Prototype
Below is a prototype of an art submission and exhibition system that would enable the Social Justice Hub to promote its presence and reinforce its importance. This past week, I attended a Social Justice Hub Committee meeting where the members were revising a proposal that Carmela Wilkins, a New School Student, sent to them. The project was approved, however the lack of a standardized system to keep this sort of initiative going within the community was commented upon. If the presence of art is to continue in a sustained way there would need to be some sort of system to attract artists to submit work, receive approval, modify their proposal if needed, set up and finally exhibit work.
Proposals:
How would this design potentially get into the hands of those who would most benefit from it ?
Who would ideally engage with this object/ project?
- Ideally all individuals on campus who visit the Social Justice Hub would interact with the outcome of this project, which would be to exhibit work promoting social justice in a sustained way within the Hub.
- Those who would specifically interact with the system I plan on creating would be; any student, faculty, staff or external artist who would like to submit their work, as well as the Social Justice Committee who would be in charge of approving the proposals and booking the space.
Under what conditions?
- The artist submissions could be prompted by advertisement within the Social Justice Hub, around campus or even at future events related to the exhibition of new works.
- The Social Justice Committee would interact with the system at their monthly meeting as part of their discussion. Where proposals could be presented to them.
- The other individual who would interact with the outcome of the system would observe and view new exhibits emerging around social justice at the Hub.
When?
- Ideally this would be a sustained system and I am proposing that each exhibit stay up for approximately a month, unless otherwise designated by the Social Justice Committee.
How?
- This could become a meaningful system by beginning its implementation at the opening event of Carmela’s exhibit within the Hub.
- Luckily I met Carmela at the meeting I attended and she agreed that creating as system to facilitate the submission and exhibition process to a wider audience would be beneficial. She graciously agreed to answer any question I had about her process thus far. She also was very welcoming and was happy to collaborate throughout the process so that we would be working alongside each other as opposed to on top of each other.
How will you find this audience?
- Through working with Carmela and helping her with producing her exhibit I would like to propose the implementation of this system.
How will you convince them to use this thing?
- When I was sitting and listening at the meeting these were issues that were identified and the need for someone to put it together was evident.
How will they know how to use it?
- I will map out a step by step process.
How will you reach the scale of audience desired to have a meaningful impact?
- Ideally this process would require time to function at its fullest potential however within the scope of the project I would like to at least get it approved and implemented as an outreach tool for submissions.
How will you engage your intended audience with your prototype as a test run?
What is your goal for the test run?
- My goal is to advertise the submission process and ideally receive submissions to present to a member of the Social Justice Hub Committee.
Who would ideally engage with this object/ project?
- Students, faculty, or staff who would be interested in submitting a proposal for and exhibition.
- A member of the Social Justice Hub Committee who would view proposals.
Under what conditions?
- People submitting work would fallow guidelines.
- The member of the Social Justice Hub Committee would view the work and hopefully bring up for discussion at the next meeting.
When?
- As soon as possible.
How?
- Through flyer advertisements, talking to social justice groups who use the hub, written process map and possibly a website to view the process and send submissions.
How will you find this audience?
- Through advertisements and attending meetings and engaging with people within the space.
How will you convince them to use this thing?
- Express the opportunity to create meaningful work that could be exhibited in the school.
How will they know how to use it?
- If I make this a website with submission guidelines it should work.
How will you reach the scale of audience desired to have a meaningful impact?
- For the purpose of a test run I will work within network of the social justice hub.
I think that this is may be a great way to promote the SJH! It’s a realistic system and can be executed easily at a place like The New School. There are countless students that would want to participate in a system that displays meaningful art. One negative is that it has the potential to marginalize groups of people in a space that’s meant for inclusion, curation would be key. Also, do you want a create a system that deems someones art less meaningful than others? Does that align with the SJH purpose?
I do like how you mapped out each step and mentioned who you’ll get in contact with. I’m sure sitting in on a SJH meeting was a plus. You have a great plan!
I like this idea a lot, and I think that what you have laid out seems pretty efficient, but I also think that exhibiting artwork is sort of limiting (although I’m a big ol’ fan) because The New School offers schools of all disciplines, and initially I think that showing student art would be a great idea, eventually working in the work of students from other disciplines could really benefit this system. (Essay readings, musical performances, people speaking about their work.. etc). Otherwise, really well thought out and beneficial to the hub.