Social Studies - Jillian McDonald: Alone Together in the Dark

In this, our fifth Social Studies project, New York-based Canadian artist Jillian McDonald will explore sustainability in the museum while including grassroots, community conversations. “At this point, my thoughts for the Tempe project circulate around haunted sites, ghosts and abandoned houses, focusing on ideas around sustainable living, ghost towns and The Day of the Dead,” says McDonald. “I will be visiting Arizona in June to get acquainted with the landscape and local customs, and to further develop site-specific ideas.”

Usually, a work of art is created in the solitude of an artist’s studio, shipped to an exhibition space and installed by museum staff; this project will allow museum visitors direct access to a contemporary artist and her creative process. Research, discussion and art-making are the subject matter of Social Studies rather than a behind-the-scenes activity.

McDonald will be in residence at ASU Art Museum Oct. 5 - Nov. 14. The public is invited to meet with the artist and participate in her project at no cost. The project will culminate in an installation, led by the artist, which will remain at the museum beyond the six-week residency. There are few artists in Phoenix who work in this method and, as the city continues to mature, projects like Social Studies will play an important role in presenting new ways to make, think about and participate in art.

Visit the About section of our Web site or our blog for project details.