Andrea Moore + ArtLab: Summer 2012

Subversive Art  +  Prosocial IntentionsWho: Andrea Moore + ArtLabWhat: Subversive ArtWhen: Summer 2012 with temporary public exhibition on Thursday, July 26th, 2012PlatteForum ArtLab students have spent the summer investigating subversive pop-up art with Denver artist Andrea Moore. Subversive art is typically anti-establishment in nature, and it often uses images and text to raise awareness about a particular issue and inspire critical thought. In their investigation of this concept, students were asked to examine the difference between artists and terrorists. Since both groups operate on the fringe, question authority, and are willing to go to great lengths to manifest their visions, what's the difference? ArtLab students determined that artists are prosocial and creative, and terrorists are antisocial and destructive in their approach. The students made a commitment to develop pop-up art that was strictly prosocial -- meaning that it was pro-people, pro-community, and safe for the public.However, students were still interested in challenging the public's assumptions and inspiring critical thought. They created temporary text installations in the Riverfront Park community, raising awareness about two topics they felt were under-addressed: lying, and manic depression. They created fortune-cookie messages and wrote down their secrets, and they hid these treasures around the park for unsuspecting passersby to discover. The students developed autobiographical poetry and performed it for each other and strangers. Each week, they developed creative content in a classroom setting and then brought that content out into the world. Sometimes their efforts were met with enthusiasm and interest, and other times suspicion and disapproval. Some community members seemed threatened by the change in the status quo, and a few people even reacted unkindly, spurning fascinating conversations about authority, ageism, racism, and whether it was possible to be disliked and still honor a commitment to be prosocial.After 8 weeks of investigation and experimentation, we invited the public to join the ArtLab students for a final interactive exhibition of their work. On Thursday, July 26th from 2:00-3:30pm, students installed three temporary vending machines between on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. In an environment that thrives of the exchange of money and goods, students challenged the public to rethink commerce in a creative context. The vending machines dispensed art, poetry, performance, ideas, and stories instead of goods, and accepted only creative content in return. Stations were profoundly accepted by the public and exchanged goods nonstop for almost two hours.  People from various backgrounds, ages and beliefs stopped to take in the experience.  The ArtLab students and Andrea see the event as beyond successful and it raises the question, "Where to next?"