Past Courses
Art & Language:
Writing as Form, Process, and Practice
In this course, we explore writing not only as a way to talk about art, but as a form that runs alongside it—sometimes guiding, sometimes embedded, sometimes resisting clarity altogether. We’ll look at how artists across disciplines use language as structure, score, residue, texture, and refusal. And we’ll expand our fluency across both poetic and professional forms—learning to write in ways that clarify without collapsing meaning.
The Exhibition to Come
Essays on a Curatorship in Process
This course proposes a collective and process-based curatorial exercise developed from scratch. Starting from the idea of an exhibition that does not yet exist — with no defined theme, no predetermined space — participants will be invited to collaborate in the invention of the conceptual and formal paths that will shape a hypothetical exhibition, with the potential to materialize in an actual venue in the future.
Train ChatGPT as Your Studio Assistant:
An Introductory Workshop to exploiting Ai
This one-day workshop introduces artists to using ChatGPT as a powerful and flexible studio assistant to support both creative development and professional demands. We'll explore how to collaborate with AI to brainstorm new work, write and edit artist statements, craft compelling grant and residency applications, organize projects, plan exhibitions, and develop teaching materials or syllabi. You'll also learn the art of prompt writing—how to shape questions and commands that generate useful, nuanced, and imaginative results. Whether you're juggling studio time with teaching, curating, or community work, this workshop offers hands-on strategies for integrating AI into your practice with clarity, intention, and creativity.
Crash Course in Adobe Premiere Pro:
Video Editing Basics
This one-day intensive workshop is designed to get you up and running with Adobe Premiere Pro. Learn the essential tools and workflows to create high-resolution, professional-quality video works. We'll cover importing footage, basic editing techniques, timeline navigation, multi-channel video editing, and exporting for different platforms. Perfect for beginners or those looking to sharpen their foundational skills, this crash course will give you the confidence and tools to start editing with clarity and creativity. This course will be recorded for anyone unable to make it LIVE.
Lost & Found:
Artistic Approaches to the Photographic Archive
This two-hour, fully theoretical workshop is designed for those interested in reinterpreting personal or found photographic archives—whether working with printed photographs, film slides, film negatives, or other materials. Through discussions on contemporary artists, alternative techniques, and unique installation methods, participants will gain new perspectives on how to engage with archival imagery. The session will provide inspiration and strategies for transforming archival materials into meaningful artistic expressions.
Let’s Make A Show
This course offers an opportunity for artists to work with other artists to make exhibitions together. This course is led by and facilitated by Nato Thompson, who has already had tremendous success in his courses at The Alternative Art School, working with artists to figure out ways to make exhibitions together. The basic motto is: rather than waiting for someone else to give you a show, artists can work together to produce exhibition opportunities. Of course, these will not be classic exhibitions in white cube galleries, but instead provide lower-cost fun ways in the spirit of Fluxus to get their work out into the world and into conversation with new audiences and artists. Past examples include work trades in living rooms or even on refrigerators, WhatsApp exhibitions, PowerPoint shows, PDF exhibitions, collective meditations, postcard campaigns, and more.
Carving Connections *Time-Based Media Emphasis
An independent study program with Amber Imrie
Carving Connections ISP is designed to help you explore and strengthen your unique artistic voice by engaging deeply with a focus on time-based media. This course combines technical skills with creative exploration, focusing on video art, sound design, and the art of storytelling through moving images. You’ll gain practical experience using Adobe Premiere to edit video and sound, while experimenting with video quality, timing, multi-channel formats, GIFs, and other emerging media.
Through hands-on tutorials, we’ll explore how sound and image come together to create compelling works that resonate emotionally and intellectually. We’ll also dive into the logistics of exhibiting and installing video work, discussing how to present time-based pieces in physical spaces and online platforms. Along the way, you’ll receive personalized feedback from mentors and peers, all in a collaborative environment that encourages experimentation and growth.
This course is a great opportunity to expand your creative toolkit and develop your voice within the realm of contemporary video art, while continuing the Carving Connections tradition of fostering self-expression and artistic community.
Making A Life of Art
with Nato Thompson
In this course, Thompson will address and workshop the complexities of living an artistic life. Ranging from practical issues like artistic work routines and navigating the art world to more philosophical issues of community, sustainability, and life-work balance; the course is meant as a hands-on workshop for artists and curators interested in making a cultural life amidst a difficult and socially arduous world. The course will also include visiting artists, readings, and discussions.
Professional Practice for Artists Intensive
with Lexa Walsh
In this 2-week workshop, we will move intently toward building our professional practices as artists. We will cover the many ways to be in the Art World(s), and how to get there: Goal Setting, Grants, Budgets, Pricing, Residencies, Open Calls, Artist and Project Statements, Elevator Pitches, CVs, Documentation, Websites, Networking and Promotion, and the importance of Community. We will share tips and strategies to help define and finesse each of these, by identifying our audiences, contexts, processes, research and challenges.
