They say art imitates life, but more and more contemporary artists are creating projects designed to intervene in life, not just mimic it — and often to improve life for a particular audience or group of participants. On Friday, an all-day colloquium at the University of South Florida focuses on art as a catalyst for social change. Guest artists and scholars from around the country present their work, with responses from USF faculty to follow. An impressive roster of presenters includes Raúl Cardenas Osuna of Torolab, a Mexico-based consortium of artists, designers and architects whose urban gardening project is currently on view at the USF Contemporary Art Museum; Rick Lowe, founder of Houston's Project Row Houses; and Grant Kester, a San Diego professor and authority on socially engaged art. Check out the colloquium schedule online to find out when each speaker is presenting. Colloquium: Art as a Catalyst for Social Transformation, Fri., Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., USF Marshall Center Plaza Room, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, free admission, 813-974-4133.
This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2008.