EMERSON VISITING CRITICS AND CURATORS SERIES 2008

Each year, as part of its mission to promote the local arts community, the Contemporary invites internationally renowned critics and curators to St. Louis. During their stay, these visiting curators arrange studios visits with local artists, are introduced to area art galleries and institutions, and deliver a free public lecture at the Contemporary. The Emerson Visiting Critics and Curators program provides an important opportunity for artists in St. Louis to have their work reviewed by distinguished writers, artist historians and curators, while working to raise the visibility of St. Louis as an exciting and important cultural center.

The 2008 Visiting Critic will be Sina Najafi, Editor-in-Chief of Cabinet magazine.

Conversation with Sina Najafi
Thursday, October 2
6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm, Free public talk

Sina Najafi is also the editorial director of Cabinet Books. Najafi has curated several exhibitions, including "Philosophical Toys" (Apex Art, summer 2005), "Odd Lots: Revisiting Gordon Matta-Clark's Fake Estates" (White Columns and Queens Museum of Art, fall 2005; in collaboration with Jeffrey Kastner and Frances Richard), and the traveling exhibition "The Paper Sculpture Show" (traveling show: in collaboration with Matt Freedman and Mary Ceruti). Current projects include "The Museum of Testing" for Manifesta 7 in Italy and a series of books investigating sidelined philosophical categories such as shame, fatigue, and gesture. He holds degrees in Comparative Literature from Princeton University, Columbia University, and New York University.

This annual program has been generously sponsored by Emerson since its beginning in 1999.

General support for education programs is generously provided by the Regional Arts Commission; Arts and Education Council; Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; Macy's Foundation; Terry D. Weiss, M.D. Youth Education Fund; and members of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.