Gatherings :: Tuesday Talks Democracy

An online series curated by the Society of Fellows of the American Academy in Rome featuring prominent leaders in the arts + humanities. Tuesday evenings this fall at 6pm EDT

November 17

Carey Lovelace | 2010 Resident | Andrew and Marian Heiskell Visiting Critic | Curator + Playwright

In conversation with Elizabeth Thompson, former Director of the Buckminster Fuller Institute

2020Visions: The Future Is Now

2020Visions seeks to harness the artistic imagination to create new paradigms and new models of society. Lovelace and Thompson will discuss the power of imagination to point to novel directions, groundwork laid by the “social sculpture” of Joseph Beuys and Buckminster Fuller’s “anticipatory design.” In particular, they will discuss 2020Visions’ upcoming December conference The New City: Navigating the Future, which seizes upon the current crisis besetting major cities as an opportunity to completely re-imagine our urban spaces.

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December 1

Rosa Lowinger | 2009 Fellow--Historic Preservation + Conservation | Writer + Art Conservator in conversation with Fredric R. Brandfon | PhD, University of Pennsylvania and other Guests

The Role of Vandalism in Protest and Public Art

Vandalism is defined as both "an action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property," and as "a deliberate, unauthorized act that is intentional and done in order to alter, make a mark in or purposely damage art, architecture or public places." Using research that began during her fellowship year at the American Academy in Rome and continues through the current debate on contested monuments, Rosa Lowinger will examine historical precedents for vandalism as a meaningful method of exchanging ideas and conduct a dialogue with artists whose work aims to repurpose outdated and problematic heritage and alter codified narratives about public art and spaces.

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December 8

Sean Anderson | 2005 Fellow -- Modern Italian Studies | Associate Curator of Architecture and Design, MoMA

Walter Hood | 1997 Fellow + 2014 Resident -- Landscape Architecture | Principal, Hood Design Studio

The Landscape of Democracy

Architecture and design curator Sean Anderson will engage with landscape architect and artist Walter Hood in a conversation about the role of democracy in their own work. From the perspectives of curation and design practices, they will share recent work that raises questions about how democracy is manifested in the built environment and it’s future impact on design. From social and cultural perspectives, they will share their perspectives on the role of citizen in both landscapes and museums

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December 15

Andrew Horne | 2017 Fellow--Ancient Studies | Teaching Fellow, University of Chicago

Pamela Hovland | 2006 Fellow -- Design | Senior Critic, Yale School of Art

Eva von Dassow | 2016 Fellow--Ancient Studies | Associate Professor, University of Minnesota

Being Participatory: From Governance to Design

Classics historian Andrew Horne, graphic designer Pamela Hovland, and ancient Near East historian Eva von Dassow will discuss the important role that participation plays in democracy. They will present ideas about the participatory structures that are important in their own work. From ancient Near East societies to the Roman republic to contemporary design collectives, they will intersect the topics of freedom and governance with their own social and academic practices. Being participatory remains as essential today as it was many years ago.