The architectures of oppression and liberation are not easily gleaned. Institutions and systems cannot hold themselves accountable for the oppression they foster nor are they able to liberate themselves from oppression when the stories they tell about themselves are incomplete. To borrow from the framework of reconciliation, speaking truths fosters accountability, redress and helps prevent future injustices. The reconciliation process is not easy, and if not done thoughtfully, can lead to further harm. Speaking of the role of performance in social justice activism, D. Soyini Madison suggests it is both an effective and an affective tactic.

Performance is a “means and a space from whatever elements or resources are available to resist or subvert the strategies of more powerful institutions, ideologies or processes.”  The same can be said for a myriad of forms of artistic expression, from visual arts, to dance, to music, to filmmaking.

This year as part of Towson’s College of Fine Arts and Communications’ CoLab (Invisible Architectues), we will host Archival Silent Noise, a conference that considers the invisible, ignored and silenced areas of our artistic disciplines.  By exploring approaches to re-visibiizing and reimagining the archives of our disciplines in the field and in the classroom, Archival Silent Noise will create a space to honor and generate joyful noise and good trouble.

A publication will bookend the conference in 2024.

SUBMISSION FORMAT

Submissions from any academic and artistic discipline are welcome. We also invite professionals in nonacademic settings to submit proposals.

We are looking for proposals for panel discussions, workshops, conversations, papers, essays, happenings,  and artistic presentations.

Topics can include but are not limited to:

• higher education  and its collaboration with artists and communities;
• classroom strategies for opening up the discipline;
• successes and failures in interdisciplinary collaborations
• artistic silos
• successful artists/activist collaboration;
• archival practices for ephemeral experiences;