When Paul Thek taught at the Cooper Union School of Art, he prepared his “Teaching Notes: 4-Dimensional Design,” a series of directives for the students, such as, “Design something to sell on a street corner,” and “Design a work of art that fits in a matchbox, a shoebox.” This evening, as part of the My Turn public programs series and in conjunction with Paul Thek: Diver, A Retrospective, artists Jean Shin and Harrell Fletcher open up Thek’s Teaching Notes for a wider public and invite participants to fulfill a set of instructions through a series of hands-on workshops. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive in. As Thek has asked, “What is the purpose of art?”
My Turn expands the definition of a museum program by inviting a guest artist to interpret another artist’s work. This unique public program series, held in conjunction with the exhibitions Paul Thek: Diver, A Retrospective and Charles LeDray: workworkworkworkwork, was organized by artist Jean Shin.
This event is free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 6–9 pm. There are no special tickets or reservations.
Paul Thek, Untitled, 1966. Wax, plexiglass, Formica and melamine laminate, and rhodium-plated bronze, 14 × 15 1/16 × 7 1/2 in. (35.6 × 38.3 × 19.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 93.14