Money Talks

This current interactive blog based project debuted at Fluxfest Chicago 2017 and tracks responses to the "Is Art Dead? Money Talks..." project.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Jennifer Weigel: July 15, 2016

I was going to try busking today again in Davis Square outside of the ArtBeat festival, which opened in Seven Hills Park this evening, but there was already a good sized band set up.

Regardless I think I'm going to discontinue and backburner this project for now.  I had initially formulated it in response to the rapid gentrification here which is causing many artists to be displaced, but it's too close to home to things I'm struggling with personally between not finding work and not knowing how I'll be able to afford to live here, and people just don't know what to make of it.

And with the recent violence and overall feelings globally I'm just not able to connect with it right now at all anyway.  I'm feeling so heartbroken and out of touch and am losing faith in humanity for so many reasons currently and it's gotten me really down.

I will return to this in another form or find a way to integrate it into a show or other context but for now it is on hold as a busking project.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Jennifer Weigel: July 1, 2016

Day's response: disconnect...  Art is dead...

I performed for the second time briefly over lunchtime today from 11 AM - 12:15 PM.  I was told it was "an interesting project" by one passerby, and another whom I spoke with at length as I was packing up to go voiced that he felt art is dead.  As an overall it seemed that people noticed me but were rushed with work and preparing for the holiday weekend so my timing may not have been great as far as connection.

I am going to integrate another component in this project and create a very open-ended but intently focused hyper-abbreviated survey to engage with people in more ways so the end result reads more as a performance event calling for active participation and offers more opportunity for commentary on viewers' behalves.  I shall post the survey responses anonymously here.

Here are a couple of photos from today.  I did get a more involved response on the part of a couple of people, and a couple more who spent more time with it reading the poster but not conversing, so I think adding another element can help.