An exercise in decision making and not wetting the bed.

Our duties everyday were to unpack the truck and populate this wire frame performance structure that we were printing in front of. During the day we would print according to our premonitions. We installed a letter grid with intentional code embedded. Then we also installed manhole cover prints on scrims. We then came out with our own edition prints and brayer washes that we’d sell throughout the trip. We held workshops, printed on demand for the public, as well as networked with other artists there for Art Basel. Then at about 6pm a DJ, Poet, and other Artists would come on stage and do their thing. But while they were performing we would take phrases or gestures and print live, in response to their work. It became a conversation. It was such a multi-faceted project with a whirlwind of responsibilities required. It was amazing. 

One of my favorite and least favorite parts of what we did was all the talking to people who would approach our press. You could always figure out who was there for what. Some just wanted a cool picture, some just wanted to tell you what you were doing wrong, but some immediately understood what we were doing and why it was important. That’s who I liked talking to. We were taking a craft that dates back to Gutenburg and entering into a space of education, history, practice, as well as playful experimentation. 

This little girl watched me for about 2 minutes while I was setting up the type on the press, locking it in place to pull a print. I looked at her and asked, “Do you want to try?” Her face lit up! She started to nod, so I invited her up to our platform. She held onto the brayer with me while we inked the letters. Then I blind dropped the paper down and we grabbed the roller together to pull the print. When I pulled off our print and she looked at it with a proudness and familiarity. Like she knew what she was doing and she knew it was important. Her parents took a few pictures but I think we both walked away from that experience changed. 

While this was an incredible learning experience for me and a great opportunity for my career. It was also a game changer on how I view art. I am deeply interested in the human interactions that can happen with performance art. I loved that we were at the entrance to Art Basel seeing these people walk around in shoes that cost more than my car. But we were also right at the entrance to the public access to the beach, where I got to interact with that little girl who now knows what printmaking is. I don’t think those interactions could have happened if we were inside the tent, or inside a gallery. I’m not opposed to the tent or galleries, in fact I work at one. But I’m more interested in art that leaves the confines of a space and walks / confronts the public.