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Community Exchange Event "From Table to Future"
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MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART, C3 series, 2013
THE FUTURE IS ON THE TABLE #4 ART & COMMUNITY EXCHANGE "You are receiving this form because you have participated in the making of one of the sculptures of "The Future is on the Table #4", the C3 2013 MMA project. This is the latest challenge of this artwork. All the pieces are staying in the area but remember, the original proposal was that participants exchange parts of said pieces, keeping, at least symbolically, traces and memories of the 2013 C3 conversations, alive. As a participant you are given the present form to discuss proposals with the people of all groups who are here or represented at this event. Please answer the following questions. Thank you so much. Gwylene and Jean-Marie." Which group are you part of: FARISH ST TOUGALOO STATE CAPITOL MIDTOWN OPERATION SHOESTRING Can the sculpture of your group be divided? If YES, how? Where do you wish to see the sculpture or pieces of your sculpture go? What are you willing or able to part with, knowing that you can always borrow it for special events? What do you wish to receive from other groups? Pieces of the sculpture? Which ones? A printed photograph or document of the sculptures or events? A personal invitation to a meal or special gathering from another group? Proposals for further collaboration? Do you have any other alternative ideas for the Art and Community Exchange? |
"We called the Thursday final event a" Community Exchange", where each C3 group was to barter one of its pieces for one from an other group. Obviously the purpose of the exercise was to create new, unexpected, serendipitous connections between folks who live in the same town but do not necessarily communicate often or at all. Everybody's sense of pride in and ownership of the work was challenged, to convey the dialogic aspect of community building. So was the definition we all have of art objects, art practice, the value systems attached ... To us, maybe the richest exchange was between Tougaloo and Operation Shoestring. The latter swapped an object for a series of visits by Tougaloo students around the history of civil rights. Interesting, no?"
"When I told you that the understanding we each had of such an event was a matter of perception, I should have said that it was a matter of "vintage point". As we looked at the exchange, most actors were young and black. When we looked up at the museum, the viewers were older and white. Not that there were many but the few who were present were older and white and represented the museum community, in a way. Although we were all sharing the same time/ space, the scene appeared totally different! In any case, most interesting was the comment about the absence of animosity. I personally find this remarkable; this sense of social discipline and restraint."
"When I told you that the understanding we each had of such an event was a matter of perception, I should have said that it was a matter of "vintage point". As we looked at the exchange, most actors were young and black. When we looked up at the museum, the viewers were older and white. Not that there were many but the few who were present were older and white and represented the museum community, in a way. Although we were all sharing the same time/ space, the scene appeared totally different! In any case, most interesting was the comment about the absence of animosity. I personally find this remarkable; this sense of social discipline and restraint."