Nari Ward, Resident Artist Lecture 2003

Nari Ward gives a lecture at Skowhegan talking about his interdisciplinary practice. He begins the talk by reflecting on his time as a participant. For Ward, Skowhegan was the place that taught him how to explore beyond what he already knew as an artist. Ward begins to talk about weaving, and how the process of weaving has helped him to bring disparate objects together as a way to make them whole. Ward then explores the importance of engaging with found objects and sculpture as a way to explore urban decay, site specificity and social practice. In terms of his sculpture process, Ward reflects on the importance of utilizing his labor as something that can be transformative. Labor gives Ward the gift of always being physically committed to his work and allows him to escape from technology. Ward also talks about utilizing the mediums of performance and collaboration and how that has allowed him to dismantle expectations which can be projected onto him as an artist by the white cube gallery space, and instead culturally infiltrate the gallery space. The role of religion is also something that has become important for Ward to reflect on. Ward sees religion which–when used negatively–can become like an opium to keep people numb from social engagement and activism. Ward further comments on the role of religion in his practice. He uses it as a way of grappling with his own spirituality and relationship to the church, constantly pushing towards and away from the church at the same time.