Art, Place, & Engagement: Harlem Convergence

This studio art course is conceived as a three part structure; first, a survey of the Harlem neighborhood spanning from the Harlem Renaissance to present, second a survey of socially engaged artists producing work in specific and committed orientation to the locality of their work (both Harlem-based and beyond), and finally the enactment of a neighborhood, group engagement project ,designed and implemented by the class. The goal of the course is to provide thoughtful footing in the historic neighborhood City College is situated in, as a means of developing a nuanced understanding and development of community engaged ways of art making. Research and practice will be enhanced by class visits to area organizations such as The Schomburg Center for Black Culture and Research, The Laundromat Project, The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum for Art and Storytelling, and The Brotherhood Sister Sol, and by visits from contemporary, socially oriented artists living and working in the neighborhood today. Socially Engaged Artists come to this work from a broad spectrum of academic backgrounds and life experiences. Potential departmental overlaps of interest, outside of the Art Department may be found from the following CCNY degree programs: Sociology Political Science Gender Studies Black Studies History Teaching, Learning, and Culture