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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Hammer Forum Special Programs

WTF NFT?

  • to This is a past program

Made possible by the Rosenbloom Family

Keynote: Reggie Watts

This free daylong event explores NFTs with expert panelists, from technologists and scholars to artists and advocates. Start with a primer on NFTs—what they are, how they work, and why you should care. Then hear from artists who are active in the NFT space discuss their work and the unique challenges they face in this new frontier. Other panels will address blockchain technologies, how individuals and collectives are creating new communities, and how museums and other institutions might navigate the shifting landscape.

 

This is a free event and RSVP does not guarantee seating. Seating is first come, first served for each session. Overflow seating will be available for all sessions in the event of a full theater.

9:30–10 a.m.

NFT Primer: Introduction to the NFT landscape

WTF is an NFT? Hear from event organizers Esther Park, Miami-based arts programmer, and Nato Thompson, author, curator, and partner at Artwrld, as they kick off the day by introducing the ever-changing NFT landscape, from blockchain and fungible and non-fungible tokens to decentralized autonomous organizations and everything in between.

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10–11:30 a.m.

Artists and the New Digital

The field of digital art has taken a profound shift with the introduction of blockchain technology. This panel offers an opportunity to hear directly from artists who are utilizing their skills to produce compelling projects in what is often described as “the space.” In describing their work, artists introduce new concepts in broadening communities such as tokenization, fractionalized ownership, generative art, utility, and other new mechanisms in this evolving field.

Panelists

  • Glenn Kaino, artist
  • Mieke Marple, artist
  • Paul Pfeiffer, artist
  • Sarah Zucker, artist
  • Nato Thompson, author, curator, and partner, Artwrld (moderator)

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12–2 p.m.

Break

 

2–3:30 p.m.

Power Shifts: How Web3 is Shifting Power in Culture

As blockchain technology continues to grow and advance, everyday people have taken the reins of creating communities that define what is value and what is valuable in culture. This session explores the various ways power has shifted in the art world and how museums and institutions can leverage this brave new world to advance their importance in the cultural landscape.

Panelists

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4–5 p.m.

Keynote

Reggie Watts, musician, comedian, writer, actor

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5–7 p.m.

Happy Hour

Enjoy drinks in the Hammer courtyard. Music provided by DJ Induce (Paradise City Records).

Hammer Forum is an ongoing series of timely, thought-provoking discussions addressing current social and political issues.