MARKETLOWER EAST SIDE, NYC SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 16, 2011 OVER 40 GROUPS ORGANIZATIONS INDIVIDUALS & BUSINESSES URA HSpecial P S Seward Park Urban Section Renewal Area H Our ongoing investigation of the intersec- tion of art, labor, economics, and the produc- tion of unexpected social experiences has led us to initiate Introductionthis new project we call MARKET. The project creates space for direct conversations and reflections on the many diverse ways in which we make our world, and the kinds of social, economic, and cultural relationships we want to foster in our daily exchanges with others. [CONTINUED ON PAGE 3] FREE COMPLETE SCHEDULE PAGE 23 3 INTRODUCTION REVEREND BILLY AND THE CHURCH OF EAR- MUSEUM By Temporary Services THALUJAH 17 GOOD OLD LOWER EAST SIDE 4 PICTURE THE HOMELESS 11 CUCHIFRITOS LOWER EAST SIDE COMMUNITY THE TEETH OF THE ARCHIVE HESTER STREET COLLABORATIVE & SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE By Gregory Sholette and others THE WATERFRONT ON WHEELS THE LOWER EAST SIDE SQUATTER-HOME- CAKE SHOP BLUESTOCKINGS STEADER ARCHIVE PROJECT 5 PEOPS LOWER EAST SIDE PEOPLES’ FEDERAL CREDIT LIVING THEATRE By Fly UNION 18 COMMUNIST GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY 6 HOUSE MAGIC BUREAU OF FOREIGN COR- 12 SPURA & THE CITY STUDIO By Yevgeniy Fiks RESPONDENCE Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani, Buscada & New School’s Urban Studies program ALPHABET CITY ACUPUNTURE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY TELEVISION CENTER 14 BULLET SPACE CHIPPY DESIGN JIM’S PEPPER ROASTER DAMON RICH TZADIK HOWL! ARTS TIME’S UP! 19 SELECTED MUSIC FROM OR ABOUT THE LES 7 PLACE MATTERS 15 LOWER EASTSIDE GIRLS’ CLUB 20 ALLIED PRODUCTIONS LOWER EAST SIDE PRINTSHOP LOWER EAST SIDE HISTORY PROJECT SKIN BY KYRA 8 ABC NO RIO 16 LOCAL SPOKES ANTON VAN DALEN [CONTINUED P. 21] 9 SAVE THE ESSEX STREET MARKET DIAS Y FLORES COMMUNITY GARDEN 22 INTRODUCTION [CONTINUED] STREET VENDOR PROJECT BOWERYBOOGIE.COM 23 MARKET SCHEDULE 10 WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED MILLENIUM FILM WORKSHOP THANK YOUS THIN AIR MEDIA REVEREND JEN’S LOWER EAST SIDE TROLL CONTACT INFORMATION human relationships to the built and natural en- the Family Stone on the Ed Sullivan Show. vironment, social and spatial justice, and ethical A number of elements made Ask Me! an INTRODUCTION economic practices. MARKET is, in part, a response extraordinary experience. For one, it was free to at- By Temporary Services to the ongoing national and global economic tend. One could easily spend an entire day learn- and social crisis and its devastating impacts on ing in one on one or small group situations from Our ongoing investigation of the intersection of the economy, ecology, and on vulnerable popu- an enthusiastic and knowledgeable person that art, labor, economics, and the production of un- lations. would happily indulge your most naive questions. expected social experiences has led us to initiate The people at each booth were friendly, patient, this new project we call MARKET. The project cre- and generous. The range of participants, who rep- ates space for direct conversations and reflec- resented a broad racial, ethnic, and generational tions on the many diverse ways in which we make spectrum was uncommonly diverse for an artist-or- our world, and the kinds of social, economic, and ganized event. It appeared that Chicago County cultural relationships we want to foster in our daily Fair didn’t just ask their friends to participate. They exchanges with others. asked the parents of their friends, or their own par- MARKET provides indoor market stalls for a ents, or their friends’ children. The organizational range of people and practices that are not often structure, with its system of booths and the partici- included in traditional marketplace settings. Table pants’ use of props, photos, diagrams and other space is provided to people and groups that have learning aids created many points of access. The demonstrated a commitment to the Lower East project begged the question: why can’t more ex- Side. Participants are included regardless of the hibitions and events be this interesting?! economic intention or viability of their practice Ask Me! recognized that everyone has (the usual criteria for participation in a market). some area of specialized knowledge that they We have asked groups and individuals to partici- could share informally if they were given a cre- pate that do not have a public office or cannot INSPIRATION ative framework to do so. The art of the project afford rental property, neighborhood spaces that was sited in the creative organizing structure, do rent real estate but could use a boost in visibil- A project that has particularly inspired us over the which was certainly unlike any information fair ity or a change of audience, individuals that oper- years is Ask Me! – an event series organized by that we have ever been to. While static informa- ate outside of typical capitalist economies, local the now dormant Chicago-based group Chica- tional displays can be great, objects, images and experts, organizations that have heavily docu- go County Fair. The group’s members during this facts become so much more compelling when mented culture from the neighborhood, seasonal project were Laurie Jo Reynolds, Scott McFarland, they are animated by the live presence of an in- vendors and single-person enterprises, and others Kyle Harris and Robin Cline. dividual that can illuminate unnoticed details, or who add to the eclectic and dynamic energy of Each Ask Me! event consisted of a large answer follow up questions about information that the area. room filled with separate booths whose design lies below the surface. MARKET borrows the infrastructure pro- was inspired by the character Lucy van Pelt’s vided by Creative Time’s rental of the Essex Street “Psychiatric Advice” booth that appeared in the Market for the exhibition Living As Form. Each comic Peanuts. At each Ask Me! event, numerous ORGANIZING PROJECTS WITH MANY PARTICIPANTS participant in MARKET is given one of six six-foot self-proclaimed experts on a variety of subjects long stands to use for an entire eight-hour day, would appear in person to provide information MARKET expands an approach to exhibition and throughout the duration of the exhibition. Each and conversation for attendees. In a 2003 article project organizing that Temporary Services has participant will be able to use MARKET for one or by Cara Jepsen in the Chicago Reader, Laurie Jo been employing since the group began in Chica- more days, according to availability. Our design Reynolds explained, “Every one of us is an expert go in 1998. It has been common in our practice to of the brightly colored stands is modeled after in some way and is curious in some way ... But it make projects where we devise a creative struc- lemonade stands, produce stalls, and flea market takes some kind of interface to fulfill those needs. ture that then provides a platform or opportunity style table-top presentations. Each vendor’s table It seems like such a radical act to talk to a strang- for others to participate and enrich the larger en- is the same size and provided free of charge. Any er. There’s no place to have a conversation like deavor with their collective concerns. money made by those who sell things is kept en- that. That’s why we love booths – they make that Most often we do this by taking a preexist- tirely by the individual, group or business. act possible in a lot of different contexts.” In addi- ing infrastructure and opening it up to others who The Old Essex Street Market buildings were tion to providing a sign at each booth indicating likely would not have been invited, and some- built in the 1930s under the administration of May- each person’s area of expertise, there were lists of times do not normally participate in art exhibitions or Fiorello La Guardia. While one of the market sample questions to help break the ice. or art projects. To find participants, we follow our buildings on Essex Street remains active as an ac- A member of our group was able to see own interests, engage our preexisting social net- tual marketplace, the Old Market building that is Ask Me! at the Chicago Cultural Center in 2003, as works, and enlist the help of others in a community hosting “Living as Form” is managed by the New well as a later version of the event at Chicago’s Mu- who may share our values or have a deep com- York City Economic Development Corporation seum of Science and Industry. The Cultural Center mitment and investment in these practices and (NYCEDC). NYCEDC rents the raw building space event included sixteen booths with an astounding histories. We follow up on suggestions and aim for film shoots, events, and other temporary func- range of topics. There were experts on Iraq, a su- to create a diverse and compelling array of par- tions. permax prison (represented by family members of ticipation, often with clashing ideas and aesthetic MARKET temporarily restores the Old Es- men who were incarcerated at the Tamms Cor- concerns. At times the other participants already sex Street Market building at the southeast corner rectional Center in Illinois), and the Stone Moun- know and feel a kinship with one another. Others of Delancey and Essex Streets to its original func- tain Confederate monument. The member of our meet for the first time through their participation in tion as a marketplace and publicly shared space. group that attended stayed for over two hours. our project. MARKET is free to use and non-competitive and However, he had such intense conversations that We have spent many hours at book and particularly diverse in its offerings. he was only able to consult four experts.