October 2011 - November 2011
Paul Butler, Close the 49th Parallel ETC. Bicycle Replica, 2011, custom built and painted bicycle Designed and built by Mike Barry, Mariposa Cycles; painted by Noah Rosen of VéloColour photo: Gordon Peterson, © 2011 Paul Butler
Paul Butler was the inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Weston Family Learning Centre from September through November 2011. As part of his residency, Butler designed a public program called Post-Post Graduate Studies (PPGS) that ranas an alternative art school inspired by the writings of Ernesto Pujol and art school models like The Mountain School of Arts.
For PPGS, Paul Butler invited the public to join him in a series of informal classes, workshops, lectures and field trips led by members of his community including: Jamie Kennedy, Dr Jeanne Randolph and The Artists Heath Centre Foundation. Butler created a holistic program he feels should be taught in art schools to support contemporary practitioners in their work. Classes included: money management, cooking, yoga, art etiquette, art politics, stress relief, hobbies for artists, hangover movie night and cycling fieldt rips.
About the Artist
Butler is multi-disciplinary artist with an interest in artist driven projects that challenge current art world models. His practice includes: hosting the Collage Party - a touring experimental studio established 1997; directing the operations of The Other Gallery - a nomadic commercial gallery focused on overlooked artists’ practices; founding The Upper Trading Post - an invitational website that facilitates artist trading and initiating Reverse Pedagogy - a travelling, experimental residency. He has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Los Angeles; Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Hart House, University of Toronto; White Columns, New York City; Creative Growth Art Centre, Oakland and Plug In ICA, Winnipeg.