Kayla Anderson invites gallery visitors to engage with a collective timeline

 In Exhibitions, Teaching Artists

CAPE teaching artist Kayla Anderson

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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). 
  3. If you need to extend or connect parts of the timeline, you may use colored tape to do so.

Curator Josh Rios and artist Kayla Anderson during opening reception

Guests adding their contributions to the timeline

Guests adding their contributions to the timeline

Guests adding their contributions to the timeline

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