Critical Distance

📚 Curated Publication Table: Yashfeen’s Edition ✨

This collection explores narratives about the experience of living in today‘s world. It highlights perspectives of individuals navigating corporatized society, including working-class artists grappling with unpaid labour. It features a woman who feels constantly observed, with every action scrutinized, as well as voices of those marginalized and excluded from history. These stories spark meaningful discussions about representation and raise important questions about who has the power to determine who belongs in the historical narrative.

Featured titles include:
Creative Confusions : Interdisciplinary Practices in Contemporary OPTICA
Not/For the Money Embassy Cultural House
Quantum Listening Silver Press 🌙
Fugitive Feminism Silver Press 🌙
Sad Sack: Collected Writing Book Works
The Wanting Way, dis assembly
Koh-I-Noor Book*hug Press
Nazar Colour Code Printing
How to find the Beauty Amidst the Horrors sheer spite press
Memorial Park: Revisiting Vietnam Art Metropole
Public Witness Ledger Possible Worlds Art + Music
Studies into Darkness: The Perils and Promise of Freedom of Speech Vera List Center for Art and Politics
Waging Culture: Interrogating the Canadian visual artist labour force The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University

Come by during gallery hours (Thur–Sat, 12–6 PM) to view and peruse the collection, alongside the collection Chloe put together. Most titles available for purchase in-store or online (link in bio); all proceeds go toward supporting the publishers and Critical Distance Centre for Curators.

Fresh off our fascinating reading circle with Dancemakers, we are introducing our newest initiative: 'Social studies at Critical Distance,' a convivial reading/writing group for the curatorially-inclined.

Join us for conversation and co-learning in an informal, intimate, and unintimidating atmosphere this coming Thursday, July 16th from 6:30-8:30pm. For this first session, titled 'A contingent curriculum,' we will explore concepts, politics, and practices of improvisation, contingency, catastrophe, and collaboration between curator, artist, and diverse publics in relation to our current exhibition, contemporary painting, and curating more broadly.

No prerequisites required to participate. PDFs of selected passages or short chapters from some of the publications shown in this post will be provided to confirmed participants. Reading ahead of the session is encouraged but not required. Additional readings will be introduced for us to consider and respond to in-session. There will be opportunities for writing if desired, and participants may be invited to collaborate on or contribute to publishing initiatives currently under development at Critical Distance.

Registration is PWYC, with all proceeds going towards snacks/drinks, facilitation, and materials for participants. Limited spots available, so register soon to avoid disappointment. Link in bio shortly; questions may be addressed to info (at) criticaldistance (dot) ca.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Dancemakers’ second annual symposium, Curating with Values, over two days last weekend 💛

We are grateful to all who participated in person and online for the panels, workshops, and reading circle, and for contributing to such rich conversations around the ideological forces shaping curatorial decisions.

Stay tuned for more documentation to be shared on the program webpage. There’s also still time to register for the upcoming workshop we’re hosting in collaboration with The Vermin The Vermin next Monday, ticket link in their bio!

Critical Distance would like to thank everyone who joined us for shalon t. w-h ✨️ Shalon T. Webber-Heffernan’s wonderfully multifaceted program, Curating the Village: Open Sessions Program this past weekend. We are grateful to the curator, presenters, and participants online and in-person for sharing their strategies for centering caregiving in the arts over two very full days of workshops, performances, talks, listening, and learning.

Stay tuned for more documentation to come on the program webpage, and we hope you‘ll join us for our next big event, Dancemakers 2nd annual symposium, Curating with Values, kicking off in a few short days.

Links to register in bio. See you soon!