Kayla Anderson invites gallery visitors to engage with a collective timeline
In the Fall of 2023 CAPE teaching artist Kayla Anderson created with their first year college art students a workbook of prompts called Index to Inspiration, named after an old writer’s encyclopedia. The prompts were intended to help students answer the question “what do I have to make art about?” For the Index, students mined themselves for connections between personal experiences and the larger world, and research trajectories that could lead to art making.
A prompt students worked on collectively engaged them in making a list of family stories, cultural narratives, and historical events that contribute to their existence. In pairs, students shared their lists and selected events to a collective timeline.
As part of the Practices in Proximity exhibition, Kayla invites gallery visitors to contribute to a similar timeline. The exhibit already includes many notes from students and guests of the opening reception and the recent “Proximities: in conjunction with others” event.
Add to the timeline by visiting the gallery between 10 AM-4 PM Tuesday-Thursday or by appointment, and joining “Proximities: conditions of exchange” on Friday, November 22 from 5:30-7:30 PM!
Below is the prompt:
Index to Inspiration: Influences
- Make a list of at least 10 family stories, cultural narratives, and historical events that contribute to your existence (being here), who you are, how you think/feel/act, or how you have been / may be perceived by others.
- Pick 3 entries to add to the collective timeline. Write each entry on a note of your choosing (provided) and include the date / date range if applicable. Place your note on the wall where it best fits, and secure it with a tack (provided).
- If you need to extend or connect parts of the timeline, you may use colored tape to do so.