Spring 09 (Remote)

Dialogue editor Lucy Gibson interviews two women working in the visual arts sector in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Struck by the feminist agenda of high profile artist-run centres in the city she sets out to unpick the reasons why one of these organisations maintains and promotes women-centered activity in the 21st century. Alongside this she talks to a female director of a commercial gallery about her experiences as a woman working in the visual arts in the same city.

Cornwall has had some artistic highlights in its time but it’s probably fair to say that it isn’t top of most people’s list as a contemporary art hot-spot. But that could be about to change. Slogging it out in one of the UK’s most beautiful regions is a dedicated visual arts community and their hard work is putting Cornwall on the art map, attracting attention from the likes of Manifesta. Axis artist Alison Sharkey reports on the unexpected developments and future plans emerging from the southern most tip of Britain

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to undertake a residency? Maybe you are an old hand at packing your bags and taking off around the world? Dialogue asked Scottish artist Derek Lodge to chronicle his experience at two rural art centres in Scotland, where he has undertaken residencies as part of a collaborative group and an individual artist. You can also respond to Derek's video by posting a comment.

If the word ‘exhibit’ means ‘to show’, ‘to reveal’ or ‘to put on view’ and exhibiting art usually means just this; placing an object in a context in which people can encounter it, what would happen if art was exhibited in such a way as to purposely hide it? Axis artists Richard Higlett and Elaine Tribley have both produced art which, paradoxically, is concealed from view at the point of exhibition. PhD Student Anna Powell unpicks the artists' work and motivations to find out more about their unusual approach...

How do artists respond to war and conflict? Should UK artists be ‘responding’ to the current conflicts around the world? What does it mean to make work that responds to war, and can an artist have a voice in bringing about understanding, change and resolution? Dialogue asked Arnolfini (Bristol, UK) curator Nav Haq to explore this issue and below you can respond with your comments.

The Tate Triennial 2009 closed its doors on 26 April: Nicolas Bourriaud’s controversial term ‘Altermodern’, coined for the show, flooded the art press at the beginning of the year but the Tate had to postpone the preview evening because of snow! Did you see the show? Do you understand what Altermodern means? Is it relevant? Does it relate to you or to the art you like to experience? Artist Stefhan Caddick has created his own guide to the Altermodern Manifesto; take a look and have your say.

Owen and Fern consider the environmental and financial impact of the 53rd Venice Biennale and other similar large scale fairs and biennials, including Cornwall’s potential Manifesta bid. Join them to discuss this hot topic and share your thoughts on whether the art world needs to stand to account for the damaging environmental impact of extensive world travel.

As another academic year draws to a close, Owen and Fern are wondering whether we still need institutionalised art schools and their qualifications or whether as an artist you can get more valuable experience from just spending more time with your peers?

In regions where there are only a handful of opportunities it seems that in order to succeed you have to play the art world 'game'. As emerging artists it can often feel like it would be too risky to be wholly critical - but should you compromise your integrity as an artist by not saying how you feel, or risk the next opportunity by telling it how it really is?

Hot on the heels of the first airing of Channel 4's Big Art project Owen and Fern examine the validity of making site-responsive work away from home.  If the artist is on a residency and wishes to create site-responsive work, is the validity of this art work, made by a briefly visiting outsider, questionable?

In Owen and Fern's first Rant of the Spring season they explore collaborative working; as part of a collective in an off-centre city in Wales, they are discovering the advantages of working within a group, but ask if your individual sense of practice can be lost amongst the group’s agenda? As usual you can join in - post your response to this week's Rant below.