PAC HOME talk – Carl Slater and Mark James on ‘curating’

PAC HOME talk – Carl Slater and Mark James on ‘curating’

What do artists expect from curators? Questioning Authorship, License and Hierarchy of the artist or curator.

Karst – Artist-led Carl did his degree in London, his first curated project was in a medieval church. He believed that he wasn’t so much the curator but a curator of events. It’s all about programming events in a sort of ‘Project Based Practice.’
Mark James did an Ma in Curating and worked at Baltic with Claire bishop. He has previously worked as a Programme assistant at Plymouth Arts Centre and done work within the Peninsula Gallery however he felt his role lacked the control he wanted.

Carl went on to talk about the Label system; explaining that it is awkward. He questions himself, What is it he really does? Is he an artist or director. In answer to this he labelled himself and everyone else as makers ‘We are all makers’ Slater,2014

Another question he feels he is often asking is Are you a Collaborator or is it an Collaboration? Then leading on to bear in mind that everyone talks about a good show, yet everyone talks about a bad show too. He described his journey for both him and Donna at KARST as a roller coaster ride and where about do their roles stop? Further explaining that Donna and himself provide the frameworks for KARST

LIE- Library of Independent Exchange, Mark James and Chris Green. Mark explained how they had made a form of curation within a book, with 50-100 items for published matter for £7. They selected these works to be published through people they had collaborated with and or enjoyed the work of. On Networking carl remarked that ‘unless you ask you don’t get’ and Mark promoted opening’s in a way that all student’s can relate to. ‘ Go to opening’s the drinks are free! Once a month you get to get tipsy for free’ (Mark)

To Finalise the talk Carl talked about variety at Karst ‘To be a Curator or to work on curatorial projects’ and ‘ to programme and curate are two different things yet are also indifferent.’ Slater, 2014I found this talk really interesting as not only did it give you the opportunity to learn more about KARST and L.I.E, it also allowed a informal discussion of the role of artists and curators, ensuring no hierarchy in the event itself.