Artist-in-residence Carrie Mae Weems to give first public lecture at SU April 7

Artist-in-residence Carrie Mae Weemsto give first public lecture at SU April 7March 30, 2005Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

Carrie Mae Weems, artist-in-residence in Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, will present her first public lecture April 7 at 4:30 p.m., in Watson Theater at Light Work, 316 Waverly Ave. A reception will take place after the lecture; both are free and open to the public. Paid parking is available in the Marion and Comstock lots.

The lecture, the first in a series of events tied to Weems’ residency, “Social Studies 101-Syracuse: A Community Dialogue,” will discuss the dynamic relationship between art and community with a focus on the role artists play in contemporary society, particularly as they identify and respond to societal needs and build community relationships. Weems will address the goals of her residency, in addition to her work and recent projects underscoring the role of the artist as civic agent.

Syracuse-based Weems has worked as an artist for the past 25 years, developing a complex body of art that employs photographs, text, fabric, audio, digital images, installation and most recently, video. A socially engaged artist, Weems investigates family relationships, gender roles, the history of racism, sexism and class and political systems.

For more information on Weems and “Social Studies 101-Syracuse,” visit http://vpa.syr.edu/socialstudies/ . Her lecture is part of “University as Public Good: Exploring the Soul of Syracuse,” the yearlong exploration designated by Chancellor Nancy Cantor.To RSVP, contact Dani Mosko-Wozniak at (315) 443-4782 or dmoskowo@syr.edu .