The Lure of the Social (Paperback)

Paperback. The Lure of the Social is an intimate and personal exploration into the key individuals, institutions, and gatherings that make up the field of socially engaged art. In this book of encounters, the reader follows Gretchen Coombs on her journey through what could be considered the most significant shift in art world practices in the last two decades. The book navigates a spectrum: at one end, the author works closely with socially engaged artists as part of her ethnographic research; at the other, she tries to find critical distance from which to write about their art projects and the institutional structures that support their work, such as art schools and conferences. Readers are introduced to artists, their work, and the key debates and issues facing this emergent field. In the course of her study, Coombs analyzes the contradictions and paradoxes of this field of practice and gives expression to the artists working to make art relevant in times of social and political uncertainty. An intimate and personal exploration of the authors journey following the development of the field of social practices in contemporary art: arguably the most significant shift in art world practices in the last two decades. A beautifully written exploration of key individuals, institutions and gatherings in socially engaged art. 36 colour illustrations. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…