Bradley Cloversettle - Reading and Blog Post - Week 1 Assignment

From this weeks reading of Grant Kester's Conversation Pieces I was inspired by the different ways in which art groups would engage in their community. One example is the idea that while art does often provoke a conversation amongst an audience, Kester gives examples of projects where the conversation becomes a part of the work itself. For example, the conversations that were had in the project The Roof Is on Fire, lead to other conversations that set the groundwork for other staged conversation to help authenticate and show current conversations within the community.

Another key idea Kester introduces is that how a work of art can evoke a more accepting attitude towards different "forms of experience". I think what Kester means by this is that not only does art open us up to experiencing different form of art, but also learning from other peoples experience and their viewpoint.

The last key idea that inspired me from Kester is the idea that art's role is to reinvigorate and motivate people to "see the world anew".

Questions sparked by the text:
1. In accordance to Kester, does community driven art communication need to be avant-garde?
2. Where is the line drawn between what is art and what is activism?
3. How do you reach out to other communities that are not exposed to political/social activism art communication?