Dear Lovely People;
My Barter Town project is back yet again by popular demand, this time as part of Of Gentle Birth, an exhibition curated by Jonathan Allen and generously hosted by Repair the World on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. I am reaching out to you in hopes that you would be interested in participating in my project by running a “vendor booth”. Don’t miss out on the fun and please spread the word of this open call!!
To encourage art to take an active
role in shifting value, to create a critical space to examine what we deem as
needs, I’ve presented Trading Post, a series of exchanges. At the Barter
Town Trading Posts participants bring their ideas, services, songs, stories,
unwanted goods, handmade art, appliances, anything they think may hold value
and haggle for something that they want. The only rule is that no
currency may be exchanged, i.e. everything is for barter. Here are some
photos from Barter Town
(Trading Post VII: Between the Bridges) in 2011, http://goo.gl/w5ScH and from Barter Town (Trading Post
XI:The Magic Feathers) in 2013, http://goo.gl/iQww7A
Whether you want to provide a booth
for face painting, performance, a film, sporting competition, a raffle, some
art, costume making, massage therapy, palm reading, lessons, clothing, a nail
salon, vouchers for services, promises, people’s court, or anything else, I
welcome your ideas and proposals. The Heather Hart Experience presents,
Barter
Town (Trading Post XVIII: Repair), is the newest cycle to my Trading
Posts.
Barter
Town (Trading Post XVIII: Repair) will
take place on December 12th from 3pm to 5pm as part of Of Gentle Birth, an art exhibition of new works by Brooklyn-based
artists. Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Lefferts Gardens are three
neighborhoods increasingly populated by newcomers; this change is part of a
larger wave of gentrification transforming Brooklyn. In response to this,
artists from these neighborhoods were asked to produce and share works that
engage with these places and themes. Participating artists, and organizers are
hoping that these artworks, as well as a series of artist talks and readings
presented as part of Of Gentle Birth
will be a platform for investigative and honest conversation.
As usual, feel free to think about
costuming and themes for your booth based on the concept of the show. :) This
Barter Town will be primarily indoors, but we may arrange to use the sidewalk
as well. There are limited spots, so please be clever and turn your proposal in
soon. I will provide a modest honorarium for you to defer costs of
transportation. The timing for this event puts us right before the holiday
season, I imagine visitors will be trading for gifts, so think about using this
as a platform to show them what you do/make and want for your neighborhood!
Tables and chairs will be provided for your booth if you wish, but I encourage
creativity and variety if you want to bring your own structure.
Barter Town will have the appearance
of a street fair or block party, but remember, all “booths” would run on bartering
only- no currency allowed (no I-owe-yous for money, although drawing an I-owe-you for service
is encouraged). I hope you will consider creating a booth. Below is the
proposal info that I need to have you complete and return to me by October 31st, 2015 so I can map
a layout and create press with your name.
Please
feel free to contact me with questions and please forward this open call.
Best,
Heather Hart
347-439-8553
Barter Town
(Trading Post XVIII: Repair) is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York
Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs,
administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
PROPOSAL FOR Barter
Town (Trading Post XVIII: Repair)
Name :
Email :
Phone :
Affiliated organization:
Organization/Artist website:
“Booth” name:
Short Description:
Equipment needed:
(we can provide tables and chairs
(indicate if you need one and how many chairs), but anything more will need to
be negotiated or arranged between you and Heather. We will have some access to
electricity but will not likely be allowed too much amplified sound- please ask
me first. Please include info about equipment/setup/space requirements
that you will need. We will provide as much as I can, but you may need to
bring some stuff of your own).
