Raid the Archives - Fall 2023

From dusty found photos to Google Street View imagery, we are now surrounded by seemingly endless image archives. It is common practice within contemporary art to look at these archives as rich sources of material. In this class, we will examine these and other definitions of an archive and explore how, as creative individuals, we can engage with archives not only as a place for research and inspiration, but also as material for potential imaginative re-appropriation. The class will incorporate site visits to several institutional archive resources, reading assignments, group discussions, and presentations. We'll even look at PCNW's existing building, set for demoltion in the winter, as an archive to be creatively explored. Students will incorporate their own research and discovery in the development of a new body of work that is either inspired by or created from archival materials.

NOTES

• Students should expect to spend several hours per week on assignments for this course, which may require use of PCNW facilities; view our Rental Rates for details about additional fees.
• Additional information about course expectations and any required materials will be provided by the instructor at the start of the quarter.

Image © Eirik Johnson