Theory Tuesdays is a participatory reading group organized in the spirit of "each one, teach one." Philip Matesic will launch the weekly reading group with the organization and coordination of the first six weeks under the theme "Participation in Art." The required texts will be read by each member in advance and then discussed together as a group.

At the conclusion of the fifth week, the reading schedule will be open to the individual members of the group, to decide what to read and discuss in the following weeks. Active participation by all members is essential as Theory Tuesdays sets out to be a collaborative, ongoing discussion, where everyone will contribute, teach and learn from one another.

The first two Tuesdays will address the historical lineage of participation in art as well as a detailed glimpse into Happenings in New York in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The first session will be held on Tuesday, Oktober 6 at 7 p.m. All subsequent sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. (schedule below). A nominal CHF 20.- tuition fee for participating members will include copies of required readings and help fund a small travel budget for the visiting artist.

PROGRAM

Week 1: Tuesday, Oktober 6, 7 p.m.
Sign-up and Introduction
Text: Rudolf Frieling "Toward Participation in Art"

Week 2: Tuesday, Oktober 13, 7 p.m.
Text: Boris Groys "A Genealogy of Participatory Art"
Text: Allan Kaprow "Happenings in the New York Scene"

Week 3: Tuesday, Oktober 20, 7 p.m.
Text: Claire Bishop "Viewers As Producers"
Text: Nicolas Bourriaud "Relational Form"  
Text: Lars Bang Larsen "Social Aesthetics"

Week 4: Tuesday, Oktober 27, 7 p.m.
Text: Miwon Kwon "From Site to Community in New Genre Public Art"
Text: Cascoland "Interventions in Public Space"

Week 5: Tuesday, November 3, 7 p.m.
Text: Darren O’ Donnell "Social Acupuncture" (Part One and Two)
Text: Tom Finkelpearl "Interview: Vito Acconci on Art, Architecture, Arvada and Storefront"

Week 6: Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m.
Visiting Artist: Saskia de Brauw (NL)