Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth | Art Program Engaging Youth in Winnipeg
POSTED ON Nov 22 2018
By: Tyler Andrade
On Wednesday, November 21, Plug In ICA hosted the sixth edition of the Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth program. The four participants shared their experiences engaging with Plug In ICA’s current exhibition, Days of Reading: beyond this state of affairs. Participants were introduced to practices, approaches, and techniques surrounding video creation as it related to the Days of Reading. Youth participants had the unique chance to learn about the practices of several artists working in contemporary art today and even had the opportunity to learn from some of the artists featured in the current exhibition themselves, such as: cultural critic, Jeanne Randolph, inter-media artist and scholar, Leah Decter, and interdisciplinary Costa Rican artist, Fabiola Carranza.
For this iteration of the program, participants had the opportunity to work closely with Assistant Curator, Luther Konadu, to discuss process, approach and multi-media content creation. Of the youth in this session, Mark Ginther, Tuva Bergstrom, Dylan VanDamme, Jordan Santiago and Victor Ilunga (mentor) offered the presentation of a short interpretive video produced in collaboration with Plug In ICA and Just TV.
“The screening offers a visual reflection of the youth’s collective and individual experience of Days of Reading: beyond this state of affairs, and marks the culmination of an intensive four week session, working and thinking together about the exhibition, and about video as an interpretive mode,” shared Executive Director, Jenifer Papararo.
The youth screening and panel discussion began at 5:30 pm, preceded by a short reception with refreshments; providing the youth with the authentic experience similar to that of an exhibition opening. Assistant Curator, Konadu, alongside, dedicated Interpreting Youth mentor, Victor Ilunga, moderated the panel discussion with participants.
“I didn’t know a lot about contemporary art…and I never really got it before. This experience was a whole new awakening for me and I really learned how to understand things differently and really interpret things in a way I usually wouldn’t,” shared 16 year-old Bergstrom.
“I think contemporary art is something special for everyone,” she elaborated.
“My experience here has been really nice. We’re [the four participants] all here and we’re all connected in a different way. It’s been a bonding experience. I’ve looked forward to coming here each week…I don’t get tired of being here…which is nice,” she laughed.
The Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth program is designed for youth ages 16 to 24. The program reverses a pre-existing interpretive model used within arts institutions that often produce short videos as educational devices. The Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth program inversely begins with the youth’s experience of the artwork, challenging conventional models of art interpretation by overturning basic roles of authority and authorship.
As part of the evening’s festivities, participants engaged in a live panel discussion with the audience followed by a ceremony where they received their certificates of completion.
Upon completion and reflection of the program, Bergstrom shared, “I feel like I could just walk in here and have this [Plug In ICA] be a second home for me.”
Plug In ICA hosts the Interpreting Youth Program a few times throughout the year. For more information about this and other education programs, please contact Luther Konadu at luther@plugin.org. For general information please contact: info@plugin.org or call 1.204.942.1043.
We give special thanks to JUST TV for their dedicated and expert partnership.
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Plug In ICA extends our heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors, valued members, and dedicated volunteers. You make a difference!
We gratefully acknowledge the Assiniboine Credit Union for their support of this session.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council, the Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. We could not operate without their continued financial investment and lobbying efforts.
Plug In ICA relies on community support to remain free and accessible to all, and enable us to continue to present excellent programs. Please consider becoming a member of Plug In ICA and a donor at https://plugin.org/support or by contacting Angela Forget: angela@plugin.org
Photo: Interpreting [Interrupting] Youth Participants holding their IIY certificates during the Video Screening & Panel Discussion Wednesday night (left to right: Mark Ginther, Jordan Santiago, Tuva Bergstrom, Dylan VanDamme)