"For too long Social Practice has been the notoriously flimsy flipside of market-based contemporary art: a world of hand-wringing practitioners easily satisfied with the feeling of 'doing good' in a community, and unaware that their quasi-activist, anti-formalist positions in fact have a long artistic heritage and can be critically dissected using the tools of art and theatre history. Helguera's spunky primer promises to offer a much-needed critical compass for those adrift in the expanded social field." -Claire Bishop, Professor of Contemporary Art and Exhibition History, CUNY, and author of Artificial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship "This is an extremely timely and thoughtful reference book. Drawn from empirical and extensive experience and research, it provides a curriculum and framework for thinking about the complexity of socially engaged practices. Locating the methodologies of this work in between disciplines, Helguera draws on histories of performance, pedagogy, sociology, ethnography, linguistics, community and public practices. Rather than propose a system he exposes the temporalities necessary to make these situations possible and resonant. This is a tool that will allow us to consider the difficulties of making socially engaged art and move closer to finding a language through which we can represent and discuss its impact." -Sally Tallant, Artistic Director, Liverpool Biennial "Helguera has produced a highly readable book that absolutely needs to be in the back pocket of anyone interested in teaching or learning about socially engaged art" -Tom Finkelpearl, Director of the Queens Museum, New York, and author of Dialogues in Public Art
Education for Socially Engaged Art
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
essential, how is it that no one has written a book like this before?
December 13, 2011
Format:Paperback
Finally, a structured, practical book on socially engaged art! Very thought provoking. I can hardly believe that a book like this hasn't been written before, as relational aesthetics have extended to include global politics and many artists seem to think that "(moving) image quoting" in a journalistic style equals political art...which I suppose it does actually, but actually where the credit needs to be given is to feminist art of the 1970's for kicking the whole process of political analysis off and rescuing art from aesthetic double binds and removal from actual human life.
Helguera touches on many possibilities and options for creating Socially Engaged Art, providing a framework to think both within and without...Helguera provides both positive and negative examples of socially engaged art, and does not necessarily guide the reader towards any foregone conclusion, I found it very open (the book) to interpretation...extremely thought provoking. I wonder what will come after socially engaged art, or if anything will. What is more human artwise than engaging socially with the world? Art is after all a human activity and eventual product made for human consumption--Helguera's book shows that beyond just relational art that art can indeed be USEFUL and this is, for me anyway, what I have been waiting for. And as Helguera gives credit to, artist Suzanne Lacy in particular can be seen as one precursor or model or example for a lot of what is happening today concerning this urgent development in culture...It's truly time for BEHAVIOR to take center stage in the art world!
(see Helguera's excellent Etiquette book for yet another brilliantly written range of possibilities)
Helguera touches on many possibilities and options for creating Socially Engaged Art, providing a framework to think both within and without...Helguera provides both positive and negative examples of socially engaged art, and does not necessarily guide the reader towards any foregone conclusion, I found it very open (the book) to interpretation...extremely thought provoking. I wonder what will come after socially engaged art, or if anything will. What is more human artwise than engaging socially with the world? Art is after all a human activity and eventual product made for human consumption--Helguera's book shows that beyond just relational art that art can indeed be USEFUL and this is, for me anyway, what I have been waiting for. And as Helguera gives credit to, artist Suzanne Lacy in particular can be seen as one precursor or model or example for a lot of what is happening today concerning this urgent development in culture...It's truly time for BEHAVIOR to take center stage in the art world!
(see Helguera's excellent Etiquette book for yet another brilliantly written range of possibilities)
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Ruby Rose
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an extremely smart and thoughtful exploration of socially engaged art. Helguera manages to be both incredibly practical and impressively learned in his approach. As a practitioner, it spoke to many of the issues and questions that I've grappled with. It's also very clear, concise, and compelling--I read it in one sitting! It's the book I've been hoping someone would write about the subject...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By toychestra
Format:Paperback
Pablo Helguera's book is a necessary read for anyone interested in the discussion of Socially Engaged Art. His candid, no-nonsense approach is refreshing, his insight spot-on. As both a student and teacher of SEA, I have found his book clarifies with ease what is usually difficult to describe. Bravo!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I hope that Mr. Helguera expands his text. Students will love the length, but I was hoping for more depth. Then again, the ideas are fresh, clear, and original. thank you!
By Halfway
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This handy little introduction is a great foray into the genre. Helguera's language is approachable, the format's concise, and the examples he uses are relevant and easily accessible via other media. Possibly of importance is that this is a primer and not necessarily a comprehensive handbook--Helguera doesn't address such issues as securing a venue or funding for projects; however, the book does an excellent job of defining the genre and highlighting fundamental concerns, such as time constrictions and desired degree of participation.
5.0 out of 5 stars
succinct yet rich resource for anyone interested in socially engaged art
November 11, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just came back from "SOC(I)AL: How does Socially Engaged Art Happen in LA?" @ LACE, one of the series of round table discussions exploring socially engaged art in Southern California. On this occasion participants broke into groups to discuss topics inspired by a chapter of this book. It felt like grad school all over again, made me wish we had resources like this primer when I was in school a little over a decade ago. I am very jealous of those who had the benefit of seminars by Pablo Helguera and glad he made this primer public for the rest of us who were not as fortunate.
By w j abramson
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
how refreshing to find a book dedicated to exploring the vital concept of arts in education during these 'no budget for essentials' days...this is a great summary of a significant part of our nations future..hooray for amazon for turning me on to it...
thanks
thanks
Format:Paperback
Helguera's book is pellucidly clear and impeccably researched, a power-packed little gem. It gives a clear-eyed, thoughtful and passionate outline of the forms that socially engaged art can take, and of some of the tools that can help to create it. The footnotes alone are an education, giving a de facto reading list for any artist who is thinking about, practicing, or think about practicing this elusive but burgeoning form. I recommend this book highly for both artists and educators.
