...art is the only political power, the only revolutionary power, the only power to free humankind from all repression. |
Organizer/Curator · Preparator · Human
Anza Jarschke is a justice-focused interdisciplinary arts curator influenced by experience in many aspects of gallery and museum operations. As a long time art preparator, residency manager, and trained community organizer, artist support comes naturally to them. Approaching curating from a place of collaboration, they aim to disrupt hegemonic art narratives while shifting power back to the creators.
COLLECTIVE PROSPECTIVE, Organizer/Curator + Install, November 2020.
Garage Door Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
Collective Prospective showcased work made by members of Sierra Nevada University faculty and staff: Russell Dudley, Steve Ellsworth, Anza Jarschke, Mary Kenny, Chris Lanier, Sheri Leigh O'Connor, Rick Parsons, Austin Pratt, and Lizzie Thibodeau. Curating group exhibitions can be difficult to create relations between disparate practices and efforts. However, in Collective Prospective I probed into the similarities between the work and each other, using space, flow, and physical locations as the cornerstones of relationship.
Garage Door Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
Collective Prospective showcased work made by members of Sierra Nevada University faculty and staff: Russell Dudley, Steve Ellsworth, Anza Jarschke, Mary Kenny, Chris Lanier, Sheri Leigh O'Connor, Rick Parsons, Austin Pratt, and Lizzie Thibodeau. Curating group exhibitions can be difficult to create relations between disparate practices and efforts. However, in Collective Prospective I probed into the similarities between the work and each other, using space, flow, and physical locations as the cornerstones of relationship.
|
ALCHEMY, Organizer/Curator + Install, January 2019.
Garage Door Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
Alchemy was the culmination of my graduate research regarding "curatorial activism" (to borrow Maura Reilly's term) and the embrace of community organizing tenants within artistic curation. Questioning: what can disrupting the traditional role of the curator by redistributing power and knowledge production look like? The answer came as a group exhibition featuring: Annie Albagli, Cintia Santana, Minoosh Zomorodinia, and WHIZ WORLD. In conjunction, I hosted a curator chat, WHIZ WORLD performance, and panel discussion with the artists.
Garage Door Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
Alchemy was the culmination of my graduate research regarding "curatorial activism" (to borrow Maura Reilly's term) and the embrace of community organizing tenants within artistic curation. Questioning: what can disrupting the traditional role of the curator by redistributing power and knowledge production look like? The answer came as a group exhibition featuring: Annie Albagli, Cintia Santana, Minoosh Zomorodinia, and WHIZ WORLD. In conjunction, I hosted a curator chat, WHIZ WORLD performance, and panel discussion with the artists.
|
|
|
|
Archaic alchemy aimed to create value out of the valueless through a seemingly magical process of transformation and creation. Today our alchemical magicians are artists. They combine disparate objects, materials, and thoughts to create something that did not exist before. This group exhibition is a subversive cabinet of curiosities for these contemporary alchemists to share their synergy with us. All that glitters may very well be gold!
|
|
Curation, expanded.
"To curate" has been co-opted across the colonial western world as an avant-garde way to describe selecting and presenting. Some people curate playlists, others curate an open-mic night. Domestically, people curate bookshelves and bathroom shelves, wardrobes and fireplace mantles, refrigerators and pantries. Professionally, I have curated instructional courses, academic offerings, and the hiring of faculty. To me, curating is pulling the threads, making connections, and being able to demonstrate to others the intentionality of your choices. In this way, my curatorial practice extends far beyond the selection of artworks in a white cube. Look to the artists the low-res MFA Interdisciplinary Arts selects as faculty. Look to my syllabi and classroom agreements. And also look below at different ways I have activated artistic spaces through making and displaying connections. |
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT, Organizer/Curator + Install, April 2019.
Ron and Maureen Ashley Community Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I partnered with a local domestic violence organization to produce the town's first ever community walk for Take Back the Night. The community walk culminated at a community exhibition reception with an open mic, performances, and information booths. The community exhibition engaged local artists around theme of equity, justice, and human rights.
Ron and Maureen Ashley Community Gallery at Holman Arts and Media Center
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I partnered with a local domestic violence organization to produce the town's first ever community walk for Take Back the Night. The community walk culminated at a community exhibition reception with an open mic, performances, and information booths. The community exhibition engaged local artists around theme of equity, justice, and human rights.
|
|
|
PAUL, Curator, Summer/Fall 2019.
Reference Gallery in Prim Library
A private collector provided a large body of work from one individual, created over the course of multiple decades as he managed a traumatic brain injury. The change in style over time lends itself to a strange viewing experience. I curated a selection of the work that interweaves the decades of work with one another juxtaposing the degradation with earlier works; forever exploring the essence of the human form.
Reference Gallery in Prim Library
A private collector provided a large body of work from one individual, created over the course of multiple decades as he managed a traumatic brain injury. The change in style over time lends itself to a strange viewing experience. I curated a selection of the work that interweaves the decades of work with one another juxtaposing the degradation with earlier works; forever exploring the essence of the human form.
|
|
Select Exhibitions, Organizer/Curatorial Advisor + Install.
I played a substantial role in helping artists select, orient, and curate their work within the gallery context. A huge part of my work is understanding physical exhibition space and helping artists with the story and flow of their exhibitions. I installed, secured, and packaged all the work. Often, I helped artists prep for lectures, do Q+A interviews with them, and gave walkthroughs of their work during the exhibition run.
I played a substantial role in helping artists select, orient, and curate their work within the gallery context. A huge part of my work is understanding physical exhibition space and helping artists with the story and flow of their exhibitions. I installed, secured, and packaged all the work. Often, I helped artists prep for lectures, do Q+A interviews with them, and gave walkthroughs of their work during the exhibition run.
|
|
Natalya Burd, Once Upon a Ride, 2019.
|
|
|
Select Solo Exhibitions, Curator + Installer
Artists included: Regina Saura, Ross Penhall, Melissa Chandon, and more
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena / Alpha Omega Winery, St. Helena
I curated exhibitions of a single artist's work for display, for the gallery itself as well as at community partners of local companies and establishments.
Artists included: Regina Saura, Ross Penhall, Melissa Chandon, and more
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena / Alpha Omega Winery, St. Helena
I curated exhibitions of a single artist's work for display, for the gallery itself as well as at community partners of local companies and establishments.
