Lisa Melandri, the new Director of the Contemporary Art Museum - St. Louis, was the guest speaker at the St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art meeting this evening. Melandri shared some information about new directions that she is hoping the museum will pursue, along with many wonderful insights about her previous experiences. She talked of the need to welcome the public and encourage them to want to be involved, noting changes that have already been made along with further plans to reenvision the space while celebrating local artists in more diverse means of expression, engaging other senses in addition to visual observation.
Melandri also spoke of art's ability to awaken the viewer to possibility, to perceive of things differently and to connect with one another. I have always felt this is one of the greatest powers that art has. Art is active; to view art is to engage in it. We are all too often encouraged to perceive of observation as passive, but it is a participatory act. I have responded before regarding how observation may be interpreted as condoning that which is observed, but its active nature truly extends beyond this. We are thinking creatures: we take in information by observation, through our senses. This information is then processed and helps to inform our decisions, likes and dislikes, shaping our experiences and even our memories of them. We learn by observing; we imitate and/or rebel, we empathize, we grow, we evolve...
Overall, I found the talk very uplifting and actively engaging. It was good to hear Melandri speak about new directions, exploring different avenues of expression and multiple media, and the need to engage the viewer. It was also good to hear of plans to partner with other organizations both within and outside of the arts, especially since this presentation occurred through such a partnership. I cannot wait to see how the Contemporary Art Museum grows & evolves both within their own structure and as part of the broader community. And, with the intent of being a more active observer, I have even been inspired to rejoin and become a member, and would encourage you to consider doing the same for them and/or those organizations that speak to you, further activating your engagement. Oh, and be sure to check out the current exhibition Joy in People by Jeremy Deller, it is wonderful & engaging, fun & provocative...
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