Over the last few weeks, an interesting trend has emerged that many have been proclaiming for a long time. DJs, double decker bowling alleys, the neighborhood strip club just steps from the newly relocated Kent County GOP, and the land grab conducted by a handful of insiders and outsiders show that the Westside is truly the best side. We have seen everything from The Salon to WelcomeWest's WinterWest carry on their business on this side of town.
Nestled in a former bakery is the Office of Public Culture, a unique temporary art project headed up by Professor Paul Wittenbraker through support from the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at GVSU.
Over the next three Thursday nights, Wittenbraker is inviting people to attend a series of lively discussions entitled "Culture Class: Art, Creativity, Urbanism." The lectures are a thoughtful exploration of how "creativity" and "urbanism" interconnect in our city.
The timing of this theme is no coincidence to Wittenbraker, who sees many of these items to be at the very heart of several new projects under development in Grand Rapids. Is this expansion best described as "all good," or are there other factors to consider as art, urbanism, culture, class, space, money, and power come into play in our next stage of development?
The framework of these discussions spring from a three-part essay by Martha Rosler of the same name. When written, "Culture Class" was looking at the changes happening in New York City’s Cast Iron District that later became the Soho arts district, and eventually an urban mall as the artists and galleries evacuated. But before they left, the artists and creative spaces transformed the community.
"There is actually a rich historic and theoretical discourse about these issues, and it is quite relevant," says Wittenbraker. "These are the kinds of topics [in which] the Office for Public Culture is interested in engaging. And we want to do it in an accessible and public way."
As with any of Wittenbraker’s many projects in our community -- and as a tip of the hat to his scholarly work -- if you have a question (and I always do), it is recommended to just ask for clarity.
Wittenbraker has one of those wonderful, enquiring minds that never seems to stop asking questions in his exploration for meaning and understanding. One can expect to dive into the deep end around sample questions of, "How are we structuring our public lives?" and, "Which publics get represented and which ones go unseen?"
This powerful and ambitious Culture Class is a free event, but Wittenbraker is quick to remind those attendees hoping to squeeze in this tiny space that the focus of the discussion will be on the creative and cultural practitioners' role. And above all, it is advised to do your homework reading in advance.
Visit the Office of Public Culture to get a complete listing of all the recommended reading material and to engage in any off-site dialogue. Part one of the text can be easily accessed here.
Admission: Free
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