In this free, public conversation the artist Maria Nordman will discuss her works including:

• A new reading of a manifesto of geo-philosophy in speaking
• Works with people in real time
• Some open New York projects

Stephan von Wiese, the curator and art historian, has said of Maria Nordman:

From the wider view of art history, the pioneering work of Maria Nordman, with its vision of constantly changing -- often contradictory contexts toward the ”open spectrum of the city,” with the appearance of the elements of nature together with the anonymous actors of urban life – the choices of her actions are a base defining and re-defining specific directions that bring this work to the fore since its beginnings in the late sixties. Her work could include at the same period (s ’67-’69)-- working with the sun & fire actions on the desert ground; FIlmrooms; laser rooms, (abandoned after 2 months due to the repetitious nature of the medium,); & Rooms of Moveable Walls; Black Rooms on the street – staying unlabeled, open to the unknown person- & rooms encountered in streets in relation to museums & parks. In this search including a rapid change of media-- she introduces new conceptions of what is (could be) a work of art in the urban context, opening a regard to the essence of the natural elements meeting the energy of daily life, preparing a dialogue in a language without words.

The Intradisciplinary Seminar, sponsored by the The Cooper Union School of Art, presents a series of free, public lectures reflecting a broad range of contemporary art issues. Speakers include artists, writers, and thinkers currently engaged in a variety of practices. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary approaches, presenting new voices, international perspectives and scholarship across multiple fields. The series constitutes a lively forum for the exchange of ideas between practitioners, students, faculty and the public.

The Fall 2016 Intradisciplinary Seminar is part of the Robert Lehman Visiting Artist Program at The Cooper Union. We are grateful for major funding support from the Robert Lehman Foundation.