In Discussion: Lawrence Weiner and Andrew Blake
7:30pm Wednesday 11 June 2008
Swiss Institute - 495 Broadway 3rd Floor New York, NY

Mapping Correspondence Panel Discussion
6:30pm Friday 13 June 2008
Center for Book Arts - 28 W 27th St, 3rd Fl. New York, NY
$10 suggested donation

This Friday the Center for Book Arts hosts "An Authentik and Historikal Panel on the Phenomenon of Mail Art" in conjunction with the exhibition Mapping Correspondence: Mail Art in the 21st Century. Mail art here is a loosely defined categorical framework for work which conceptually or formally rests on its circulation through postal systems. The form naturally becomes an emblem of a kind of errant 20th century vanguardism developed contrary to high art mandates of singular, precious art objects whose exhibition and circulation remains deeply managed to this day. Mail Art in the 21st Century has mobilized dozens of artists invited to participate in the show, and who in turn invited more collaborators, to produce new original mail art works reflecting "the complex and varied meaning of the book, mapping, and social networking in the 21st century." Panel speakers on Friday will be A.A. Bronson, who is an artist and director of Printed Matter, Martha Wilson, an artist and founder of the Franklin Furnace Archive, and artists John Evans, Barbara Moore, and William Wilson. The panel will be moderated by John Held Jr.

Tonight at the Swiss Institute meanwhile, assistant curator Piper Marshall will lead a discussion between artist Lawrence Weiner and well known adult film director and producer Andrew Blake. The occasion of the talk is Weiner's new work currently on view at SI through 19 July, Water in Milk Exists. For the exhibition, Weiner worked with the Swiss Institute and cinematographer Kiki Allgeier to produce a new video work which the press release promises to challenge "both artistic and pornographic conventions."