Hi everyone, my name is Tori Currier and I am excited to intern at Critical Bounds this summer. I am a first-generation college student who transferred to Smith College last fall. I am an Art History major with a focus on LGBTQ+ art, but my studies began at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
HCC offers a program called “Learning Communities.” Learning Communities give students from many walks of life the opportunity to take courses at local 4-year universities, like Smith College. During my time at HCC, I was fortunate enough to take a Learning Community that met at Smith. The course was about “the New York School,” a group of experimental visual artists, writers, musicians, and dancers in 1950’s and 1960’s New York. In these courses alongside Smith students, I discovered my capability and passion for art history. I am particularly passionate about the art of artists who have been traditionally marginalized, like those from the LGBTQ+ community, and women artists of the New York School. (One of Elaine de Kooning’s self-portraits is framed on my bedroom wall.)
At Smith, I have become especially focused on the art of the AIDS crisis. I am using my practice to spotlight the influence of AIDS crisis art on art today and challenge the societal assumption that HIV/AIDS is a virus of the past instead of an ongoing epidemic.
Under ‘read more’ you can find some of the artists and works that inform my practice.
As a creative writer working toward a career in higher education, I am also passionate about alternative modes of education, like historical fiction. Presently, I am developing a television screenplay about LGBTQ+ artists during the 1960’s - 1980’s, hoping to educate younger generations about the community’s history and the social roles that art has played.
"Untitled (Buffalo)." (1988-1989). David Wojnarowicz. Recycled photograph. 17 3/16 x 23 1/16 in (43.7 x 58.6 cm). Fogg Museum, Schneider/Erdman Printer's Proof Collection.
"Lullaby" (1997). Frank Moore. Oil on canvas on featherboard with red pine frame. 50 x 65 in. (127 x 165.1 cm). Private Collection.
"Untitled (Golden)" (1995). Félix González-Torres. Strands of beads and plastic track. Dimensions vary with installation.
"Gold Mats, Paired—for Ross and Felix" (1994/1995). Roni Horn. 49 x 60 x .0008 in. (124.46 x 152.4 x .00203 cm). Two sheets of gold foil. Art Institute of Chicago.
"Angels Voices" (1993). Jim Hodges. 45 x 33 x 9 in. (114.3 x 83.8 x 22.9 cm). White brass chain.
"Untitled (One Day This Kid…)" (1990). David Wojnarowicz. 29 13/16 x 40 1/8 x 3/16in. (75.7 x 101.9 x 0.5 cm). Photostat mounted on board. Whitney.
“Untitled” (1989). Félix González-Torres. Screenprint, billboard.
"Steal This Book" (1993). Carrie Yamaoka. 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 60.96) cm. Unique chemically altered silver gelatin print.
"Kissing Doesn’t Kill: Greed and Indifference Do" (1989). Gran Fury. 36 x 144 in. (91.4 x 365.8 cm). Silkscreen on panel, campaign advertisement.
