Ruth Hadlow - Summer Masterclass

Canberra, February 6-10 - Content & Form 

The 2012 Summer Masterclass with Ruth Hadlow,  Content & Form, will explore relationships between books, ideas and practice. Umberto Eco proposes that we are formed and informed by the ‘background books’ which have been part of our upbringing and education, which have shaped our ways of comprehending and perceiving the world. In response to this, the masterclass will focus on conventions
and forms derived from literature and the world of books to re/consider and investigate ideas pertinent to individual practice.  Content & Form will be structured as a series of one-day projects, aimed at exploring a wide array of possibilities and generating beginnings for a set of new projects.  Working in the creative space
between literature, art and artists books, this summer’s masterclass will take a hands-on approach and focus on the act of making as an active strategy for instigating ideas, as a form of logic with its own particular nature.

[We] travel and explore the world, carrying with us some ‘background books’. These need not accompany us physically; the point is that we travel with preconceived notions of the world,  derived from our cultural
tradition. In a very curious sense we travel knowing in advance what we are on the verge of discovering,
because past reading has told us what we are supposed to discover. In other words, the influence of these
background books is  such that, irrespective of what travellers discover and see, they will interpret and
explain everything in terms of these books.

The aim of the Masterclass is to encourage critical engagement with ideas, objects, texts and the surrounding world for the  purpose of developing individual practices. The Masterclass provides a supportive environment of fellow artists, project structures to enable focused exploration and investigation, discussions, readings and a wealth of reference material. There is a research element which must be carried out as preparation in advance of the Masterclass, which will provide subject material and references for the project work and discussions. As with previous Masterclasses by  Ruth Hadlow, the program aims to stimulate and challenge, to enable debate and innovation, to extend notions of practice, and above all to provide a space for the development of ideas.

The 5-day residential format enables an intensive program of projects, readings and discussions, with individual guidance from this innovative and inspiring teacher. The 2012 Masterclass will once again be held at a private residence in Yarralumla, Canberra, close to the National Gallery of Australia for excursions and Lake Burley Griffin for early morning walks. Following on from last year, the Masterclass will accept a small number of non-residential participants who may attend on a daily basis. Participant numbers are limited to enable maximum benefit through individual attention.

COST 
Residential fee:     $625   full tuition, accommodation and meals (Sunday dinner to Saturday breakfast)
Non-residential fee:   $450   full tuition, morning & afternoon tea, lunch & dinner (Sunday dinner to Friday dinner)

NB. Materials are not included but can be sourced by participants at low cost.

DATES 
Residential dates:  Sunday 5 February – Saturday 11 January, 2012
Masterclass:  Monday 6 February – Friday 10 February, 2012 (9am-6pm)

BOOKINGS 
To express your interest for the 2012 Masterclass complete the registration form and return it by email to ruthhadlow@yahoo.com.au  Early enrolments are encouraged.  Your registration will be confirmed by email by Saturday 10 December, 2011.

FURTHER INFORMATION 
A full information pack will be provided to  participants on confirmation of their registration. This covers all research, material and other requirements; directions to the Masterclass venue in Canberra; and any other information you need to make the most of the 2012 Masterclass.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Ruth Hadlow if you have any questions:  ruthhadlow@yahoo.com.au