Living Histories of Contemporary Art: New Media between Latin America and New York in the 1960s–70s

Symposium
Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10am–5:30pm
1501 Wesley W. Posvar Hall (230 S. Bouquet St.), University of Pittsburgh

This one-day scholarly symposium complements two exhibitions of contemporary art: Hélio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium, on view at Carnegie Museum of Art until Jan. 2, 2017, and Paradoxes of Play: Concrete and Conceptualist Proposals from Brazil and Beyond, on view at the University Art Gallery in Pitt's Frick Fine Arts Building from Nov. 4–Dec. 9, 2016 (opening reception on Fri., Nov. 4, from 4–6pm).
Participants, including Hélio Oiticica exhibition organizers Lynn Zelevansky, The Henry J. Heinz II Director, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Katherine Brodbeck, Associate Curator, Carnegie Museum of Art; Oiticica's collaborator and friend Andreas Valentin, a Brazil-based photographer and scholar; Terry Smith, Mellon Professor of Contemporary Art and Theory, University of Pittsburgh; and scholar-curators Carla Stellweg (School of Visual Arts), Sarah Montross (deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum), and Aleca Le Blanc (University of California-Riverside), will offer insights into the transnational and transmediated practices of contemporary Latin American artists including Jaime Davidovich, Juan Downey, and Hélio Oiticica, with particular attention to exhibitions and other forms of dissemination.

10a–10:30a Coffee and greetings

10:30–11a Introductions by Jennifer Josten and Katherine Brodbeck

11a–12:30p Panel 1: Latin American and Latina/o Artists in 1960s–70s New York
1501 Wesley W. Posvar Hall

"Magnet–New York": The Latin American Spirit in the Downtown Underground, Then and Now
Carla Stellweg, Professor, School of Visual Arts, New York

"Home Is Where the Art Is": Jaime Davidovich and Juan Downey in New York
Sarah Montross, Associate Curator, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Discussion

12:30–1:30p Lunch, Frick Fine Arts Building Cloister

1:30–2:45p Tours of Paradoxes of Play and Chinese Apartment Art at the University Art Gallery, and of Hélio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium at Carnegie Museum of Art

3–5:30p Panel 2: Collaborating With and Exhibiting Hélio Oiticica
1501 Wesley W. Posvar Hall

Andreas Valentin, photographer and professor, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, on his collaborations with Hélio Oiticica and Thomas Valentin in the 1970s

Andreas Valentin and Joseph M. Ortiz, MD, in dialogue with Katherine Brodbeck about their collaborations and friendships with Hélio Oiticica

Lynn Zelevansky, The Henry J. Heinz II Director, Carnegie Museum of Art,
in dialogue with Aleca Le Blanc, Assistant Professor, University of California-Riverside, about exhibiting Hélio Oiticica and his circle(s)

Discussion on curatorial practice moderated by Terry Smith, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Contemporary Art History and Theory, University of Pittsburgh

Participants in this scholarly symposium, which has been organized by Jennifer Josten, Assistant Professor of History of Art and Architecture, University of Pittsburgh, and Katherine Brodbeck, Associate Curator, Carnegie Museum of Art, will offer insights into the transnational and transmediated practices of artists such as Jaime Davidovich, Juan Downey, and Hélio Oiticica, with particular attention to exhibitions and other forms of dissemination.
All events are free and open to the public. Though not required, advance registration for the symposium and exhibition tour is appreciated: https://living-histories.eventbrite.com
Funding for this event has been generously provided by the University Center for International Studies, the Center for Latin American Studies, and the Department of History of Art and Architecture, University of Pittsburgh, as well as the Fine Family Foundation.