Finally recovered from Version 09 Immodest Proposals>>
Was our best Version yet. It had a lot to do with having a lengthy process of meetings and working with the team of Aron, Emily, Ken, Rachael and a dozen other cholos to make things run smoothly.
This is the first year we did not lose money on production and it makes me breath easier. And much was accomplished during the festival period. I have to remember not to over book and produce as much stuff next year. The work overload kept me from enjoying the actual festival programs and kept me a little unprepared some days.
I was pleased we made our release dates for Issue #004 of Proximity magazine and launched our new annual directory of art spaces called the (Con)Temporary Art Guide. The new Proximity is fantastic despite the printer screwing up our paper stock. A month after its release we got rid of all the copies to our distributors. The Guide turned out great too. Plural Design threw down and blew me away. Have asked them to turn their maps into a poser for the next issue of PR which will be released this May 31 at the HPAC.
Between organizing the publications and coordinating the over 350 participants with this year’s team I was a little overwhelmed by the fact I had to create some work for the festival.
I worked on three different projects for the display windows of the Co-Prosperity Sphere on the Audacity of Art Group show. I am glad i did it. Got me back into making work again.
This display window was a collaboration between my partner Rachael, Cody Hudson, and Nat Ward. Together we created an installation that shows a part of the neighborhood of Bridgeport redeveloped as a 2016 Olympic Village complex. After the Olympics we implied the site would become a luxury condo/entertainment complex. The project is a commentary on the real estate speculation and hype surrounding the city’s bid for the Olympics and the hysterical greed displayed by some property owners.
(Two Photos above by Shannon Benine)
Real Estate seemed to be my theme for Version this year.. This next display window was transformed into the Reuben Kincaid Realty office. The images show properties that are listed for sale in the neighborhood. But our Realty office advocates squatting homes rather than buying them. A website was created by buddy Ian Whitmore to help spread the word. Visitors to the show were encuraged to take a”for Squat” sign and become “an agent” to post on unwanted properties. Visitors are also asked to send us details of any available housing stock in their neighborhoods.
This photo was shot by Caitlin Arnold for an article in Proximity. It was probably the inspiration for the overall concept.
The front display window of CP-S was turned into a Tokyo style capsul hotel and set for performance artists to hang in. I worked on the bunk bed thingy with Nick Bahr. Tyler rocked out the control panels.
I put up a bunch of documentation of some other project platforms from Version: The Bridgeport WPA, the NFO XPO, and the Chicago Art Parade all rocked.
This year we participated in Artropolis. Despite the economic downturn our commercial artist management team, Reuben Kincaid, hosted a successful stand at the NEXT art fair. Michael T Rea’s new sculpture was sold to the West Collection.
I will be working on a photo essay of Version for Lumpen magazine and will post some pics in a future post.
Filed under: Uncategorized
