This Week in Art | Rob Pruitt’s “The Church” and more!

The Church is not only Rob Pruitt’s current solo exhibition but also an interactive community space—Kunsthalle Zürich has morphed from a gallery to an educational and spiritual venue. The show combines Pruitt’s work from 1999 to 2017 with educational resources and community events, such as Sunday services organized by the Theological Seminary of University Zürich and theoretical discussions on Theory Tuesdays led by Zurich-based artist Philip Matesic. Yesterday, the museum hosted an Easter egg event, in which the artist dyed and designed Easter eggs alongside local families and community members. “People painted eggs inspired by previous painting projects of mine, but the results were so vast and surprising that I, in turn, was inspired by their creations,” Pruitt told Art21 Magazine. “I’m down for any celebration of the coming of spring, and I think Easter is all about that.”

Read my latest post for Art21's news roundup here.

Rob Pruitt, The Church, Kunsthalle Zürich. Photo credit: Annik Wetter / Kunsthalle Zürich

Robots, Race, and Algorithms: Stephanie Dinkins at Recess Assembly

“Who are your people?”

Since 2014, the artist Stephanie Dinkins has asked the social robot BINA48 this question several times. Developed by Hanson Robotics in 2010, BINA48 was purchased by Martine Rothblatt, a futurist and self-made millionaire. The robot’s bust is modeled after Rothblatt’s partner, Bina. More than one hundred hours of Bina Rothblatt’s thoughts, memories, and beliefs were compiled to form the personality of this humanoid robot. Although the robot shares its likeness and opinions with Bina Rothblatt, Dinkins is curious how BINA48 sees herself. Can the robot learn to empathize with people?

Stephanie Dinkins. Twins (or at some point, I decided to mimic the robot), 2017. Courtesy of the artist © Stephanie Dinkins.

Read more from the "Empathy" issue (Nov/Dec) in the Art21 Magazine here.

Project al-Khwarizmi (PAK) POP-UP Workshop continues at Recess Assembly through December 22, 2017.