William Pope. L , Resident Artist Lecture 2004

In this performative lecture, William Pope L talks about his time at Skowhegan as a participant in 1996 and his interdisciplinary artistic practice. Pope L begins by reflecting on african rituals, where white powders were used in villages to attract/repel spirits. This interest in mythology and ritual has continued to inform Pope L’s practice. Pope L tells the participants that the influences they have should always be possessed by them in order to be someone, but one must also leave these influences behind to be themselves. Pope L mentions the importance of artists being in exploratory spaces. These spaces are created through a collaboration with everyone in a space together, and for Pope L, it can lead to removing the shame we have around death. Pope L questions why we build systems from which we feel alienated, and the importance for artists to dismantle these systems. Pope L also talks in length of the project Skin Set, which is a 20 year project grouping together five families of drawings. This project helped Pope L to find things more interesting than the art world in order for him to ultimately become interested in the art world. Pope L mentions the importance 20th century collage has had on his work, especially the work of Romare Bearden. For Pope L, collage is a performance of culture.