Volume I: Berlin
Identity
Editor’s Letter
SCEPTER is a collaborative artist interview publication that proposes a new balanced approach to the interview. Through conversational sessions with artists we discuss collaboration while creating an art piece together. Questions, locations, and the mediums we use are all guided by the artist.
The name comes from the idea that the scepter is an icon of monarchical power; we are metaphorically handing a SCEPTER to each artist, giving them authority over their own interview.
Our first volume is based in Berlin and centered on identity. We wanted to begin exploring collaboration by addressing what it is at its core: people coming together to submit their individuality for a greater whole. Berlin is (historically) widely known as a progressive, accepting, and affordable art capital, so it seemed like the right backdrop to have these open-minded conversations.
The general feeling of Berlin as a supposed progressive city is contrasted with the history of the Holocaust and its opposing stances on the wars against Ukraine and Palestine. Despite the city’s assumed left-wing positions, its support of the current genocide that Israel is commiting in Gaza has shown Berlin’s political morality. In January 2024, the Berlin city council passed a clause stating that recipients of government art funding had to contractually reject ‘any form of anti-Semitism,’ meaning that any artist open about their criticism of Israel was banned from receiving government funding. This led to a widespread cancellation of art events, and many artists were forced to drop out of exhibitions. The city soon after revoked this clause due to the illegitimacy of its legal standing, however the attempt to silence Palestinian voices has not ended with its termination, and this is just one example of a long occurring issue in the city and country.
We hope SCEPTER can inspire our readers to open up these conversations, listen to each other, and use creativity to collaborate.
With love and gratitude,
Maitreya and Renée
Acknowledgements
hopeful. Daniel, thank you for showing us the empathy possible through a screen, both for the natural world and for one another. Paul, thank you for your immediate genuinity and creating a space of comfort and mutual understanding. Zoya, thank
you for being our first interview. Your candid and earnest demeanor made us feel at ease while jumping off the deep end. And Allistair, thank you for inviting us into your space and embodying both passion and kindness in your interview.
Thank you to Adam Tinkle, for advising us on this project and for trusting us to realize our vision. Thank you to Angus McCullough, for your immediate enthusiasm and support. Our thanks to the Tang Teaching Museum for their interest in helping our project grow. We also want to thank Ian Berry for introducing us to and making us critical of the artist interview.
Thank you to our mothers, Pam Nelson and Astrea Ravenstar, for your editing help and for giving us life!
And finally, thank you to Cori Brothers for sitting through our endless talks and editing sessions this summer. You’re a star.
This project would not be possible without the financial support from the Skidmore
Summer Experience Fund and the Skidmore SEE Beyond Award.