Counterpublic Triennial Expands To Five St. Louis Sites

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The third iteration of the Counterpublic Triennial, titled“Coyote Time,” will open on Thursday, September 10, in St. Louis, significantly expanding its presence across five main sites. According to artistic director and co-founder James McAnally, this growth goes beyond mere size, aiming to foster artistic practices focused on tangible change.

The triennial frames itself as an invitation to engage with public space in new ways, guided by principles such as accountability, access, climate, infrastructure, agency, and Native sovereignty. Diverging from conventional biennials, Counterpublic utilizes a curatorial“ensemble” instead of a team, balancing individual contributions with a collective perspective to present diverse viewpoints.

The ensemble members, chosen from 80 peer-recommended candidates, organized sections around specific themes across St. Louis. Stefanie Hessler and Wanda Nanibush are focusing on the ecology of the Mississippi River and the city's detachment from its three major North American watersheds. Jordan Carter explores concepts of scores, staging, and future rehearsals within The Ville, a St. Louis neighborhood, incorporating an operational high school and other institutional venues. Raphael Fonseca is leveraging his teaching experience to develop collaborative student projects and work at a refugee resettlement center. Lastly, Nora N. Khan investigates speculative infrastructures and technology in Sauget, the former Monsanto town, and other locations throughout the city.

Presented on a three-year cycle and on view for three months, Counterpublic echoes the late artist Vito Acconci's concept that for something to be truly“public,” it must connect at least three people. When asked about artists who have influenced his approach, McAnally cited Richard Serra, whose first permanent public work,“Twain” (1982), is located in downtown St. Louis. He also mentioned finding inspiration in the intimacy created by artists like Chloe Bass, his wife, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

McAnally founded The Luminary in 2007, from which Counterpublic evolved, initially as an exhibition in 2015 and then as a triennial in 2019. Both platforms aim to link art with social change. McAnally explained that The Luminary was inspired by the alternative space movement, providing a context for artists beyond mainstream institutional views. He noted that when the organization was founded, he was a musician, and co-founder Brea Youngblood was an artist and photographer, with others bringing diverse perspectives. The shared motivation was the recognized need for a space where artists could convene, contemplate, and collaborate. This commitment eventually led to projects like Contemporary Art Review and March.

Source: Hyperallergic

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