Critical Dialogue
Code: D0734-26
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III
Level III
Students have formal training in critical issues of 2-D art making, experience with public critiques and a solid portfolio of their artwork.
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IV
Level IV
Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.
Beyond Judgement: The Work of Critique
Jul 13 - 17, 2026
July 13, 15, and 17, 9AM-12PM
Tuition: $150.00
Course Fee: $0.00
Registration Fee: $10.00
Concept
In Against Interpretation, Susan Sontag writes, “What is important now is to recover our senses. We must learn to See more, to Hear more, to Feel more.” This community focused, discussion and critique-based workshop encourages artists to investigate their artistic intentions within a supportive environment of critical thinking, looking, and responding. As a cohort of artists who are active participants in the act of observation and interpretation, the intention is to expand one’s understanding of how to speak about the work of our peers without judgement or categorization. Though this is not a traditional critique class, we focus on building skills in how to guide a studio visit with questions, avoiding art world sound bytes but rather spotlighting authentic and unique feedback. This workshop is for serious artists who are searching for community, dialogue, and honesty within a cohort. Participants are encouraged to bring physical work as well as digital images to share and discuss, with emphasis on awareness and being present among the group.
Media & Techniques
Critique, seminar, choice of media
Faculty
Paula Crown
Paula Crown earned her M.F.A. in painting and drawing in 2012 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has had solo exhibitions at the Aspen Institute; Dallas Contemporary; Marlborough Gallery, New York, NY; The Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX; 10 Hanover, London; Studio Cannaregio, Venice, concurrent with the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale; Fort Gansevoort, New York, NY; and Hebrew University Arts Website, Jerusalem, Israel. In 2025, Crown joined the Consortium for Art + Culture for America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization, to support the cultural sector as economic, diplomatic, educational, and health drivers for civic cohesion and development. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Crown to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She also serves as a Trustee for The Aspen Institute: Aspen and Washington DC.
Liz Ferrill
Artistic Director of Painting, Drawing & Printmaking; Artists-in-Residence Program; Critical Dialogue Program
Liz Ferrill is the Artistic Director of Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking at Anderson Ranch. She received her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has had solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, including in Aspen, Nashville, Omaha, New York City, and Berlin, Germany.
Paula Crown, The Reverse Side Bell
Tuition: $150.00
Course Fee: $0.00
Registration Fee: $10.00
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
Recommended Readings
- Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag
- The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin
- Students bring physical work to class as well as a digital portfolio of work to share.
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Course fees includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of course fees for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Related Events
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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