Symposium: Nancy Holt, Between Heaven and Earth

aerial view of two concentric rings of masonry. angled light reveals shadows of circular openings on the ground adjacent. Black and white photo.

Date and Time

Fri, Apr 29, 2022 - 3:00pm

Conference Attendance

Registration is now closed. Some space may be available. If you are interested in attending, please email the Western Gallery.

Parking and location

Free parking is available in Lot 17G.

There will be a check-in table near Miller Hall 152.

You can view and print this map of Western with the parking and conference location indicated. It also identifies the locations of the sculptures.

Food

Light refreshments will be provided at breaks. Box lunch on Saturday, April 30 is also included.

Western Faculty and Students

WWU faculty and students are welcome to register for no fee; however, there are limited spaces for each.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email the Western Gallery.

About

The symposium is organized in conjunction with an exhibition of Nancy Holt’s art at the Western Gallery and the publication of a new book on the artist. The goal of these three interlinked projects is to develop a deeper understanding Holt’s art by exploring it in context of her site-work at Western, Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings.

Schedule

Attendees will be given a printed schedule on arrival. A PDF of the program is available for viewing.

Friday, April 29

3:00-3:30 Book Launch at Western Gallery

  • Kristina Lee Podesva
  • Kirsten Swenson
  • Rebecca Uchill
  • Hafthor Yngvason

4:00-4:05 Welcome, and Introduction

  • Christopher Bianco, Dean College of Fine and Performing Arts

4:05-5:30 Keynote (Fine Arts 238)

  • Lisa Le Feuvre

Saturday, April 30 - Miller Hall 152

9:00-9:45 Coffee + Tea + Danish

Refreshments provided to start the day

9:45-10:00 Director’s Remarks and Welcome

  • Hafthor Yngvason, Director, Western Gallery

10:00-11:20 Discussion

  • 10:00-10:30 Kirsten Swenson
  • 10:30-11:00 James Nisbet
  • 11:00-11:20 Kirsten and James

11:20-11:25 Break

5 minute break

11:25-12:45 Discussion

  • 11:25-11:55 Rebecca Uchill
  • 11:55-12:25 Julian Myers-Szupinska
  • 12:25-12:45 Rebecca and J.

12:45-2:00 Lunch at WWU Lunch and Book Sales

1 hour and 15 minute lunch break. Check out the book sale too!

2:00-3:20 Discussion

  • 2:00-2:30 Kristina Lee Podesva
  • 2:30-3:00 Suzaan Boettger
  • 3:00-3:20 Kristina and Suzaan

3:30-3:45 Coffee Break and Book Sales

45 minute break to refresh and browse the book sales.

3:45-4:00 Story

  • Rena Priest, Washington State Poet Laureate

4:00-4:10 Response

  • Marianna Christine Davison, UC Irvine

4:10-5:10 Conference overview and Discussion with all contributors

  • Moderated by Lisa Le Feuvre

5:10-5:25 Closing Remarks

Wrap up the day with comments from Western Gallery.

Topics

Labor, collaboration, and social production

Death, biography, empathy

Feminism, mysticism, ecology, and public art

Speakers

  • Keynote: Lisa Le Feuvre is the Director of the Holt/Smithson Foundation
  • Suzaan Boettger is a scholar and the author of Inside the Spiral: The Passions of Robert Smithson forthcoming in early in 2023. She is Professor Emerita of the History of Art at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ.
  • James Nisbet is Professor and Chair of Art History at the School of Humanities, University of California Irvine
  • Kristina Lee Podesva is an Artist, Writer, Editor and Publisher of B R U N A press
  • Rena Priest is the Washington State Poet Laureate and member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation
  • Kirsten Swenson is Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Julian Myers-Szupinska is an art historian and editor based in Los Angeles, and a member of the collaboration grupa o.k.
  • Rebecca Uchill is art historian, curator, and Lecturer / Director of Community Engagement Initiatives in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Part of the Exhibition

Events and exhibitions are free and open to the public unless stated otherwise. Visitor information