April 10, 2003
Has Pleasure in Slowness Disappeared?
A panel discussion on drawing

In Conjunction with the Drawing Exhibition
THE SESSIONS OF SWEET SILENT THOUGHT

BRAC is pleased to kickoff its 2003 Artist Speaker Series with a panel discussion on the relevance of drawing today, offered in conjunction with the current exhibition The Sessions of Sweet Silent Thought.This weekday evening program offers artists, art patrons and interested citizens a forum for understanding how artists think and work.

The moderator who is also the curator of the exhibition will open the dialogue with the question, "Is drawing enjoying a renaissance now?" In an attempt to examine the arguable return today to more traditional media, (as it seems to be the case also with painting) this panel will examine the artistic landscape that has welcomed drawing practices.

The discussion will also introduce the notion of slowness in drawing as a critical response to an increasing acceleration of time, a theme central to the exhibition The Sessions of Sweet Silent Thought.

Recent large- scale surveys such as MOMAÕs "Drawing Now: Eight Propositions" curated by Laura Hoptman or the historical exhibition "Afterimage: Drawing through Process" organized by Cornelia Butler and Pamela Lee at MOCA, LA would seem to point in this direction. Drawing seems to enjoy its independence as medium achieved during the 70Õs by post minimalist and conceptual artists. The major impact of this period on subsequent generations is still palpable. Diversity of approaches and methods of working the drawing, and of materials and subject matter seem to be the norm in todayÕs drawing.

This panel will explore the context of this drawing renaissance. Is this a response to the abundant use of digital media, grandiloquent installations and the excess of spectacle that has dominated the art world lately? Is this a trend dictated by curatorial and critical practices? Is this a regressive move or on the contrary a critical response from artists to opt for activities that provide them and the viewer with greater personal fulfillment and a reflective stand without overtly addressing politics in their art?

Panelists include:

Teo Gonzalez, Artist.
Richard Howe, Artist.
Florence Neal, Artist and Director of the Kentler International Drawing Space.
Sarah Schmerler, Art critic on the staff at TIME OUT NY and a contributor to Art On Paper, Art in America, and Artnews.
Megan Moorehouse, Studio director at Dieu Donne Papermill.

Moderator:

Mercedes Vicente, Independent curator and art critic, Contributor to Lapiz, Exitbook, La Vanguardia. 2001-02 Helena Rubinstein Curatorial Fellow of the Whitney Independent Study Program. Co- editor of an anthology of writings by Benjamin Buchloh Formalismo e historicidad: modelos y metodos en el arte del siglo XX, Akal, Madrid, 2003.

This event is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Additional support is provided by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, Bronx Council on the Arts, The Chase Manhattan Foundation, Citicorp, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Material for the Arts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion and the Bronx Delegation of the New York City Council. BRAC also wishes to express our appreciation to US Congressman Josˇ E. Serrano for his unwavering support of our efforts to enhance the cultural environment of Bronx citizens.