20 Years After
As a par-time AIDS activist and militant, I decided to create an event to celebrate "A Day Without Art" by proposing an intervention / intrusion and re-staging residuals of my previous events related to AIDS. As an artist I was always fascinated by "odd architectural spaces/elements" and "contexts". I found it challenging of "bringing art" to passers by and at the same time to create a dialogue with the space/architecture/community. To make the project "visible" and "validated", I contacted a curator (who supported previously a "successful" proposal at the same institution) from an "alternative", "not for profit" institution in town. The "institution" is an "art landmark" and is actively involved with "various communities". I proposed a "balloon column", (see images XR-plan and mock up XR-1), that architecturally will be in dialogue with the asymmetrical column at the entrance of the building. The red balloons were printed with the following two messages: "World AIDS Day / A Day Without Art" on verso and "December 1" on recto. (please let me know if you need additional images/details of the balloons or images at a different resolution). The glass walls made the work visible from outside 24 hours/day and the back transparent plastic sheet holding up the balloons was making the work visible also from inside the building. Because "the odd space" I chose for the work was situated inside the "community room/gallery", I was referred to the "Community Engagement Director" and the "Public Program Curator" who received the proposal with enthusiasm and at the first meeting decided that the event should be "larger", and involving the community. As in many projects, the timing is everything and "my odd space" was "available" in between installations. Over the next few weeks, we exchanged e-mails and phones and personally I did all the foot work to incorporate: -various AIDS agencies from the area willing to have a booth at the event -youth agencies for information and education -an ON SITE AIDS testing truck -night candlelight vigil for remembrance -access to a DVD produced by students from a local college on the theme of AIDS in various communities like women in prison, homeless youth groups, minorities, suicide prevention. Basically, I created, organized and offered an event "cost free" to an institution in exchange of supporting and promoting the event (large e-mail database). Maybe 2 weeks before the date of the event, I found a message on my answering machine that the event was CANCELLED. No explanations. Unfortunately, because of the last minute cancellation, it was no time and space to re-ennact the same event in a different location and to be promote it in timely manner. P.S.1 - As one can see, INTENTIONALLY I did not mention names, space, place. I consider that even an "unwanted", negative comment regarding the identity of the institution will promote them. P.S.2 - Conclusion: I like this NEW equation: ENGAGEMENT - PUBLIC - CANCELLED While waiting for 20 more years! Yours, Xavier Rayuela / May 2011
20 Years After
As a par-time AIDS activist and militant, I decided to create an event to celebrate "A Day Without Art" by proposing an intervention / intrusion and re-staging residuals of my previous events related to AIDS. As an artist I was always fascinated by "odd architectural spaces/elements" and "contexts". I found it challenging of "bringing art" to passers by and at the same time to create a dialogue with the space/architecture/community. To make the project "visible" and "validated", I contacted a curator (who supported previously a "successful" proposal at the same institution) from an "alternative", "not for profit" institution in town. The "institution" is an "art landmark" and is actively involved with "various communities". I proposed a "balloon column", (see images XR-plan and mock up XR-1), that architecturally will be in dialogue with the asymmetrical column at the entrance of the building. The red balloons were printed with the following two messages: "World AIDS Day / A Day Without Art" on verso and "December 1" on recto. (please let me know if you need additional images/details of the balloons or images at a different resolution). The glass walls made the work visible from outside 24 hours/day and the back transparent plastic sheet holding up the balloons was making the work visible also from inside the building. Because "the odd space" I chose for the work was situated inside the "community room/gallery", I was referred to the "Community Engagement Director" and the "Public Program Curator" who received the proposal with enthusiasm and at the first meeting decided that the event should be "larger", and involving the community. As in many projects, the timing is everything and "my odd space" was "available" in between installations. Over the next few weeks, we exchanged e-mails and phones and personally I did all the foot work to incorporate: -various AIDS agencies from the area willing to have a booth at the event -youth agencies for information and education -an ON SITE AIDS testing truck -night candlelight vigil for remembrance -access to a DVD produced by students from a local college on the theme of AIDS in various communities like women in prison, homeless youth groups, minorities, suicide prevention. Basically, I created, organized and offered an event "cost free" to an institution in exchange of supporting and promoting the event (large e-mail database). Maybe 2 weeks before the date of the event, I found a message on my answering machine that the event was CANCELLED. No explanations. Unfortunately, because of the last minute cancellation, it was no time and space to re-ennact the same event in a different location and to be promote it in timely manner. P.S.1 - As one can see, INTENTIONALLY I did not mention names, space, place. I consider that even an "unwanted", negative comment regarding the identity of the institution will promote them. P.S.2 - Conclusion: I like this NEW equation: ENGAGEMENT - PUBLIC - CANCELLED While waiting for 20 more years! Yours, Xavier Rayuela / May 2011