http://www.xubing.com/

http://www.jmu.edu/ivs/

James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2008 - Index

54
Two years ago when i started the institute
for Visual studies with colleagues from
across the university, the Xu Bing project
was precisely the kind of multidisciplinary
initiative i had hoped that we could make
happen on campus. as a center for scholarly,
scientific and creative inquiry into the
nature and workings of images, the institute
is dedicated to bringing teams of students
and faculty members from different disciplines
together to do innovative work. not
only did Picturing Equality present extraordinary
visual work to the Harrisonburg
community, it fostered a series of highly
successful collaborations here at JMU.
students and professors were involved
in every aspect of this project, from exhibition
planning and design to the creation
of a catalog. The artist and i both contributed
essays to this publication, which was
designed by graphic design professor dawn
Hachenski. Robin Corp (’07) produced
a wide range of publicity materials for the
show and Christine Bednarz (’08) worked as
curatorial assistant. several student interns
gave a series of gallery talks and assisted with
advertising and promotion.
The exhibition and artist’s visit were
also closely integrated into the curricula of
courses in different departments where the
catalog served as a text. in addition to the
large public lecture Xu Bing delivered during
his campus visit as dorothy Liskey Wampler
eminent Professor, he also met with school
of art and art History graduate students to
discuss their work.
Like Xu Bing, as a teacher i feel that helping
students see the world in a new way is one of
my most important goals. in this regard, Picturing
Equality was the first in what i know
will be many successful collaborations. M
✱ Learn more about Xu Bing’s work at
www.xubing.com/.
About the Author: David Ehrenpreis directs
the JMU Institute for Visual Studies and is a professor
in the School of Art and Art History. He
teaches 19th-century art and his research focuses on
German visual culture and the intersection of art
and nationalism. He also directs the JMU Summer
Program in Berlin. Learn more about the Institute
for Visual Studies at www.jmu.edu/ivs.
The Xu Bing in Harrisonburg project was made
possible through the generous support of the College
of Visual and Performing Arts Encore Series,
the School of Art and Art History, the Institute for
Visual Studies, the Office of International Programs,
and a grant from the Arts Council of the Valley.
Madison Magazine
EXPRESSIONS
Above, in this 1978
woodblock print,
Xu Bing depicts
the residents of his
small rural commune
gathered in
a field to watch a
patriotic movie projected
on a sheet.
At left, in his latest
project, Xu Bing
wants to create a
universal language
using symbols
drawn from modern
life. In this excerpt,
a traveler rushes
to catch a plane.
Below, following his
lecture, the artist
discusses his work
with members of
the community.
art courtesy of david ehrenPreis