Artists in the Archive: A Round Table Discussion with Carmin Wong and Monthati Masebe

Castle of our Skins invites you to a round table discussion led by Carmin Wong (poet, playwright, digital humanist, and Creative-in-Residence at Castle of our Skins) and Monthati Masebe (composer, pianist, African indigenous instrumentalist, and featured guest artist for "Kusha" on December 15th).

The discussion will center around the definition of “archive,” what it means for today’s artists, and the different ways people engage with these records. As today’s archives should be a living and ever evolving collection that embodies the centered being of the artist, Carmin and Monthati will reflect on their individual experiences as black women in this space.

Also part of the discussion is accessibility to accessing archives, beyond the standard institutional libraries that are present in academia. Participants will dive deeper into decolonizing these spaces that prohibit those from accessing resources, along with brainstorming ways to move forward with practicable access points to view artists’ work.

The final part of the conversation will focus on storytelling and the importance of allowing room for speculation and imagination in artistic work. Participants will reflect on how archives can embrace multiple perspectives and discuss ethical approaches for archiving today.

Audience participation is encouraged throughout the 60-minute discussion, offering a chance for collaborative engagement.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 2:00-3:00pm
Location: Goethe-Institut Boston (170 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116)