Melanie Gilligan: Films Against Capitalism
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 4:30–5:30 PM
Description
Melanie Gilligan makes video works that reconceive television drama and documentary to investigate socio-political conditions, especially relationships between labor, economics, politics and people’s roles within them. Gilligan was a fellow at the Whitney Independent Study Program, New York and completed a PhD in Visual Arts at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm.
More from Academics
- Apr 249:30 AMUnraveled: Labor and Meaning Behind WeavingAcademics | Alumni Hall, 2nd floor
This exhibition, curated by 10 students in the Fall 2024 semester of MUSE 300: Museum Curating, features the themes of textiles and weaving. Showcasing works from the Longyear Museum of Anthropology’s basket and world textile collections, this exhibition explores the incredible amount of labor and skill that goes into creating woven art. The exhibition takes a comparative view of textiles from around the world, introducing the community significance of different designs and individual stylistic choices. The exhibition discusses how fiber art forms have changed as local and global markets develop, as well as the role that clothing can play in displays of nationalism and politics. Ultimately, Unraveled aims to inspire viewers to consider the benefits of hand-crafted works and foster an appreciation for the people behind the woven things we use and love each and every day.The exhibition features several new acquisitions, including three new works acquired from the Jalabil Maya women’s weaving collective during their artist residency last fall. It also features pieces on loan from our student curators, highlighting the significance of weaving and textile arts in their lives.Student Curators:Leila Bekaert ‘25 Oscar Brown ‘26 Kegan Foley ‘26 Emma Herwig ‘25 Bri Liddell ‘25 Gloria Liu ‘26 Meg McClenahan ‘25 Anna Miksis ‘25 Blanca Rivas ‘25 Aleksia Taci ‘25 Professor/Curator: Rebecca Mendelsohn - Apr 2410:00 AMExhibition: A Thought Is A ThreadAcademics | Picker Art Gallery, Dana Arts Center, 2nd floor
A Thought Is A Thread: Contemporary Artists Reworking Textile TraditionsMetaphors using the language of textiles are part of everyday idiomatic English: we follow threads on social media; storytellers weave tales or spin fantastic yarns; friend groups might be close-knit and and we might tie ourselves in knots trying to navigate complex situations. The history of textiles is intimately tied to the development of human societies. Weaving is at the same time one of the earliest human technological advancements, the foundation upon which modern industrial nations were built, and the basis for the computing revolution.A Thought Is A Thread brings together works by leading artists who investigate what textiles can still reveal about people and their relationships to each other, to themselves, and to language, land, and the future. Artworks by Faig Ahmed, Sanford Biggers, Diedrick Brackens, Melissa Cody, Suzanne Husky, Joy Ray, and Jordan Nassar present intertwining narratives that both cherish and complicate the web of meanings that emerge when traditional textile arts are given contemporary expression.Debuting at our opening, Picker Art Gallery welcomes members of the Colgate community to partake in Yarnival, a collaborative art experience. Yarnival will be on view and available for participation during the exhibition run of A Thought is a Thread, through May 18, 2025, in the upper atrium of the Dana Arts Center. Please stay tuned to our social media channels and website for more details on how to participate.A Thought Is A Thread is partially supported by funding from The Friends of Picker Art Gallery. - Apr 2412:00 PMHeretics Club: Disagreeing Well Across Religious DifferenceAcademics | Colgate Memorial Chapel , Basement
Colgate’s Heretics Club lunch discussion series was created to elevate the conversation on campus about life’s “big questions.”Our spring 2025 theme: We Disagree! (But We Do It Well!)Discussions begin at noon in the Chapel Basement.Lunch is provided. All are welcome!FEB 6th: Building Trust Across Difference How do we engage across difference in productive ways? In a time of intense polarization, this can seem impossible, but it is more important than ever. Join us for a conversation with Simon Greer, social entrepreneur and founder of Bridging the Gap.FEB 20th: Disagreeing Well with Our Political “Frenemies” Do you have friends whose politics you disagree with? Join us for a student-hosted conversation about ideological bubbles, political frenemies, and the importance of cultivating relationships with people who see the world differently than you.MARCH 6th: Disagreeing Well in the University (feat. President Casey!) Colgate’s mission statement focuses on the importance of cultivating open inquiry, mutual understanding, and a broadened perspective. Join us for a conversation with our own Brian Casey, who will talk about the key role that “civil disagreement” plays in this mission.APRIL 3: What Does It Look Like to “Disagree” with Yourself? Have you ever experienced a dramatic change in your worldview? How did you make sense of it? Join us for a conversation with Sohrab Ahmari, editor of UnHerd and author of From Fire, By Water: My Journey to the Catholic Faith (2019) and Tyranny Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty—and What To Do About It (2023).APRIL 24th: Disagreeing Well Across Religious Difference Religious differences have created some of humankind’s most longstanding disagreements. Join us for a conversation with Colgate’s Chaplains, Rabbi Barry Baron and Imam Ahmet Celik, about disagreeing well across religious difference. - Apr 259:30 AMUnraveled: Labor and Meaning Behind WeavingAcademics | Alumni Hall, 2nd floor
This exhibition, curated by 10 students in the Fall 2024 semester of MUSE 300: Museum Curating, features the themes of textiles and weaving. Showcasing works from the Longyear Museum of Anthropology’s basket and world textile collections, this exhibition explores the incredible amount of labor and skill that goes into creating woven art. The exhibition takes a comparative view of textiles from around the world, introducing the community significance of different designs and individual stylistic choices. The exhibition discusses how fiber art forms have changed as local and global markets develop, as well as the role that clothing can play in displays of nationalism and politics. Ultimately, Unraveled aims to inspire viewers to consider the benefits of hand-crafted works and foster an appreciation for the people behind the woven things we use and love each and every day.The exhibition features several new acquisitions, including three new works acquired from the Jalabil Maya women’s weaving collective during their artist residency last fall. It also features pieces on loan from our student curators, highlighting the significance of weaving and textile arts in their lives.Student Curators:Leila Bekaert ‘25 Oscar Brown ‘26 Kegan Foley ‘26 Emma Herwig ‘25 Bri Liddell ‘25 Gloria Liu ‘26 Meg McClenahan ‘25 Anna Miksis ‘25 Blanca Rivas ‘25 Aleksia Taci ‘25 Professor/Curator: Rebecca Mendelsohn - Apr 2510:00 AMExhibition: A Thought Is A ThreadAcademics | Picker Art Gallery, Dana Arts Center, 2nd floor
A Thought Is A Thread: Contemporary Artists Reworking Textile TraditionsMetaphors using the language of textiles are part of everyday idiomatic English: we follow threads on social media; storytellers weave tales or spin fantastic yarns; friend groups might be close-knit and and we might tie ourselves in knots trying to navigate complex situations. The history of textiles is intimately tied to the development of human societies. Weaving is at the same time one of the earliest human technological advancements, the foundation upon which modern industrial nations were built, and the basis for the computing revolution.A Thought Is A Thread brings together works by leading artists who investigate what textiles can still reveal about people and their relationships to each other, to themselves, and to language, land, and the future. Artworks by Faig Ahmed, Sanford Biggers, Diedrick Brackens, Melissa Cody, Suzanne Husky, Joy Ray, and Jordan Nassar present intertwining narratives that both cherish and complicate the web of meanings that emerge when traditional textile arts are given contemporary expression.Debuting at our opening, Picker Art Gallery welcomes members of the Colgate community to partake in Yarnival, a collaborative art experience. Yarnival will be on view and available for participation during the exhibition run of A Thought is a Thread, through May 18, 2025, in the upper atrium of the Dana Arts Center. Please stay tuned to our social media channels and website for more details on how to participate.A Thought Is A Thread is partially supported by funding from The Friends of Picker Art Gallery. - Apr 2512:15 PMENST Brown Bag: Community-based Research PresentationsAcademics | Lathrop 207
Join us for student groups presenting their community-based research from the Environmental Studies capstone course with Professors Ian Helfant and Tim McCay.Hot wraps by Hamilton Whole Foods will be provided and will include gluten-free, vegan, and nut-free options. Please bring your own reusable water bottle.