Visual arts expert to discuss challenges, opportunities of producing art in Midwest during events

As a nationally recognized visual arts expert, James McAnally believes in the importance of art criticism in developing culture and sees both challenges and opportunities in producing art in the Midwest region of the U.S.

McAnally will discuss his viewpoints and his career during multiple events on Grand Valley’s Allendale Campus March 26-27 as a part of the Visual and Media Arts Department’s Visiting Artist Series.

"Grand Rapids' strong identification as a culturally and artistically vibrant city requires a substantive and accessible critical discourse about the culture we produce and what it means for the daily lives of its residents," said Paul Wittenbraker, professor of visual studies and foundations and event coordinator. "One important way to do this is through writing and criticism and James is helping to reimagine the new forms that criticism can take on new digital platforms."

An “artist talk” with McAnally will be hosted on March 26, at 1:40 p.m., in room 1718 of the Calder Art Center. During this presentation, McAnally will provide an introduction to his work in the visual arts as an artist, curator, collaborator, organizer, writer, editor and theorist.

A roundtable discussion with McAnally focusing on the role of writing and criticism in the development of culture will also take place March 26, at 3 p.m., in room 1201 of Calder Art Center.

McAnally will also discuss how the Midwest is uniquely situated to contribute to the visual arts on regional, national and even international scales, and the opportunities and challenges of producing and presenting art in the region. This event will take place March 27, at 1:30 p.m., at Avenue of the Arts’ Learning Lab, located at 307 Division Avenue South in Grand Rapids.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, McAnally is a co-founder and curator of The Luminary, a nonprofit that serves as a forum for artistic research, production and presentation, and a part of the artist collaborative US English. He is a recipient of the Creative Capital | Warhol Foundation’s Arts Writers Award for Short-Form Writing. McAnally is also a founding member of Common Field, a national network of independent arts organizations, as well as co-founder and editor of Temporary Art Review.

All events are free, open to the public, and sponsored by Grand Valley’s Visual and Media Arts Department, Writing Department and digital studies program, as well as culturedGR and Avenue for the Arts, a project of Dwelling Place.

For more information, contact the Visual and Media Arts Department at (616) 331-3486.