Artist Run Initiatives

This conversation will examine the work of artist run initiatives and alternative spaces. We will briefly talk about the history of artist-run spaces from the 70's onward and discuss the different approaches that artists have used to self-organize and create resources and opportunities for each other. Artists Xander Marro and Pippi Zornoza will talk about their own history of organizing and sharing space at the Dirt Palace, a feminist live/work space inthe Olneyville neighborhood. The Dirt Palace was founded in 2000 out of a sense that participation and success in the arts was often not based on merit, but deeply affected by various intersections of identity. Over the past 20 + years the Dirt Palace has grown to include two facilities, and multiple residency and exhibition programs.

Participants will each be asked to do some “in session” internet research on specific artist-run initiatives from a list and share out what was inspiring or interesting about their history and approaches. Together we will consider what is possible when artists come together to pool resources, energy, ideas and space.

Presenters:

Pippi & Xander have worked together since 2000 predominately within the context of the Dirt Palace, a feminist art space located along the banks of the Woonasquatucket river. The Dirt Palace was started by artists in their 20's, and ran outside of an institutional context for a long time. After about 13 years, The Dirt Palace began to formalize and in 2015 integrated a not-for profit component. The Dirt Palace has since grown to include two facilities, and multiple residency and exhibition programs, including the Wedding Cake House, a cultural facility that supports mid-career artist residencies.

Both Pippi & Xander have multi-faceted creative practices. Pippi works in sound, performance, installation, and printmaking. Xander works in probably too many media ranging from printmaking to paper mache to 16mm film. They both have work in the collections of The RISD museum and the MOMA.

Language: This event will be facilitated in English. If you need interpretation services, please let us know.

*** UPDATE - 12/30 ***

Due to the increase of Covid-19 cases in Rhode Island, we have changed the modality of this event from in-person to online. The content remains very much the same, and to supplement we are incorporating a video-conversation approach with a pre-recorded tour --so you still get to see the magic of this space while engaging directly with Xander and Pippi.

Thank you for understanding and staying flexible.

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Host or Publisher RISCA - Rhode Island State Council on the Arts