[artinfo] the US presidential election - Call for Participation!!!

[hock.beata at upcmail.hu]

  Exchange Rate, Election 2008 
  September-November 2008 
 
  Call for Participation 
 
  As you are well aware, the US presidential election is arriving and 
the height of political pageantry is unfolding before us.  I have never 
felt so invested in a presidential race nor so desperate for a way to 
process and relate to this historical moment.  Because of this, I am 
producing a project that will include US and international artists 
creating, exchanging and interpreting performances in response to the 
2008 US presidential election.  Each performance made for the exchange 
will be a public act, whether in a gallery space or on a street corner. 
 
  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING: 
  email: elanamann at gmail.com 
 
  Project Description: 
 
  A group of US and international artists/art collectives will 
participate in a performance exchange in response to the upcoming 2008 
US presidential election.  The exchange and its participants 
acknowledge the significance of the election and seek ways to process, 
collaborate and examine this historic moment.  Each artist will submit 
performance directions for an international colleague to perform and 
subsequently interpret (perform) directions from that same colleague.  
The entire process will be documented on the web with posts, 
photographs and video.  International artists will send videos and 
photographs that will be screened at various locations in Los Angeles 
and LA-based artists will perform their interpretations during live 
events in LA from September through November 4th. 
   The contemporary use of performance directions recalls Fluxus scores, 
Happenings and mail art of the 1950's-70's, but contains present day 
reverberations of mass communication and social organization through 
emails, text-messaging , blogs, video streaming, etc.  As the world 
watches US citizens elect a new leader through the mass media, a local 
and international audience will watch artists perform in response to 
the election campaigns.  This series of performances will mirror the 
pageantry of the international political arena and track attempts to 
engage and affect this seemingly impenetrable stage. 
     
  Sponsoring Organization 
  Trade & Row (www.tradeandrow.com)