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.

Nato Thompson is an author, curator, and what he describes as “cultural infrastructure builder”. He has worked as Artistic Director at Philadelphia Contemporary, and Creative Time as Artistic Director and Curator at MASS MoCA.

Thompson organized major Creative Time projects including The Creative Time Summit (2009–2015), Pedro Reyes’ Doomocracy (2016), Kara Walker’s A Subtlety (2014), Living as Form (2011), Trevor Paglen’s The Last Pictures (2012), Paul Ramírez Jonas’s Key to the City (2010), Jeremy Deller’s It is What it is (2009, with New Museum curators Laura Hoptman and Amy Mackie), Democracy in America: The National Campaign (2008), and Paul Chan’s Waiting for Godot in New Orleans (2007), among others.

He has written two books of cultural criticism, Seeing Power: Art and Activism in the 21st Century (2015) and Culture as Weapon: The Art of Influence in Everyday Life (2017). He founded the Alternative Art School in 2020.

Since January 2007, Nato Thompson has organized major projects for Creative Time including the annual Creative Time Summit, Living as Form (2011), Paul Ramirez Jonas’s Key to the City (2010), Jeremy Deller’s It is What it is with New Museum curators Laura Hoptman and Amy Mackie (2009), Democracy in America: The National Campaign (2008), Paul Chan’s acclaimed Waiting for Godot in New Orleans (2007) and Mike Nelson’s A Psychic Vacuum with curator Peter Eleey. Previously, he worked as Curator at MASS MoCA where he completed numerous large-scale exhibitions including The Interventionists: Art in the Social Sphere (2004) with a catalogue distributed by MIT Press. His writings have appeared in numerous publications including BookForum, Frieze, Art Journal, Art Forum, Parkett, Cabinetand The Journal of Aesthetics and Protest. The College Art Association awarded him for distinguished writing in Art Journal in 2004. He curated the exhibition for Independent Curators International titled Experimental Geography with a book available by Melville House Publishing. His book Seeing Power: Socially Engaged Art in the Age of Cultural Production was published by Melville House in January 2012.

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.

Our Independent Study Program consists of five Class Sessions (Always recorded), Five Peer to Peer Feedback Sessions (30-40 mins per student, per session), Three 1-1 Mentoring Sessions (30-40 mins each), & One Culminating Showcase (Public Facing)
Session Type Descriptions:

Lecture / Discussion – 2 hrs
Once a month, these group gatherings will tackle information that applies to the group as a whole. This cohort’s lectures will focus on the following topics: Lecture 1: Introduction to Time-Based Media & Video Art (tutorial: Adobe Premiere Basics), Lecture 2:  Discuss Video art shared & Tutorial on Adobe Premiere – Advanced Techniques, Lecture 3: Sound Design and Sound Art in Media-Based Work, Lecture 4: Multi-Channel Video Installations & Emerging Media, Lecture 5: Installation, Exhibiting Work, and Critique. Monthly lectures may include presentations, special guests, breakout discussions, and exercises.

Cohort Feedback Sessions – 2.5 hrs
Once a month, you will meet in smaller groups of 4. Within these sessions, you will use compassionate critique strategies to help clarify, problem solve, and brainstorm your projects forward. Each month, you will have 30-40 minutes of direct feedback from your peer artists. Peer artists groupings will be constructed from the information you share on your intake form.

1-1 Mentor Meetings – .5 hrs
You will have three 1-1 mentoring sessions for 30-40 minutes each. During this time, you can ask questions, get feedback & personalized coaching advice. During your enrollment period you will select your 1-1 mentoring sessions times.

Culminating Showcase – Public facing & shared across our social networks
At the end of the Independent Study Program, TAAS will host a virtual showcase of the work and projects completed. At the beginning of the program, you will be asked to set your goals for this showcase. The showcase can include but is not limited to, online exhibits, virtual performances, video/ film screenings, artist talks, performative lectures, or other alternative strategies for digital showcasing. The showcase will be open to the public, shared on social media and through our newsletter.

Schedule:
Monthly Lectures & Feedback Sessions: Fridays 11 – 1pm EST
Mentor 1-1 Sessions: TBD (this will be scheduled with you during enrollment)

Amber Imrie is a queer artist, art educator, and founding team member of The Alternative Art School. She received her BA from UC Berkeley and MFA from Stanford University. She’s been the recipient of many awards, fellowships, and residencies including the Murphy Cadogan Award and Anita Squires Fowler Award in Photography. Amber Founded and was editor-in-chief of the art magazine, Venison Magazine from 2014-2017, ran a pop-up art residency, Camp Venison in 2015, and has facilitated critique sessions in and outside formal education. Imrie has taught at a variety of institutions, including UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Since 2020 Amber has worked alongside Nato Thompson building the Alternative Art School. Imrie lives in Winslow, Arkansas, and is developing a new body of artworks centered on queering the rural American South.