About 20 feet in diameter, Indianapolis Island is a fully inhabitable experimental living structure that examines the daily needs of contemporary human beings. Each summer, the island will be occupied by one or two commissioned residents who are local art students. They will collaborate with Zittel by adapting and modifying the island’s structure according to their individual needs.

Ben Venom fuses his life in the Atlanta punk rock scene with his sewing craft, whereby the aggressive force of heavy metal collides with the soft form and slow practice of quilting. Ben Venom is part of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts' sixth triennial survey exhibition of Bay Area art, "Bay Area Now 6". • Video by Kai Hsing (proto-kai.com) • Music via Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org/music/Raspberry_Bulbs/LIVE_on_My_Castle_of_Quiet_7152011/07_-instrumental-I_Will_Not_Pretend • More about the triennial exhibition that Ben is part of at ybca.org/​ban6-visual-exhibition

Laurie Olin, RLA, FASLA, is a distinguished teacher, author, and one of the most renowned landscape architects practicing today. Olin studied civil engineering at the University of Alaska and pursued architecture at the University of Washington, where Richard Haag encouraged him to focus on landscape. His involvement often marks the signature of OLIN’s distinguished portfolio of projects, which spans the history of the studio from Bryant Park in New York City to the Brancusi Ensemble in Romania.

Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP, creates buildings that have presence and character — that rely on a discourse between a subtle hand and bold composition to become arresting architecture. Berke is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (B.F.A., 1975; B. Architecture, 1977), The City University of New York (M. Urban Planning in Urban Design, 1984), and in 2005 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, her alma mater.

Using the art and life of Thornton Dial as a point of departure, this public forum, held on April 8, 2011, explored the status of African American artists within the mainstream contemporary art world, an examination that reflects broader social, economic, and political “hard truths” within society at large. It explored the relevance of black creative expression to issues of social justice across racial boundaries.

Julian Bond is a civil rights leader, former Georgia state legislator, and former Chairman of the NAACP.

Other forum speakers included:
Joanne Cubbs- Introduction
Greg Tate

Using the art and life of Thornton Dial as a point of departure, this public forum, held on April 8, 2011, explored the status of African American artists within the mainstream contemporary art world, an examination that reflects broader social, economic, and political “hard truths” within society at large. It explored the relevance of black creative expression to issues of social justice across racial boundaries.

Greg Tate is a cultural critic and musician.

Other forum speakers included:
Joanne Cubbs- Introduction
Fred Moten
Julian Bond
Theaster Gates
Franklin Sirmans

Using the art and life of Thornton Dial as a point of departure, this public forum, held on April 8, 2011, explored the status of African American artists within the mainstream contemporary art world, an examination that reflects broader social, economic, and political “hard truths” within society at large. It explored the relevance of black creative expression to issues of social justice across racial boundaries.

Joanne Cubbs is the Curator of the Hard Truths exhibition, and an IMA Adjunct Curator of American Art.

Other forum speakers included:
Greg Tate
Fred Moten
Julian Bond

See what's new in the African galleries at the DIA!