Target Free Thursday Nights at the Walker Art Center in January are highlighted by the return of The Inquisition, a revival of a quiz forum that the Walker hosted in 1940 as the brainchild of then director Daniel Defenbacher. At this event, Walker curators, as well as guest panelists Marianne Combs from Minnesota Public Radio and artist Andy Sturdevant, test their knowledge of art history, Walker history, and topics in contemporary art by attempting to answer questions of fact submitted by the public at walkerart.org/inquisition.
Other highlights in January include events related to the exhibition Event Horizon, which showcases the Walker’s cross-disciplinary programming and holdings, uniting painting, sculpture, and photography with film, performance, and video. Electric harp pioneer/composer Zeena Parkins presents short sets of music in the galleries at 6, 7, and 8 pm on Thursday, January 14. And on January 28, 6–9 pm, visitors can take part in an art lab activity to create their own exhibition using thumbnail images of works from the show arranged on a gallery floor plan.
On January 14, at 7:30 pm, Chicago-based photographer, curator, and experimental filmmaker Ben Russell presents some of his award-winning key works in the Cinema, including clips from his TRYPPS cycle, documenting the noise music scene in Providence, Rhode Island. And on consecutive Target Free Thursday Nights beginning January 7, screenings are presented for each of the five parts of Yang Fudong’s Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest (January 7, 14, 21, 28, and February 4, 7 pm). This black-and-white experimental masterpiece traces the epic journey undertaken by a group of young people—as a meditation on the changes China is undergoing.
Sound Bites gallery talks are offered throughout the month on select Thursday evenings at 6:30 and 7 pm. Sound Bites illuminate an artist or work of art from the Walker’s world-class collection or one of its special exhibitions.
Target Free Thursday Nights
January 7, 14, 21, 28
Galleries open 5–9; special events follow.
Free
Thursday, January 7
Sound Bites: Dan Graham’s Girls’ Make-up Room, 6:30 and 7 pm
Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
Contemporary art and artists are the focus of these 15-minute gallery conversations led by Walker tour guides. Each highlights selected artworks, artists, or themes that serve as topics for illuminating discussions.
The Inquisition: Art Is Fun—Quiz Party Proves It, 7 pm
Perlman Gallery
Free tickets available at the Bazinet Garden Lobby desk from 6 pm
Join us for a spirited revival of the Walker’s 1940 quiz forum, an event that took a lighthearted approach to the heavyweight challenges of modern art. Novices and experts alike were tested on their range of art-historical knowledge and expertise; for the 2010 Inquisition, the audience is encouraged to submit questions, facts, and topics by visiting walkerart.org/inquisition. Prizes will be awarded and egos will be bruised. Arrive early—space is limited.
Film: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest, Part I, 7 pm
Directed by Yang Fudong
Lecture Room
This black-and-white experimental masterpiece traces the epic journey undertaken by a group of young people—as a meditation on the changes China is undergoing. The title refers to the legendary Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, a group of third-century intellectuals who dropped out of society to take up residence in the countryside for Daoist-inspired reflection and drinking. Yang Fudong shot this atmospheric, visually lush film in five parts over five years, and presented it in its entirety at the 2007 Venice Biennale. 2007, video transferred from 35mm, in Mandarin with
English subtitles, 290 minutes. Courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery, New York. Each of the five sections will screen on consecutive Target Free Thursday Nights through February 4.
Thursday, January 14
Sound Horizon: Zeena Parkins, 6, 7, and 8 pm
Event Horizon Galleries
Catch short sets by electric harp pioneer/composer Zeena Parkins—the first in a series of live gallery performances. From sublimely expressive to decidedly discordant, Parkins’ work explores the full sonic range of her instrument, incorporating a broad range of influences. A lightning-bolt performer whose “style defeats categorization” (New York Times), Parkins has worked and performed with Jim O’Rourke, Thurston Moore, Björk, Yoko Ono, and John Zorn, among many others.
Sound Bites: The performances of Dan Graham, 6:30 and 7 pm
Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
Contemporary art and artists are the focus of these 15-minute gallery conversations led by Walker tour guides. Each highlights selected artworks, artists, or themes that serve as topics for illuminating discussions.
Film: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest, Part II, 7 pm
Directed by Yang Fudong
Lecture Room
(See listing above.)
Film: An Evening with Ben Russell, 7:30 pm
Cinema
Free tickets available at the Bazinet Garden Lobby desk from 6 pm
The Chicago-based photographer, curator, and experimental filmmaker presents some of his key works. His TRYPPS cycle (Parts 1–6, 2005–2009) captures the energy of the noise music scene in Providence, Rhode Island, and includes other psychedelic journeys, both physical and psychological. The Black and White Gods (2008) is a performance in which looped projections are manipulated to alter both image and sound. Russell won the Overkill Award at the 2009 Images Festival for his work, which approaches extremes of incorrigibility through form, and challenges the notions of experimental practice. 2005–2009, film/performance, program length 77 minutes.
Thursday, January 21
Sound Bites: Dan Graham’s Rock My Religion, 6:30 and 7 pm
Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
Contemporary art and artists are the focus of these 15-minute gallery conversations led by Walker tour guides. Each highlights selected artworks, artists, or themes that serve as topics for illuminating discussions.
Film: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest, Part III, 7 pm
Directed by Yang Fudong
Lecture Room
(See listing above.)
Thursday, January 28
Art Lab: Be the Curator, 6–9 pm
Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
Build your own exhibition by arranging your favorite works from Event Horizon, in the form of thumbnail images, on a gallery floor plan.
Sound Bites: Franz Marc’s The Large Blue Horses, 6:30 and 7 pm
Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
Contemporary art and artists are the focus of these 15-minute gallery conversations led by Walker tour guides. Each highlights selected artworks, artists, or themes that serve as topics for illuminating discussions.
Film: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest, Part IV, 7 pm
Directed by Yang Fudong
Lecture Room
(See listing above.)
