Colloquium to examine art’s controversial role in public spaces TODAY

As part of the Arts and Creativity Festival, the Art Department will host a special colloquium, “Art in Public Spaces: Building Community” from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, March 16, in the Campbell Student Union Auditorium.

The timely discussion comes in the wake of clashes over Confederate monuments and Christopher Columbus statues across the country that ignited an ongoing public debate. Panelists will discuss how to approach art in public spaces, given the country’s sharply differing views of history and hopes for the future.

This colloquium features professors and students from Carthage’s Division of Arts and Humanities, as well as professional sculptors and art directors from the area. Six panelists will open the conversation on how art forges connections and builds meaningful community.

Each panelist will give a 10-minute presentation, and then the conversation will open up to include the audience. This event is open to the public. Please join us!

Presentation titles and panelists are:

• “How delightful it was, to smash to pieces those arrogant faces…” The Role of (and Reaction to) Public Art in Ancient Rome

Derek Counts, professor of classical art and archaeology and chair of the Art History Department, UW-Milwaukee

• Dangerous Symbols: Public Art and Political Conflict

Katharine Keenan, assistant professor of classics and history, Carthage

• Augmented Reality as Public Art

Paul Salsieder, art history and studio art major and muralist, Carthage

• A Deeper Drive into Sculpture Walk — Harbor Park Exhibition

Clara-lin Tappa, director of Kenosha Arts Fund, Kenosha

• Public Sculpture: What, Why, How, and When

Trenton Baylor, sculptor and associate professor of art, UW-Parkside

• My History in Creating Public Art

Bruce Niemi, sculptor