Rebecca Keller started Excavating History 6 years ago with site-specific interventions in an anatomy theatre in Estonia. It has since become a course, a collective, and a series of exhibitions. Now it's a book.

Throughout these essays, there is a moral passion that ignites our collective imaginations about truth in history and the history of truth. For anyone who cares about whose stories get told and whose are left out and censored read this book—you will be left reeling, provoked, intellectually challenged and inspired.
—Lisa Yun Lee, Director of Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

With contributions from Lisa Junkin, Mary Jane Jacob, and Vince Michael, and reflections from alumni and continuing collective artists, including Chiara Galimberti, Amber Ginsburg, Elise Goldstein, Erin Obradovich, and Briana Schweizer.

BOOK RELEASE at the International Museum of Surgical Science January 28, 6-9pm.

Available now, 181 pages, full color, $25 USD + tax + shipping. Special event and bulk discounts available.

image: Excavating History cover, design and photo Annie Heckman, terra cotta backdrop created by Rebecca Keller

This project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by funding from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. We thank these organizations and all contributing artists and writers for their generous support.

Artist, educator, and writer Rebecca Keller has been intervening in historic sites through her studio practice for several years. She has been sharing this practice with her students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago since 2008 in a class called ‘Excavating History.’ Excavating History has since become a course, a collective, and a series of exhibitions. This fall it takes shape for the first time as a book digging into Keller’s investigative approach, generating a valuable set of pedagogical tools to use in crafting site-specific, research-based artworks and interventions.

This book features Keller’s own writings together with perspectives on Excavating History from Lisa Junkin, Mary Jane Jacob, and Vince Michael, and reflections from alumni and continuing collective artists, including Chiara Galimberti, Amber Ginsburg, Elise Goldstein, Erin Obradovich, and Briana Schweizer.Check back for details on release events for Excavating History during Fall 2011.

This project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by funding from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. We thank these organizations and all contributing artists and writers for their generous support.

images: 
Rebecca Keller, Fingerprint by Fingerprint, installation of oil-based terra cotta on panel, part of Messing with Jane: Excavating History at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 2010

Elise Goldstein with collaborator Juliana Pivato, Restoration, a collaborative performance done as part of Rebecca Keller's 'Excavating History' class, Chicago Cultural Center, April 2009, Performance (Duration: 90 minutes; 24 hours); Installation 10’ x 10’ x 14’, 48 cotton gloves with acrylic tags, rope, wood, soap, metal basin