Notes on Printed Matter and the power of networking.

As Printed Matter comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect and talk a little about the project. The Cooper Gallery Program provides a platform for budding student curators such as myself to explore and act upon artistic interests. Anne D'Harnoncourt, director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, described curators as 'enablers, if you will, as being crazy about art and they want to share their being crazy about art with other people... I think of curators as opening people's eyes to the pleasure of art, to the strength of art, to the subersiveness of art, whatever it is' (D'Harnoncourt 2011). I wouldn't state this definition as absolute. But in the context of Printed Matter I would say this notion comes very close to how I considered myself in relation to the project. I have a passion for the widening position of print within contemporary culture. I hope that by bringing together such a wonderful variety of artists who work closely with print, that the exhibition has contributed to the discourse surrounding print and print process. 

The idea began with an open call inviting artists to propose a work or series of works surrounding the theme Printed Matter/Print Process. I networked the open call across the country and abroad and received an amazing response. Printed Matter was created to explore the physicality of print yet the artistic correspondence and planning exists almost entirely online. I hope that the project emphasises the power of new media and virtual networking. We ran a virtual platform (http://printandprocess.wordpress.com/) for the contributing artists to use however they felt appropriate for the project. I have learnt a great deal from Printed Matter about planning a curatorial project. As I come ever closer to graduation... I encourage anyone reading this with an interest in curatorial practice to get involved with the Cooper Gallery Program as I know I will miss it!

Sean Scott.

Obrist, U. (2011) A Brief History of Curating. Zurich:JRP Ringier.