Learning the Critical Response Process

For Castlefield Gallery Associates only

Artists from the initial 2019-20 bOlder cohort will lead Castlefield Gallery Associates in a group crit following Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. Through the supportive structure of its four core steps, the Critical Response Process combines the power of questions with the focus and challenge of informed dialogue, offering makers an active role in the critique of their own work.

Having been introduced to Lerman’s method through the bOlder programme, the artist cohort have continued to use it as part of their developing practice. The artists will share their learning in a bid to encourage Castlefield Gallery  Associates to develop self-led crits along Lerman’s model.

The Critical Response Process requires both individuals who wish to have their work critiqued and participants to contribute to, and engage with, the discussion (without gaining feedback on their own practice). The Critical Response Process instills ways of thinking, communicating and being that can be invaluable for creative practice as such, participating in the session without sharing your work can be just as productive an experience as having your work actively critiqued.

Read more about The Critical Response Process here

The Critical Response Process has been used by artists as a means to facilitate peer support groups. You can read the resources Chloe Cooper, (an artist who has regularly contributed  to Castlefield’s various artist development programmes) has developed around artists peer support groups here

What is bolder?

Initially funded by Greater Manchester Combined Authority as part of Great Place GM the bOlder talent development programme was devised and delivered by Castlefield Gallery in response to the lack of professional development opportunities for older artists. bOlder 2020/21 and 2021/22 have been funded thanks to the European Social Fund.

More about the bOlder artists facilitating the session:

The 2019-20, initial, bOlder cohort have continued to show work, run crits, meet, communicate regularly and support each other since the programme finished in September 2020. Between them they paint, sculpt, stitch, collage, knit, draw, construct, photograph, work with sound, video, with interactive technologies, exploring climate activism, the natural world, texture, shape, colour, form, seeing and the unseen, and give voice. Their group shows have included: Ten Obstructions – an Instagram show July – September 2020; From the Ground Up, Castlefield Gallery New Art Space Wigan September-October 21; Obstructions – with the Salford Scholars -Castlefield Gallery December 20-May21; Through the Looking Glass, World of Glass St Helens March-May 22 and a forthcoming show at Salford Museum and Art Gallery. The group are: Maya Chowdhry, Jane Fairhurst, Sarah Feinmann, Tina Finch, Sabrina Fuller, Claire Hignett, Paddy O’Donnell, Christopher Rainham and Ian Vines. 

Image: Undoing preview at Castlefield Gallery, 2019.  © Marcell Orova.