Provoking Art Asks 'What Can We Do?'

By Connect Mason Life Director Sorphea Sam

The Visual Cultures Symposium presented inspirational and disconcerting movements, images and sounds, all aimed at discussing the methods and motives of social action with "Intended to Provoke." The event was held in the Johnson Center Cinema on March 27.

"We're in a time in which we have to really ask 'What can we do?'" said Lynne M. Constantine, associate chair of Mason's art and visual technology department and one of the event's organizers. "And so many of our presenters today gave us a piece of what we can use to think about that question."

• Check out tomorrow's juried art exhibit, "Provocations: The Art of Social Engagement" at Gallery 123.

Audience members watched as dancers represented about 100 words through movements inspired by sign language - a piece choreographed by Adriane Fang, an assistant professor in the dance department and alteration panelist.

Andrew Johnson, a Carnegie Mellon University associate professor of art and protest panelist, asked audience members to come to the front and sign up for the draft, where he then said, "you draft to die in [the] Army." He went on to discuss his attempts to draft students in the JC food court and the responses he received. He argued that everyone needed to "acknowledge the 'Realitics' taking place" right now and how it's everyone's decision to do something about it.

• Listen to Johnson speak about his thoughts on drafting.
  

Jessica Clements, a MFA candidate in the art and visual technology department and alteration panelist, portrayed the birth of a child from the view of the doctor performing the birth.

Ayodamola Okunseinde, the creative director of Dissident Display Studio and Gallery and alteration panelist, asked a volunteer to stand against a wall while an image of current fugitives circulated over the volunteer's face.

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