Artists as Critics at the Walker Art Center | #MNARTCRIT

Mn Artists has a well-developed series of discussions and events throughout the year called the 4 X Forum that brings together arts and culture thought-leaders and practitioners for free public arts conversations. These multidisciplinary panel discussions typically last around two hours and tackle tough questions from a variety of perspectives. While most of my personal and professional experience has been in theater and music, having literary, film, and physical art makers and creatives from other industries at the table for discussions has enriched my views and has elevated the understanding of our commonalities.

These well-attended events are often standing room only. The energy in the room can be palpable and the final portion of the discussion is an open-ended question and answer session that I find to be lively and on point. The organizers of the event also encourage taking the conversation online by providing event hashtags and featuring panelist's Twitter handles for quick reference.

If you are interested in the discussions the Walker Channel of the Walker Art Center has a vast collection of art focused dialogues and interviews available as a free resource, including the video  below Art Not Specified about categories of art and genre bending.

Below are some of my favorite highlights from the 1/14/16 4 X Forum Artists as Critics which is a subject that I am increasingly interested in due to my new participation in the Twin Cities Theater Blogger group and my growing arts coverage on this blog Artfully Engaging, which I started in June of 2015. I hope you find these Tweets as useful and inspiring as I did while attending and live tweeting last night at the Walker Art Center. I especially valued the comments about opinion vs. critical thought. Enjoy...

"You can say a lot of interesting things & have the judgement be a minor part of that." ~@dylandhicks #MnArtCrit @mnartistsdotorg

— Kendra Plant (@artsmarketingMN) January 15, 2016

Opinion has overtaken critical thinking. -Craig Olson #MnArtCrit

— Mn Artists (@mnartistsdotorg) January 15, 2016

@dylanhicks @mnartists artists as critics pic.twitter.com/pa1Yw1Eyep

— Andrea Carlson (@Selese) January 15, 2016

In response to shrinking amount of venues we need to "make more platforms for artists."~@Selese #MnArtCrit @mnartistsdotorg

— Kendra Plant (@artsmarketingMN) January 15, 2016

"Writing on my own work is almost more difficult than writing on someone else's." ~@Selese #MnArtCrit @mnartistsdotorg @walkerartcenter

— Kendra Plant (@artsmarketingMN) January 15, 2016

"You bring everything with you, your likes & dislikes...find a way to evoke your experience." ~Linda Shapiro #MnArtCrit @mnartistsdotorg

— Kendra Plant (@artsmarketingMN) January 15, 2016

"I approach choreography and writing very similarly." - Linda Shapiro #MnArtCrit

— Mn Artists (@mnartistsdotorg) January 15, 2016

Q: How can non-artists do criticism without taking power away from artists? #MnArtCrit

— Mn Artists (@mnartistsdotorg) January 15, 2016

Thanks organizers & panelists! Great event #MnArtCrit @walkerartcenter @jehrapatrick @SusannahS @dylandhicks @Selese pic.twitter.com/rp8DKsv3He

— Kendra Plant (@artsmarketingMN) January 15, 2016

Evening well spent among creatives discussing the artist's role in critical writing. @mnartistsdotorg #mnartcrit pic.twitter.com/MTXSWVTwdK

— Michelle Turner (@epmichelle23) January 15, 2016

The full audio for this conversation will be available on the MN Artists blog.

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Follow the conversation by engaging with MN Artists on Twitter and consider commenting below with your own take on #MnArtsCrit and your experience and hopes for arts criticism.