Long-time CAPE teaching artist Laura Sáenz’ The Teaching Artist Recording Booth collects the stories of teaching artists as they bring arts and arts-integrated learning into schools. These stories will be included in the film Artista, depicting Laura’s engagement with communities about the struggles of advocating for arts education nationwide. These two works are currently installed in the exhibition Practices in Proximity.
Laura invites you to interact with this work!
The Teaching Artist Recording Booth & Archive
“As part of the Practices in Proximity exhibit currently at CAPE, I have set up a recording booth in the NE corner of the gallery, where I would like to invite you to record and be part of a Teaching Artist archive I am creating in collaboration with Storycorps where I have been a story facilitator since 2016.
The exhibit is up until January 2025, so you can record for the next few months, but I would like to get a few recordings in the next 2 weeks to include soundbites of the conversations at the end of my short film “Artista” which will come out in November.
There are 3 ways to record:
On your own virtually from a quiet space Click here (20 min) and use this question guide.
In conversation with me or another Teaching Artist at CAPE by setting up an appointment on my calendar here.
Self-record on your own by stopping by the CAPE gallery/offices (1010 W 35th St. #697) on Tuesdays – Thursdays 10am – 4pm
Teaching Artist Gatherings
“Would you like to socialize, have a meal/drink and share teaching experiences with other Teaching Artists outside of PD’s and planning meetings? Then join our monthly Teaching Artists Gatherings. We rotate hosting at someone’s home/space or meet at a local restaurant, cafe or bar. Gatherings are limited to 15-20 people at a time (depending on space capacity) and rely on an RSVP response to our monthly emails. To join the monthly email list please fill out this form.”
This installation is part of the Community Storytellers (CST) program at Full Spectrum Features, which is partially supported by a Together We Heal Creative Place grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Justice, and done in partnership with Latinos Progresando.
About the exhibition
The Practices in Proximity: Learning and Unlearning from Pedagogical Experiences exhibition brings CAPE teaching artists and invited creative practitioners into a dialogue about their pedagogical experiences. The sites, scenes, and social engagement of learning—whether formal, informal, institutional, or autonomous—impact how the artists negotiate collective spaces and their personal creativity. Manifesting in various ways, artistic concern toward teaching and learning is a nuanced experience defined by proximity to others in improvisation and uncertainty.
Participating artists: Alberto Aguilar, Kayla Anderson, Molly Cranch, Design Studio for Social Intervention, Eseosa Ekiawowo Edebiri, Flor Flores, Katie Giritlian, Kimi Hanauer, Andres Hernandez, Niema Qureshi + Betsy Zacsek, Kirsten Leenaars, Jennifer Mannebach, Jessica Mueller, Timothy David Rey, Emilie Robinson, Greg Ruffing + Brandon Alvendia, Laura Sáenz, Public Collectors, and Gwendolyn Terry.
Curated by media artist, writer and educator Josh Rios.
Exhibition on view from September 10, 2024 – January 17, 2025. Gallery hours 10 AM-4 PM Tuesday-Thursday or by appointment.
Meet the artists and join the exhibition’s exploration of the layered influences of pedagogical environments. Opening reception Friday, September 27, 5-8 PM, RSVP here.
Read the exhibition’s press release here.
Stay tuned for monthly public programs!