08 Oct Symposium: Urban Art in the Post Industrial Landscape
This symposium explores the history of graffiti art in New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh and León Guanajuato, Mexico charting its post-industrial past and evolving present. From illicit subcultural act to permission-based and city-sanctioned artistic practice, graffiti illustrates the evolution of industrial surfaces into sprawling urban canvases. Participants include scholars and practitioners, and audience members will be invited to dialogue about potential educational uses for graffiti history in diverse settings. This event is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Speakers include:
Caitlin Bruce and Oreen Cohen, co-organizers of Hemispheric Conversations
Shane Pilster, Graphic Designer and Rivers of Steel Urban Arts Educator, Pittsburgh
Ron Baraff, Director of Historic Resources and Facilities, Rivers of Steel
Chris McGinnis, Assistant Professor of Art, Indiana University Pennsylvania, Rivers of Steel Arts
Joe Austin, Associate Professor of History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Miguel Aguilar, Artist and Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Fernando Quiroga Talamantes, Documentary Filmmaker, León Guanajuato, Mexico
Brainstorming session led by Paulette Ruz Vincent and Oscar Medina, University of Pittsburgh
Presentations from participants
Thank you to our partners: Rivers of Steel; the American Studies Association; Provost’s Year of Diversity Initiative; Department of Communication; Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program; Cultural Studies Program; History of Art and Architecture Department; William Pitt Debate Union; Center for Latin American Studies; Collecting Knowledge Pittsburgh