Extended Conversations

Extended Conversations was a programme for emerging art writers based in Aotearoa, co-convened by Enjoy Public Art Gallery and Blue Oyster Art Project Space. Part online publishing platform and part mentoring programme, this initiative will build, sustain and share dialogue between emerging participants and established writers from March to November 2018.

Exploring art writing as a critical activity, Extended Conversations is structured around two intensive workshops and the subsequent development of two long-form texts by each participant. The programme has been developed considering the specific cultural and artistic contexts of Aotearoa, exploring questions around the challenges, ethics and efficacy of critical writing about art.

These texts have been developed by six emerging writers, with support from an individual mentor, over the course of five months. The Extended Conversations participants and mentors are:

Jessica Aitken—mentored by Thomasin Sleigh

Simon Gennard—mentored by Robyn Maree Pickens

Dilohana Lekamge—mentored by Rachel O’Neill

Francis McWhannell—mentored by Jon Bywater

Hanahiva Rose—mentored by Matariki Williams

Amy Weng—mentored by Jan Bryant

The texts are available to read on the Extended Conversations website, designed and developed by Sean Burn.