Special Event

Challenging times demand that art continuously renews itself, critiques conventions and vigorously challenges its visitors.  This is the aim of "PLEASE DISTURB," a one day intervention that is part live talk show and part exhibition, curated and hosted by museum director and chair of SVA’s MFA Art Practice program David A. Ross, taking place on February 17 at the Midtown Hilton hotel. This event draws from the tradition of renegade art making to propose a timely call to action for today’s tasks and coincides with the annual College Art Association conference.

Starting at noon, Ross will set up in a hotel suite to host "PLEASE DISTURB LIVE," a talk show broadcast on Facebook Live (facebook.com/svaartpractice). The talk show features Anne Pasternak, Alexandra Hammond, Quinn Dukes, Chrissie Iles, Mike Peppi, Lia Gangitano, Baseera Khan, Thyrza Goodeve, Caroline Woolard, Tim Rollins and Angel Abreu among others to discuss the intersections of culture and politics in Trump’s America. Guiding the conversations will be the questions: what does it mean to disturb and disrupt; what do we, as arts workers, but also as citizens, do to prevent the current political situation from becoming the new normal?

For its exhibition, within the same hotel suite, installed artworks by members of the SVA MFA Art Practice community will play off of and subvert the conventions the hotel space, rendering the comforts we’re accustomed a little uncomfortable. Artists include Astrid Bai, Alexandra Hammond, Huiqi He, Tzirel Kaminetzky, Dana Osburn, JD Raenbeau, Christine Stiver, Jacquelyn Strycker, Benjamin Thorpe and Tribble & Mancenido.

Both the talk show and exhibition will be up for one night only and will feature a selection of artworks, personalities and actions intended to provoke, frustrate and surprise.  It coincides with the CAA Conference in the hopes of reaching educators across the nation, those who play the vitally important role of guiding the young artists whose work stands to make a difference in the years to come.  The event will conclude with a reception from 7:00 -9:00pm where refreshments will be provided.

12pm – 5pm: PLEASE DISTURB LIVE with David A. Ross

12:00pm             Alexandra Hammond and Quinn Dukes

1:30pm               Chrissie Iles and Mike Peppi

3:00pm               Lia Gangitano and Baseera Khan

3:30pm               Thyrza Goodeve and Caroline Woolard

4:00pm               Anne Pasternak

4:30pm               Tim Rollins and Angel Abreu

7pm – 9pm: Reception

Refreshments provided.