SCAD's second annual deFINE ART, which ran February 22-26, attracted thousands of visitors. deFINE ART featured lectures by prominent figures in the art world, special exhibitions, commissions, student showcases, performances and other events, all of which were free and open to the public.
As one of the highlights of this year's programming, deFINE ART honored performance artist Marina Abramovic for her groundbreaking work and influence on contemporary art. Her keynote lecture was given at SCAD's locations in both Savannah and Atlanta. Abramovic's solo exhibition remains on view through April 3 at the university's Pinnacle Gallery in Savannah, featuring three videos and an iconic photographic series.
"Everybody enjoyed learning from the range of professionals who have made very successful careers for themselves in the arts," said Laurie Ann Farrell, executive director of exhibitions at SCAD. "It speaks directly to our mission of preparing students for professional careers. With exhibitions, lectures and performances examining art from a historic, pop culture, curatorial and directly artistic perspective, there was something for everyone."
deFINE ART is one of SCAD's many unparalleled programs that brings together students and professionals for meaningful interactions and dialogue. Special guests included performance artists Marina Abramovic and Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid; Gary Tinterow, Engelhard Chairman of Nineteenth‐Century, Modern and Contemporary Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Alfredo Jaar, artist, architect and filmmaker; Sarah Thornton, contributing writer for The Economist and author of the book "Seven Days in the Art World"; artists Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Andreas Kocks; and Sarah Lewis, independent curator and critic.
deFINE ART 2011 also featured a series of exhibitions in SCAD galleries and in special outdoor locations. Among those featured were Mark Bradford, Yoko Ono, Andy Goldsworthy, Mona Hatoum, Do Ho Suh, Kimsooja and JuYeon Kim, among others. Students, faculty and alumni were represented in exhibitions in both Atlanta and Savannah. These exhibitions included "Tilting the Lens: A SCAD Documentation of Sham Shui Po" by SCAD students; "Six in One: SCAD in New American Paintings" by SCAD students and alumni; "sisyphus happy," a thesis exhibition by Michael Porten, SCAD alumnus (B.F.A., illustration, 2004) and M.F.A. painting student; "ENTER: The Artist's Mind" by SCAD alumnus Michael Scoggins (M.F.A., painting, 2006); a thesis exhibition by M.F.A. painting student Joseph Karg; Open Studios; as well as a faculty exhibition in Savannah.
Videos and Podcasts of guest lectures and interviews featuring Marina Abramovic, Sarah Thornton, Gary Tinterow and more available at scad.edu/defineart.