Throughout 2026 and 2027, Zabriskie hosts the Outgrowing Modernity Reading Group, facilitated by artist and educator Michelle Teran. Together, we will explore Vanessa Machado de Oliveira’s book Outgrowing Modernity, which follows Hospicing Modernity in examining how we might navigate the entangled crises of our time with greater accountability, compassion, and openness to change.
Against the backdrop of ecological collapse, social upheaval, and the enduring legacies of colonialism and capitalism, Machado de Oliveira challenges the beliefs and behaviours that sustain modernity’s structures of power, entitlement, and denial. Moving beyond critique, she proposes practices of letting go of harmful systems and cultivating ways of living grounded in interdependence and the intrinsic value of life.
Each session will focus on selected passages from a chapter, combining collective reading and discussion with participatory exercises drawn from the book. Through shared writing, reflection, and experimentation, we will explore how the conditions of our time shape our lives and relationships, creating space to engage with personal and collective concerns.
Session 1
To ensure that everyone is on the same page during the sessions, we encourage participants to read certain chapters in advance. We would be delighted if you could bring any questions or thoughts about what you’ve read. In the first session we will dive into the introduction to Outgrowing Modernity where we will go through the central tenets shared in the book Hospicing Modernity and of the arts/research collective Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures (GTDF).
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HOW IT WORKS & DATES
We will gather across multiple sessions. Here is the schedule for our first 3 gatherings:
The sessions are always from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm CET
• Session 1: Wednesday, October 21st
• Session 2: Wednesday, November 25th
• Session 3: Late January – Early February 2027 (Date to be confirmed)
There will follow more sessions after these.
CHOOSE YOUR OPTION TO JOIN
• Option 1:
Buy 1, Get 2 Free!
Buy the book from us, and the first two sessions are free.
Get the physical copy of "Outgrowing Modernity" directly from our bookstore, and your entry to the first 2 reading group sessions is included. It is the perfect way to support our independent bookshop. From the 3rd session onwards, you can purchase a session ticket (see below).
• Option 2:
Buy a session ticket
You want to borrow the book from the library, or you already own a digital or physical copy? In this case, you can join the conversation by paying a session ticket. We offer three ticket categories: basic = 8 € / standard = 11 € / supporting = 15 €.
HOW TO SIGN UP
To keep the sessions engaging, intimate, and comfortable for everyone, spaces are limited to 18 participants.
Secure your spot as soon as possible by purchasing the book or the session through our online store.
Buy the Book https://zabriskie.de/products/outgrowing-modernity
We look forward to reading and practicing together with you!
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Michelle Teran (born in Canada) is an artist, educator, researcher, food and soil grower, listener, observer, community cook, and grief worker. Her current work prioritizes critical care, regenerative practices, and transformative pedagogy, emphasizing ecologies of care, collective grief, and feminist and eco-social approaches. She situates her work within social practice, at the intersection of art, research, activism, teaching, and community engagement. Her multidisciplinary practice encompasses film, text, publications, performative actions, online works, research and study groups, participatory events, and pedagogic experimentation.
