Update: LAF/#OWS/Occupennial

[From Sally]

...

As far as the Living as Form installation, it is really still in the works and I think a full explanation and images will be more effective after it is activated by the public, which will hopefully happen today and tomorrow.

Basically, yesterday Nicole and I found some of that orange netting we were talking about and installed it on a wall in the exhibition space. We then got a bunch of cardboard and set up a sign making station on the floor in front of the netting on the wall. We could only find some crappy drug-store paint and only painted one sign to encourage others to do so as well. Today a CT intern is going to go purchase some better paint/brushes and also get some larger pieces of cardboard and maybe some sticks to attach to the signs. She is also printing up some images that she has taken down at OWS and is printing them to attach to the orange netting to provide context to the signs.

On Sunday in the space, there will be an event  led by the activist Reverend Billy (http://www.revbilly.com/ ) that (I believe) will conclude in a walk down to OWS. We are going to tell him to encourage people to make signs and to take the ones made in the space today, tomorrow, and sunday with them as well.

So that is where things are at at LAF. I am hoping today the installation will get activated, and good images and a more cohesive blurb will follow. I think it is important to see how it is functioning in the space before we really write or document anything.

Also, we can really print any images or articles about OWS and attach them to the netting. Is there anything that you all think needs to be on there for sure? Do we want any thing specifically about the occupenial and how to get involved represented in any way? Again, this installation is not meant to take activity that should be happening down at Liberty Plaza away from the movement. Hopefully it will encourage more people who are not already there to get involved, create signs, and physically bring them (and themselves!) down to liberty plaza to put their messages into action. 

Ok, more soon!

#OccupyWallStreet at Creative Time's "Living As Form" Exhibit

On Thursday, October 5, Occupy Wall Street will participate in the Living As Form expo at its Essex Street location. More details TBA.

Nato Thompson of Creative Time posted this essay, "The Occupation of Wall Street Across Time and Space" at the European Institute for Progressive Cultural Studies website. He writes:

The occupation of Wall Street continues with vast alacrity and momentum. What began as an AdBusters’ call to accountability has captured a reservoir of frustration and inequity moving across the United States and beyond. Here in New York City, this particular moment defies easy categorization or analysis as it continues to move in directions that defy previous expectations and critiques. The occupation is ever in flux. Nonetheless, as the occupation (and numerous planned and spontaneous marches) heads into its three weeks amidst a fairly extensive media blackout in the United States, the movement is clearly heading into a different organizational and theoretical manifestation.

On his Dark Matter blog, Greg Sholette interviewed Nato, and the convergence of Living As Form and OWS was one of the topics they discussed:

Greg: And just one quick follow up Nato, as you know the Wall Street occupation emerged simultaneously with Living as Form and I see you and others involved in the art event made it a point to go down to Liberty Plaza and get directly involved in it. Perhaps its too soon to ask this, but do you see this as another link to the Summit and the exhibition, or as something more integral to their spirit, and therefore capable of playing a transformative role of some sort for social practice art going forwards?

Nato: I wouldn’t want to place too much emphasis on the spontaneous walk down to the occupation as frankly, it was the only reasonable thing to do. Participating in existing social movements is critical for anyone alive today let alone socially engaged artists. I mean, lets face it, having this occupation at the same time of the exhibition and summit was something that is hard to ignore. It has been an extremely poetic convergence and I am glad that even a hand full of folks have gathered down there and are now working to add what they can to the movement. That said, we could certainly use more help. If you are interested in joining the ranks down there, this is your invitation (I am speaking to the readers). Just walk down to Liberty Plaza, go to the info desk and ask how you can plug in. The more, the merrier.