The Crit Lab is inclusive. We cultivate safe brave spaces for all art and all artists.

The Lab intensifies focus, helps structure studio practice, and works with artists to build a language to articulate and contextualize in their own voice the ideas in their work. Through intensive, guided, engaged viewing and discussion, the artist is supported in pushing boundaries in the work.

The Crit Lab is a supportive forum for exploration and discussion of new, vulnerable, in progress, and experimental works and ideas. The connection and community transcend the Lab. The ongoing, intensive, inclusive, space of the meetings encourages work to flourish and grow in critical depth and perception, while building a strong community of committed artists. In the Labs we build trust, engage intensively with the work, gain a common language, and nurture bodies of ideas over time.

The Crit Lab is Mobile, IRL, Virtual, Adaptable

From seven In-Person Labs in three Cities to mobile virtual Labs with artists from around the country. Labs are led by Patricia Miranda and organized in studios around the country with artists in their region, from Port Chester, NY; Boston, MA; and Pawtucket RI. Now In-Person, Virtual and Hybrid.

New format for all Virtual Labs.

All Labs are currently virtual until we deem it safe to gather in studios in person again.

Fall 2021 Labs will meet for the full day for first session, with subsequent meetings twice a month over the five months. Artists receive the same five full critiques for the session, with a critique every other session. This lightens screen time, and allows artists to participate fully in crits of their fellow artists without being "on" for that meeting.

The Crit Lab offers several ways to engage:

click on each Lab for registration info.

Main Labs:

5 month sessions, in-person, with 5-month of concentrated half day meetings with max seven artists. The same artists meet for all five sessions. Each artist's work has a 30-40 minute individual critique. Artists have a critique every other session.

Next Level Labs (NxtLvL)

Structured the same as the Main Labs with a more academic focus, including creating a studio plan, additional readings, discussion, and professional development. NxtLvl includes a private meeting to develop an individual curriculum for the session, including creating artist families, individualized reading lists, and professional development needs of each artist.

One-on-One

Labs are private single or ongoing advising and critique sessions with Crit Lab faculty.

AltMFA

A multi-day intensive, with small group critiques from Visiting artists, Artist Lectures, Critical Theory discussions, and studio/gallery visits. Our first Alt MFA was November 12-15, 2020 and was an inspiring success. 2021 registration opens soon!

The Crit Lab Italy Residency

At the Venice Biennale and RUC residency in the Italian Alps. 2022 Residency includes Venice, Padua, Milan, and RUC in Cividate Commune, an exhibition and collaborative projects.

New Labs in the Works

MaxLab: 5 sessions total. 4 sessions with a different faculty member each session. 5th session is a group crit with all 4 faculty and the artists. Max 6-7 participants.

Stay tuned.

Critical Reading Lab: Stand alone or add-on to a current Lab. Discussion-only meetings centered around a series of readings. 90 min/month/5mo.

Stay tuned.

All Labs Include:

The Crit Lab website is a public space where current Crit Lab artists are featured in several ways:

1. A free Artist page

2. The Crit Lab Flat File, a space to purchase work. 10% of proceeds go to Color of Change and Earth Justice (free for all current Labbers, $45/year for those not currently in a Lab)

3. A private Facebook group for current and participants only; we share images from crits, articles, commentary, resources and more. Access is permanent upon participating in any Crit lab.

The Crit Lab plans regular events at galleries and studios.

The Crit Lab newsletter sends occasional updates on the Crit Lab, MAPSpace, Patricia Miranda, and artists from the Labs. Sign up for our mailing list here.

The Crit Lab Travels

When safe to meet in groups, The Crit Lab IRL travels.

Form a Crit Lab in your community. With a space large enough to accommodate 8 people and wall space to hang work- we can set up a group. Groups require seven people to run. Additional costs may incur for travel, lodging and space.

Private Consultation, Critique, Studio Visit, Professional Biz Assistance.

Patricia Miranda and select Crit Lab faculty are available for private studio visits, critique, and ongoing consulting on your work and professional practice.

The Lab offers consulting on building a sustainable studio and professional practice utilizing Patricia Miranda's 18+ years of teaching professional practice in undergrad, grad and community organizations. Our Tech experts, artist Florencia Escudero (Flo) and Randi Shandrovsky, offer technical digital assistance organizing digital files, preparing portfolio images, websites, research and more.

Check the consulting page or contact us for more info.