Visual Studies Workshop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by looking back at some of its significant themes and contributions. Expanding the practice and development of critical tools for understanding visual sequence is one such subject.

Sequential Considerations provides an overview of differing schools of thought with respect to visual sequence as a form of communication and expression. The exhibition takes its title from a 1975 lecture by VSW founder Nathan Lyons (1930-2016). Lyons saw photography and sequence on a historical continuum starting with pictographic writing and ideographs and how “we might be able to consider the potentials of a visually linguistic system.”

Opening Reception Friday February 22, 6-8pm; 6:30pm artist talk
Join us for a reception and artist talk by photographer and journalist Brenda Ann Kenneally on her book Upstate Girls: Unraveling Collar City featured in the exhibition and part of the 5th Annual SEGUE Graduate Symposium at The College at Brockport, SUNY.

Sequence Symposium Thursday March 21, 2019
in partnership with George Eastman Museum

2pm – Welcome and Introduction Tate Shaw, Director of VSW; Steven Arenius co-curator

2:15pm – A brief history of the study of photographic sequence, Dr. Anton Lee

2:45pm – A brief history of the study of sequence in comics, Dr. Daniel Worden

3:15pm – conversation between artist Aidan Koch and Dr. Alisia Chase about Koch’s books

4:00pm – conversation between artist Doug Dubois and Tate Shaw about Dubois’ books

5:00pm – reception at VSW and move to George Eastman Museum (GEM)

6:00pm – conversation in the gallery between GEM Associate Curator Jamie Allen and Joan Lyons about In Pursuit of Magic

Support for this exhibition came from Joy of Giving Something, Inc., the Max and Marian Farash Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts Visual Arts Program, and Monroe County.