Re-construction: Workshop with Roberto Visani

The National Academy of Design invites you to join artist Roberto Visani in the re-construction and installation of his work cardboard slave kit, h powers blend (2021), which will be included in the upcoming exhibition , co-curated by Sara Reisman, Chief Curator, and Natalia Viera Salgado, Associate Curator.

Past as Prologue: A Historical Acknowledgment positions politically potent historical works from the National Academy’s collection in dialogue with contemporary works by artists, both members of the Academy and others from outside the Academy, including Roberto Visani. The exhibition explores themes of representation of race and indigeneity, political and social commentary, landscape, colonialism, migration, and borders.

Visani’s series of cardboard slave kits are flat-pack DIY kits and digitized sculptural reconstructions depicting historical imagery of the enslaved. In this 2-day, hands-on workshop—which begins on October 11, days before the exhibition opening—, participants are invited to join the artist in reimagining Hiram Powers’ famous sculpture, The Greek Slave (1843-1860s), as an 8-foot-tall cardboard reproduction. Envisioned as a kind of sculptural pedagogy, participants will collaborate in a group setting to discuss the historical and contemporary context of The Greek Slave, the technology and process used to create the model, and assemble cardboard slave kit, h powers blend. The assembled sculpture will be on display for Part I of the exhibition, and all participants will be credited.

Participants should plan to attend both sessions, although it is not required. Those interested in attending can register for the session below, and are encouraged to provide a short comment there about their interest in the project. Materials and tools will be provided.

Workshop Reservations

Admission is free but space is limited, so advance reservations are required. Participants should plan to attend and RSVP to both sessions, although it is not required.

Accessibility

This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs. To request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service, email your request at least two weeks in advance of the event to [email protected].

Artist Bio

Roberto Visani is a multi-media artist primarily working in sculpture. His artworks often examine the Black body, through a reinterpretation of historical artworks and artifacts. He has exhibited at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, NY, The Studio Museum in Harlem, NY, The Bronx Museum, NY, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF, and Barbican Galleries, London, and has been awarded residencies from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, NY, Chelsea College of Art, London, and Art Omi, NY. Recent exhibitions include Form/Reform at the Brattlesboro Museum in Brattleboro VT, and The Promise at the Speed Museum of Art in Louisville, KY.

[IMAGE] Roberto Visani, cardboard slave kit, h powers blend, (detail), 2021

object dimensions, 8.2’ high x 2.6’ wide x 2.4’ deep, package dimensions, 7” high x 32” wide x 21” deep, cardboard and hot glue, numbered open edition

Host or Publisher National Academy of Design