LABOR is on our mind: 8 Hours of Work, 8 Hours of Rest, 8 Hours of What You Will

The Wattis is reimagining its research program to reflect upon a singular idea rather than a single artist. This shift allows us to think alongside the public and be in dialogue with a range of artists, writers, and thinkers—to encourage more expansive ways of making and thinking. The galleries will be transformed into a discursive space that will host research exhibitions, reading groups, talks, and screenings. We understand that our search to gain and build knowledge is not a singular experience—it involves looking, listening, reading, and discussion with others. Our research exhibitions will take an experimental format and continue to shift. On view will be works related to 8 Hours of Work (October–December); 8 Hours of Rest (January–March); and 8 Hours of What You Will (March–April). We will exhibit archival materials from the San Francisco State University Labor Archives, including the California Labor School, as well as present works by Tania Candiani, Stephanie Comilang, Aria Dean, Harun Farocki, Chantal Peñalosa Fong, Adelita Husni-Bey, Josh Kline, Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel, Liz Magic Laser, Luigi Nono, Pedro Reyes, Allan Sekula, Kenneth Tam, SoiL Thornton, Jeremy Touissant-Baptiste, Rodrigo Valenzuela, and Lindsey White, among others.