The Commons announces artist in residence as part of Data & Democracy theme

LAWRENCE — Emilio Chapela Pérez will visit the University of Kansas from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25 as the artist in residence at The Commons in conjunction with programming for the academic year, based on the theme Data & Democracy.

During his residency at The Commons, Chapela Pérez will work with KU students, faculty, and staff in the departments of Visual Art (Expanded Media), Film & Media Studies, American Studies and Spanish & Portuguese.

In addition to art, Chapela Pérez has a background in mathematics and communication. His work reveals his interest in technology and media and their impacts on society. These interests have manifested in works like "ask google" (2010), which utilizes Internet search engines to uncover human biases and assumptions, and "An Egregious Example of Socialism" (2012), currently on view at the Verein zur Förderung von Kunst und Kultur am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin, which questions the idea that libraries are socialist institutions.

Upcoming events:
Jan. 23
•  Idea Café “Where (and When) will Books Die?” noon at The Commons, Spooner Hall; RSVP required to thecommons@ku.edu
•  Artist talk, 5:30 p.m., The Commons

Jan. 24
• Artist night, 5:30 p.m., with performance at 6 p.m., Spencer Museum of Art

Jan. 25
• Panel Discussion: “Mexico and the U.S.: Identity, Stereotypes and Social Media,” 11 a.m., The Commons, moderated by Danny Anderson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with panelists Ruben Flores, American studies and history; Germaine Halegoua, film and media studies, and Emilio Chapela Pérez, artist in residence.

All events associated with the residency are free. A full schedule of events can be found here. More information about the artist and his work can be found on his website.