum
Exhibitions:
(In)Organic
curated by Lena Vigna, at the Racine Art Museum, Racine WI
A Re-Visioning: New Work in Polymer
curated by Diane Levesque, at the H.F. Johnson Gallery, Carthage College, Kenosha WI
photos: courtesy of Susan Buhler-Maki at the Racine Art Museum
I cannot remember a time in my life that I wasn't interested in looking at art, talking about art and the making of art. In 1990 I earned a Phd in art history at the University of Maryland. My first experiences with polymer clay were in 1992, but I consider my real work with the medium to date from 1999.