The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the This Is Out of Hand carving symposium, taking place September 11-13, 2023.
Carving has been found among the earliest known records of Homo sapiens. From stone to wood, metal to synthetics, and soap to sand, carving continues to offer new perspectives in spatial thinking. This Is Out of Hand features an array of sculptures, utilitarian objects, and two-dimensional works by 33 artists from around the world, all united through the common practice of carving. Whether utilizing traditional tools and techniques, or digital technologies such as physical computing and video, all of the works in This Is Out of Hand challenge the norms surrounding reductive processes.
Lewis Colburn, Provisional System 88" x 60" x 36". 2022
As part of the exhibition, This Is Out of Hand features a carving symposium Monday, September 11 through Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The three-day symposium–which is free and open to the public–includes artist lectures, panel discussions, carving workshops and demos, and live performances.
Monday, September 11, 2023
9:00am – 10:00am
Performance and Gallery Talk with Gina Siepel
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME
10:00am – 11:30am
Spoon Carving workshop and demo w/ Ben Gancsos
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507
12:00pm – 1:15pm
Catalina Ouyang Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Public Art Studio talk with Addy Smith-Reiman and Jesse Salisbury
Meet at Gathering Stones – Sculpture by Jesse Salisbury for TEMPOart Maine. The sculpture is located at Fish Point along the Eastern Promenade Trail, an easy walk from both Fort Allen Park and Commercial Street.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
9:00am – 10:00am
Ken Payne Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507
10:00am – 11:30am
Spoon Carving workshop and demo w/ Ben Gancsos
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507
12:00pm – 1: 15pm
Lewis Colburn Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall
1:30pm – 2:50pm
Physical Computing in Art and Craft Panel Discussion
Moderated by Kyle Patnaude: with John Gardiner and Lewis Colburn
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
10:00am – 11:30am
Out of Hand – Wood Carving Panel Discussion
Moderated by Joshua Reiman: with Raul De Lara, Gina Siepel, Lewis Colburn, Lin Lisberger, Napoles Marty, Kieran Kinsella and Duncan Hewitt
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Kodai Hihara Artist lecture (presented by the Schoodic Sculpture Symposium)
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall
1:30pm – 3:00pm
On Stone, Place, and Process
Moderated by Kazumi Hoshino: with Mark Herrington, Andreas Von Huene, Sam Finkelstein, Isabel Kelley, Mari Beltran, and Jesse Salisbury
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Closing Reception for This Is Out of Hand with Artists
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME
This Is Out of Hand will remain on display during ICA gallery hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm, and Thursdays, 11am–7pm. For more information, please visit the exhibition website.