Access: DisArt Festival
2015
In the spring of 2015, KCAD Collaborative Design partnered with the DisArt Festival. Facilitated by professor – artist and SiTE:LAB co-founder – Paul Amenta, the Collaborative Projects class pursued a deep dive into the complex world of disability culture, attempting to understand the issues that many disabled people face, and ultimately develop and organize an exhibition of local, disabled artists.
The students met with disabled individuals – artists, curators, and various professionals in the field of disability culture. Absorbing information and developing a heightening sense of empathy was important in the beginning few weeks of this course. As the semester progressed, students began developing posters and other collateral for the festival, way-finding systems, and methods of interaction with the community to raise awareness – all while holding to standards of disability design and ADA compliance. The semester culminated with the organization, installation, and management of an exhibition of disabled artist in an abandoned office space as part of the inaugural DisArt Festival.
On the Road: UNTITLED Miami
2014
This unique course offered KCAD students the opportunity to work with Brooklyn-based artist Julie Schenkelberg on her immense installation project for ArtPrize 2014 at the SiTE:LAB venue, as well as travel to Miami to assist Brooklyn-based artist Blane De St Croix on his installation at the UNTITLED Art fair during Art Basel Miami.
On the Road was an immersive studio course offered through the Collaborative Design curriculum, emphasizing real- world scenarios, hands-on learning, and developing problem solving skills that will enable students to not only survive but to excel after graduation. The objective of this course was to understand the fundamental processes of executing large- scale projects from inception to fruition, including: project organization; logistics; installation; marketing and promotion.
Spaces and Places: UNTITLED Miami
2013
This unique course offered KCAD students the opportunity to travel to Miami to continue working with Brooklyn-based artist Alois Kronschlaeger on his installation at the UNTITLED Art fair during Art Basel Miami 2013.
Spaces & Places was an immersive studio course focusing on issues pertaining to the practice of temporary site-specific installation. The objective of this course was to build an understanding of the contemporary practice of site-specific installation through the hands-on investigation of a given site – evaluating and analyzing the historic, architectural, cultural, and social context of each site. Over the course of the semester we worked in three different sites.
Spaces and Places: Beijing, China
2013
This unique course offered five KCAD students the opportunity to travel to Beijing, China where we worked with Brooklyn-based artist Alois Kronschlaeger on his installation at the Yuan Art Museum. We were graciously hosted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts where we had the pleasure of engaging with students and faculty.
Spaces & Places was an immersive studio course focusing on issues pertaining to the practice of temporary site-specific installation. The objective of this course was to build an understanding of the contemporary practice of site-specific installation through the hands-on investigation of a given site – evaluating and analyzing the historic, architectural, cultural, and social context of each site. Over the course of the semester we worked in three different sites.
Site-specific: Shinji Turner-Yamamoto
2011
This unique course offered KCAD students the opportunity to work directly with Japanese artist Shinji Turner-Yamamoto on his site-specific project for ArtPrize 2011 at the SiTE:LAB venue.
Site-Specific was an immersive studio course focusing on issues pertaining to the practice of temporary site-specific installation. The objective of this course was to build an understanding of the contemporary practice of site-specific installation through the hands-on investigation of a given site – evaluating and analyzing the historic, architectural, cultural, and social context of each site. Over the course of the semester we worked in three different sites.
ACTIVESITE IV
2008
This unique project offered KCAD sculpture students an opportunity to install their work in an exhibition at the old Federal Building during the 21st International Sculpture Conference.
ACTIVESITE: Clearwater place
2007
This unique project offered KCAD sculpture students an opportunity to install their work in an exhibition at the old Water Treatment Facility (Clearwater Place) during the Avenue of the Arts, Free Radical event.
ACTIVESITE: 70 Ionia
2007
This unique project offered KCAD sculpture students an opportunity to install their work in an exhibition at 70 Ionia – an empty 10,000 sq ft space in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
SITE: KCAD
2006
This unique project offered KCAD sculpture students an opportunity to engage the broader context of their institution by selecting a site on campus and responding to it.
SVA: summer residency program
2002 - 2009