Study Day: Portals, Art and Spirituality (9 May 11:00 - 16:00)

*Please note there are limited spaces for this event. To reserve a place please book in advance. 

Address: 

Swedenborg House
20-21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH

We will explore the growing interest in spiritualism within artistic, curatorial, and museological research and practice. Whether as themes of investigation, modes of representation, or research methodologies, there is an increasing emphasis on esotericism, divination, magic, witchcraft, the occult, and other pagan belief systems in the global contemporary art discourse. Key participants, such as Professor Lisa Blackman from Goldsmiths, University of London, curator and author Stephen Ellcock, writer and author Jennifer Higgie, and writer, art critic and curator Michael Bracewell alongside a collaboration between artist Sammy Lee and writer Sarah Shin, will gather to discern, interrogate, and interpret the various meanings, implications and consequences as well as opportunities that the portal between art and spirituality may be able to generate.

Schedule:

Morning session
10:30 – 11 am: On-Site Registration, tea and coffee available.
11 – 11:05 am: Acknowledgments by Caroline Douglas, Director of the Contemporary Art Society 
11:05 – 11:15 am: Introduction by Dr Paula Zambrano, Curator of Programmes of the Contemporary Art Society 
11:15 – 12:00 am: Presentation by Lisa Blackman, Professor of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College. 
12:05 – 12:50 pm: Conversation between writer, art critic and curator Michael Bracewell and Jennifer Higgie, author of ‘The Other Side: A Journey into Women, Art and the Spirit World’. 

12:50 – 2:00 pm: Lunch, provided by CAS

Afternoon session
2:00 – 2:45 pm: Video projection and conversation between artist Sammy Lee and curator Sarah Shin followed by Q&As answered with tarot cards. 
2:55 – 3:40 pm: Presentation and projection of images by Stephen Ellcock, Curator of Virtual Images and Author. 
3:40 – 4 pm: Final Remarks and Audience Engagement. 

For more information on this event please contact:

Paula Zambrano, Curator of Programmes
paula@contemporaryartsociety.org