Back to the Streets - Street art and Protest

Back to the Streets
A roundtable discussion featuring ANTHONY MICALLEF, JAMES BURKE, VESTALIA CHILTON & JOE TURNBULL
 
"Art is a language, and if used in the right way, it can penetrate and say things in a highly emotive way that can be very powerful. Personally I think great art can say things and ask questions about our situation in a way from all sides. Politics is part of our conversation about our society and community, so I think it has a right to discuss this.” - Antony Micallef

The first TAC Roundtable Edition brings together artists, curators, journalists and agents from the international art world to discuss the new year’s most pressing industry issue: are we truly making a difference?
Despite the Facebook wall arguably becoming the preferred Western medium of unifying and amplifying protest, street art on literal walls isn’t dead yet, and even the humble protest sign has found itself centre-stage as reactions to Brexit and Trump spark creativity internationally.

Antony Micallef, Vestalia Chilton, James Burke and Joe Turnbull ask how contemporary artists can encourage, support and strengthen protest in a meaningful way, benefitting the public more than the portfolio. The Roundtable debate will be led by Doug Gillen, Founder of Fifthwall TV and the official TAC host.

Speakers:
Antony Micallef, Fine Artist
James Burke, Creative Director
Vestalia Chilton, Curator
Joe Turnbull, Journalist

Antony Micallef is a British artist who was taught by the great landscape painter John Virtue, who in turn was taught by the last of the post war painters the renowned Frank Auerbach. Widely recognised as one of the finest painters in contemporary art today. He has work in collections all over the world and has exhibited in group shows in institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy, Tate Britain and the ICA London.
www.antonymicallef.com

James Burke is an award winning visual artist and creative director from London. He is the founder of acrylicize; the multi disciplinary creative studio born out of his Art degree, working with a variety of media to create work that explores themes of identity and art's relationship with the commercial world. Burke's philosophy has always been to challenge art's dependency on the gallery institution, making work that focuses on accessibility and the desire to positively connect people with their environment. 
www.acrylicize.com

Through her art consultancy business ATTOLLO, Vestalia Chilton has already worked hard to bring street murals to Marrakech and Essaouira, now setting her sights on Croydon, while additionally curating for The Exhibitionist Hotel in South Kensington.
www.Attollo-art.com

Joe Turnbull is an arts journalist who is interested in counterculture, street art and the politics of cultural production. He has written for the Guardian, Frieze, Apollo, a-n, thisistomorrow and Garageland on topics ranging from art and advertising, tensions between public and private space, and art as activism. He is also Assistant Editor of Disability Arts Online.
www.disabilityarts.online