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    • Presenting visual and performance art in unexpected public spaces.

    Mike Estabrook, AiOP 2010 artist, has a teddy bear with a chip on its shoulder

    February 11, 2012 – 2:35 am

    Here is something you don’t see teddy bears doing: REBELLING. Yes, it appears that there is a teddy bear on the loose with an agenda coming out during the festival. Mike’s Estabrook’s piece called “”The Teddy Bear Market Uprising, A Revolution Squared” is a participatory project using people’s responses to create his work. This is definitely one interesting piece because it is part art, part political and part statistical. Sounds complicated but it should be an exciting project to be part of.

    How does an angry teddy bear get into the mix of things? Mike took the time and described his project further.



    On Sept. 22nd, I, along with the help of two fellow artists, Mona Kamal (surveyer), and Vandana Jain(photographer) headed out into the wilderness of Union Square to survey a random assortment of people about their thoughts on the Teddy Bear Market Uprising. Mona and I presented a survey depicting the Teddy Bear (below) and asked them two questions: 1. “what is your social class (upper, upper middle, middle, working, lower)?”, and 2. “In a fictitious art battle would you fight for or against the Teddy Bear Market Uprising?” (The Teddy Bear is, of course, prominently marked with the Hammer and Cycle, and was defined as “the struggle for socialist utopia”

    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook



    All classes were represented, and we had a wide range of responses ranging from a resounding “YES”, to a “Die! Socialist Scum!”

    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook
    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook



    good times were had by all…

    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook
    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook
    Photo courtesy of Mike Estabrook

    My end goal for all this is to make a drawing depicting fantasy soldiers made of 5 colors (reflecting the 5 social class categories in the survey), in which the pro-teddy factions will be placed on the left, and the anti-teddys will be on the right. This will be seen at the opening event for Art In Odd Places at Theater Lab on Oct. 1.


    In addition to showing the drawing at this event, I will be rolling percentile dice to determine people’s social class for the event (the dice rolls will reflect the percentage distribution of social classes in the USA). Those lucky enough to roll a 100 will be upper class, and will get a t-shirt of Teddy Bear Market Uprising!

    Thanks, Mike! We look forward seeing the final product.

    You can see Mike and the Teddy Bear Uprising project in action during the Opening Festival this coming Friday. The event invitation can be found here. RSVP now.

    By AiOP | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Mike Estabrook, AiOP 2010 artist, has a teddy bear with a chip on its shoulder

    An art for an art: Wall Street Bankers should listen to AiOP 2010 Heather Hart

    February 11, 2012 – 2:34 am
    Everybody loves a street fair, and 14th street is no stranger to such events. Art in Odd Places 2010 artist, Heather Hart will use the concept of street fair as inspiration with a little throw back to a long lost type of negotiation: a barter system. Imagine this: an even exchange of goods, which could be anything ranging from performances to art pieces, amongst a group of creative and business people. This might be the only type of trading that doesn’t require bailout. Before you practice your bartering skills, let’s get to know Heather Hart.
    AiOP: Tell us about you / your group?

    HH: The Heather Hart Experience creates interactive zones between territories where viewers may question and play.

    AiOP: How is the preparation coming along for your piece this October?
    HH: 26 “vendors” ready to barter… check. massage therapists, painters, bakers, soapmaker, and jewelers… check. post-apocalyptic shoulder pads, chaps and face painter… check a talk with god asking for a dry day… check visitors bringing their barter!…..???

    

    Photo courtesy of Heather Hart

    
    AiOP: What’s your favorite spot on 14th street?
    HH: The south side between Hudson and 9th Ave where I can sit and watch for pretty cars.

    AiOP: Do you have a hidden talent you would like to share?
    HH: Shapeshifting. shhhh.

    AiOP: Any message to the people who will be in 14th street during the festival?
    HH:Be sure to bring stuff to barter to the East End, be that objects or services or talent!!

    AiOP: What should people expect from your project during the festival?
    HH:“Bust a deal, face the wheel”

    AiOP:What’s your lucky number?
    HH:“two men enter, one man leaves.”

    AiOP: Write a fortune that would appear in a fortune cookie. (To be tweeted to all of our followers during the festival)
    HH: “WHO RUN BARTER TOWN!??!”

    Photo courtesy of Heather Hart

    AiOP: Where do you live? (as in borough or city)
    HH: “IS IT TOMORROW -MORROW LAND? NO, ITS BARTER TOWN!!!”

    We have a shafeshifter, everyone! I am keeping an eye on that post-apocalyptic shoulder pad. What are you planning to barter?
    Visit Heather’s website for more information about her work: http://www.heather-hart.com/. To find Heather along 14th street during the festival, refer to our website: http://artinoddplaces.org//.
    By AiOP | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on An art for an art: Wall Street Bankers should listen to AiOP 2010 Heather Hart