MISSION
Institute of the Sun traces the histories of idealists dreamers. It is inspired by a Norwegian movement dating back to the 1930s, where a series of “vandreutstillinger” (moving exhibitions) served as a way to further public education and access to art in rural areas.
The Institute explores the ways in which our personal and collective environments shape our behavior and experiences. It becomes a testing ground to examine the impact of design on our lives and question traditional assumptions about the role of the artist and the purpose of art.
It places itself in the lineage of utopian projects that insert art directly into a landscape and community, where it exists on a set of criteria beyond that of art world institutions and galleries, in areas that edge one of the largest suburban sprawls in the US.
Through this program, we aim to support the growth and development of emerging artists while promoting sustainable living and design, in close dialogue with the local community and the projects that have inspired this initiative.
Institute of the Sun will offer best practices in terms of low-impact off-grid capabilities. The residency will house Nordic artists in strategically optimized locations that relate to and challenge their artistic practice.
Institute of the Sun gives the artists tools and insight in how to live with a minimal footprint and work in a different scale of production.
The geographical location and spatial setting will influence their practice while functioning as an unconventional space to present their art to a new audience.
Institute of the Sun is a 501c3 non profit sponsored by The Arts Area.
The residency program of 2024 is supported by Nordic Culture Fund
BACKGROUND
Institute of the Sun is founded by Danish curator Anna Frost. For the past two decades she has established herself as a prominent figure in the contemporary art world, particularly in relation to unconventional exhibition practices and multipurpose space.
Her work is rooted in the practice of micro-solidarity, a concept that refers to building small high-trust communities and networks of support and collaboration among artists, based on shared values and goals. It involves creating spaces where artists can connect and collaborate with one another, share resources, and support each other's work.
One key aspect of micro solidarity is the emphasis on mutual support and interdependence. Rather than focusing solely on individual success, micro solidarity recognizes the importance of collective efforts and the role that community plays in supporting artists' work. By building networks of mutual aid and solidarity, artists can more effectively navigate the challenges of the art world and work together to create meaningful change.
Anna Frost has been coming to the desert since her initial visit in 2010, when she joined two friends, who were helping Bob Carr rebuild his Crystal Cave at The Sky Village Swap Meet, now a High Desert Test Site.
Institute of the Sun is the culmination of years of experience with expanded formats in Scandinavia, Europe and America.
Between 2011 to 2017 she was co-director of the Danish exhibition space and production unit TOVES in Copenhagen that successfully presented more than 40 exhibitions at home and abroad. In 2019 she founded Atrium, a curatorial platform that presents site-specific interventions in the iconic architecture of The Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles together with Creative Director Jordan Richman. She has an ongoing road trip and studio visit series called Infiniti Series.
Contact Us
Connect
@institute_of_the_sun
Phone
+1 (917) 582-4100
Email
info@instituteofthesun.com