Three symposia brought together art professionals from different countries to discuss public art in Scotland.
A series of inspirational presentations about exemplary public art projects set the broader context within which artists, theorists, designers, planners, commissioners, users and funders could debate contemporary issues.
Mapping the Future: Public Art questioned national situations from the perspective of individuals’ own practices, disciplines and remits.
Discussion concentrated on representation and critique of the current ‘moment of practice’ – the intersection between the perspectives of artist/practitioners, and the perspectives of the ‘people who want’. Underlying this were important questions about how and why perspectives might differ, and what the theoretical, practical and political implications of such differences might be.
All actively involved in the making, commissioning and policy surrounding public art, Tracy Mackenna & Edwin Janssen, and Graham Fagen as colleagues at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), University of Dundee, and Ruth Barker as producer of Public Art Scotland (PAR+RS) recognised the untapped value of collaboration, and the possibility of a new partnership.
Symposium I (13th October 2010)
New Perspectives: Inspirational Approaches
Tom van Gestel
Jeanne van Heeswijk
Judith Rugg
Graham Fagen
Chair Moira Jeffrey
Symposium II (6th October 2010)
Scotland Now
Clive Gillman
Peter McCaughey
Dairmaid Lawlor
Lucy Byatt
Chair Alastair Snow
Symposium III (20 October 2010)
Mapping the Future
Claire Doherty
Venu Dhupa
Tracy Mackenna
Ken Neil
Chair Jason E Bowman
Producer Annette MacTavish
Graphic Design Stout/Kramer
Supported by Creative Scotland