The dynamic and interdisciplinary practice of artist ethnography blurs the lines between cultural research and art-making. This course will examine several original case studies presented by guest artists and cultural workers who are using this approach to create work that shares, sustains and interrogates their own community-based cultural traditions in ways that go beyond traditional text-based ethnography. Whether it be next-generation Balinese Gamelan artists or Nuyorican Bomberos evolving their performance aesthetics through programming that blends qualitative research, composition, choreography, and community conversation, a Queens-based theater educator creating multilingual radio monologues grounded in observation and audiovisual documentation of her neighborhood subway station, or a Central Asian calligrapher encouraging Muslim-Jewish solidarity through unique visual renderings, these creatives put ethnography to work in their embodied practice. Students will get hands-on experience learning from guest artist-ethnographers as well as training in relevant research methods such as the ethnographic interview, participant observation, personal storytelling and the practical knowledge/ethical questions of community collaborations. Additional class activities include attendance at off-campus performances/events and a visit to the Los Herederos Community Space in Jackson Heights, Queens to view and contribute to a multimedia activation of a community archive. Students will have the opportunity to pursue a creative final project that incorporates ethnographic research into a creative practice of their choice/expertise or complete a final paper analyzing the work of a guest practitioner.